MAUPASSANT Autographed Letter-Signed to Countess Potocka 1884

  

MAUPASSANT Guy de - Autographed letter signed to Countess Potocka: "I am... Completely devoted friend, regardless of what you think of me".

Autographed letter signed to Countess Potocka: "I am... [circa April-May 1886], 11.7x9cm, 2 pages on a letter card.

20 autographed and signed lines by Maupassant in black ink on a letter card with the letterhead "GM 10, rue de Montchanin" to the Countess who is giving him the cold shoulder. Published in Marlo Johnston, "Unpublished Letters from Maupassant to Countess Potocka", Histoires littéraires, no.

Maupassant seems to be under the influence of doubt about the Countess's feelings towards him: "Is it dangerous to come and see you? I confess that I am afraid... You seemed to me, upon my return from Antibes, incredibly cold towards me." The Countess treated Maupassant the same way she treated her other "Macchabees". A kind of court of infatuated lovers over whom she had complete power. Potocka keeps Maupassant at a distance: "I concluded that I would do well not to bother you." He laments: "And then, when I saw you the other evening, I couldn't tell what you were thinking.

I will simply and honestly ask you. If I bother you, don't reply to me, because... I wouldn't want to bother you up close." Finally, he asks the Countess: "... Don't forget that I am, near or far, a completely devoted friend, regardless of what you think of me".

English translation available upon request.