19 February 1922

Victoria Palace Hotel, Paris

Dear Ida
   I am sorry you have had a cold. But what a good thing to have it away from me so that you could indulge yourself a little and be looked after. I expect you will grow healthy up there again with good air and no surprises for your nerves. I hope so.
   Jack is posting the keys this afternoon. Send the boxes! I am longing for my clothes. It is too warm here for this heavy under-clothing. He has gone today to try and wrench away from the post the parcel you sent from Montana. Devilish difficulties! And I cant understand why. I had clothes sent from England & so on without a murmur. But here I must go in person to Heaven knows where between 9 & 11 only and so on. However, I refuse. We shall see what happens.
   Tell anyone who asks my book is to be ‘out' on Thursday the 23rd. I dont want to lose one single purchaser. Its no secret, you know.
   Ive no idea what the paper cost. I would ask 25 francs for it. But there again I have not seen how much remains - haven't been to the drawer for months.
   Its a glorious spring day here - quite warm. By the way your Mme de Maris is a fraud, I think. What utter rubbish about moving her daughter 10 yards if the daughter suffers so from the noise and discomfort of that other house! I am afraid she tried always to talk big to you. I wonder if that champagne was real at Christmas or lemonade with savon fouette. And - why don't you learn to ski? Jack wonders, too. What a chance!
   Is the cat a pretty cat again? And my birds - are they there?
            K.M. [To Ida Baker, 20 February 1922.]

Dearest Jeanne
   I am so awfully sorry to have put off you and Marie. Do come in May - Paris is perfect then and we shall be able to walk about and do a little (what Jack always calls) nose flattening. As far as he has flattened he says the shops are marvellous, especially the china shops. I have a special passion for china shops. Have you? He has bought already a very light grey teapot covered with tiny blue flowers for 1/ 6 which pours perfectly and would have cost at least 7/6 in Heals, my dear! So save your pennies for May.
   There is a whiff of some kind of exciting secret in your letter. Or do I dream it? I feel certain there was something in the air. Perhaps its only spring. And I do feel too that this year is going to be a lucky one. It has begun well which is half the battle. Yes, I am terrified to say my book is due on the 23rd. It is like waiting in the wings to come on to the stage. I wish I could learn my part all over again, but there is no time.
   I am so glad you like DelaMare. He is a wonderful person as well as poet. Do you know his book The Three Mullar Mulgars? It is the story of three monkeys - very nice monkeys - not like the ones in McNab's gardens. I am awfully fond of it.
   Forgive this groggy writing. My fountain pen has failed me. Why do fountain pens always die so early. As soon as one has become really attached to them they curl up their nibs and spit their last. It is very sad.
                      Your devoted
                            K.  [To Ida Baker, 16 February 1922.]