13 Place de la Bourse
Paris, Sunday evening
April 6, 1919
My dearest;
Herewith the agreement duly signed and initialled and witnessed by the faithful Frank. I have not filled up the date; it was signed by me today but I don’t know but that it should bear the date on which you paid Mr. Collins the pound £12.10.--. You will see which is right, won’t you? I don’t know anything about the final clause referring to the House Town Planning &c. Act, but perhaps it doesn’t apply in our case. I suppose you will get a duplicate from the landlord, who, I hope, is a reasonable man. I see he lives in the same road. So now you will soon be fixed up, and from what you write, very satisfactorily.
I am sorry to hear about the death of Oliver Collins, he was rather a nice fellow. Fortunately for his wife that she has got an appointment. I knew you would get a hearty welcome from everyone, you popular person! You would enjoy seeing your old friends again.
Today Frank Grundy and I went out to lunch at an artists’ tavern on the top of Montmartre where I had not been before. It was most interesting, those picturesque old streets. You go up by a funicular railway and we walked down. The tavern was the real thing, with paintings on the walls, excellent food and a full house of young roysterers. I enjoyed it first rate.
Now comes the big news. Next week – from April 15th – I am to go to see the devastated regions on a three days tour, the guest of the French government, in recognition of an article I wrote after interviewing Prof Dubois, deputy for the Seine, of which I told you before. I am looking forward to it tremendously, and hope I shall have the chance of going up in an aeroplane. Won’t that be splendid?
Now that the French exchange is so low, I think I will ask Jones in London to send you a cheque at the end of this month, and repay him afterwards. That will save me considerable money. I haven’t written yet, but will soon, and I am telling you now so that you may know about it. Of course I will write again before I go on my trip.
With all my love, and hugs for the babes,
Thine,
Jack.