Émile ZOLA. L.A.S. (draft), February 4, 1893, to Francis Magnard; 2 1/4 pages in-8 with erasures and corrections. On his academic candidacies. "I don't intend to stand in anyone's way. If, therefore, you should one day wish to run for the Académie, where your place is clearly marked, I would beg you to do so, without worrying about me. And don't worry about Bourget, whom I love dearly. I beg him here publicly to apply for the next fauteuil. Beaten for being beaten, it will be sweet for me to be beaten by him. But the truth is, in order to make room for others, I cannot renounce an entire line of conduct that I believe to be worthy, and which, moreover, the facts impose on me. My situation is simple. As long as there is an Academy in France, I must be part of it. I have presented myself and I cannot admit that I am wrong to have done so. As long as I run, I'm not beaten. That's why I'll always run. As for the few literary friends I'm happy and proud to have in the Académie, and whom you say I'm embarrassing, I'm convinced they'll be able to keep the freedom of their conscience. I've never asked them for anything, and the first thing I'll ask them to do is to vote for Bourget and for you, my dear Magnard, the day you run"...