Jean COCTEAU. L.A.S. "Jean", [June 1932], to Richard [Thoma]; 1 page in-4 (small tape repair). On his love affair with Natalie Paley [from March-April 1932, Cocteau had an affair with Princess Nathalie Paley: niece of Tsar Nicholas II, wife of couturier Lucien Lelong, she was famous for her charm and beauty, and appeared in several films in France and Hollywood]. "Jeanjean [Jean Desbordes] was an angel of patience and skill in this drama. I fell head over heels in love (with complete reciprocity) with Nathalie Lelong. Lelong was in America [...] I demanded that she confess our relationship to her husband. First he was "sublime", which I detest, because it gave him a role to pity. Then he wanted to keep his wife. So I decided they should live together until he, Lelong, understood the folly of such a household and gave Natalie her freedom. Jeanjean, who has always been my son, is like a brother to Natalie, and resembles her brother who was killed during the Revolution. That's all there is to it. I hate messes and I love accuracy. Admittedly, this is the 1st time I've written about this drama. But I can't stand the idea that you can believe that the Jean-Jeanjean agreement is subject to any external danger. [...] I didn't see anyone because, from the day I couldn't see Natalie, I was like a dead man and I grew the beard that grows on dead men. But her role is so much harder than mine, so I feel I have to set her an example of courage."