Pierre LOUŸS (1870-1925). L.A.S. "PL", June 26 [1913], to Claude Farrère; 4pages in-8 in purple ink (small note from Farrère in red ink). On the difficulties of his divorce and his poor financial situation. [Louÿs' divorce from his wife Louise de Heredia was finalized on July 29, 1913]. "What treasures of friendship there are in you! [...] Of all my friends, it is you [...] who spoke first, with that frankness, that loyalty which is your very soul. Now tongues are starting to wag. But you didn't wait for any 'public noise' to tell me: 'Beware! Louÿs maintained "absolute secrecy" with regard to Farrère [...] You asked me to burn your letters, and I want to send them back to you after I've taken the few notes you've allowed me to take. And this subject is so cruel and I feel so broken by these intimate betrayals, and finally the progress of the affair is so rapid, so full of incidents and storms that I haven't yet found an evening for this little torture"... As a priority, he is anxious to settle his material situation without delay: "It's an obsession. It's burning my fingers. But here come the summer vacations, "this financial desert during which you can't find anything, not a drop of water for those who haven't been able to fill their gourds"... Farrère can't imagine "in the midst of what vileness, lies and filth the affair is evolving". It is being conducted in Paris "by a person who is nothing but hatred and rapacity, [...] narrow-minded and low-spirited, as you can guess: hatred and unintelligence, that's enough to describe her". It's all bad faith: he's forced to admit facts that are false, using "procedural tricks that can consume my immediate ruin. This is my reward after the act of selflessness I wholeheartedly consented to fourteen years ago". Since they have nothing serious against him, they want him to condemn himself, under threat. And he quotes Falkland (a character from Farrère's L'Homme qui assassina), before exclaiming: "Infamy"...