Anatole FRANCE (1844–1924). Autograph manuscript, [1884]; 4 pages in-4 and 2 oblong pages in-8. Fragment, complete in itself (pp. [4]–9), from a two-part chronicle concerning an “unfortunate discovery” of cheating at the Petit Cercle, recalling the precedent of Théodore Apoulos, an exceptionally lucky gambler at Versailles in the late 17th century: “Thus it is to Théodore Apoulos that the Greeks owe the fact that their name is given to those skilled at shuffling cards, jumping the cup, or removing or placing marked cards”… The second part of the column concerns Alfred Naquet’s proposed divorce bill, aimed at enacting “a modest and chaste divorce—neither cheerful nor amusing, but neat, proper, a small-scale family divorce”… Enclosed are two postcards depicting A. France and La Béchellerie.