[Postcard] 
Monte Carlo (Monaco), 21 May 1882 

Hotel de Russie 
Dearest Child, 

Your being my oldest creditor, I had in fact intended writing to- 
day (Sunday) a long letter, but homme propose, mais le thermométre 
dispose. Il y a aujourd’hui un jour parfaitement beau, mais exceptionnel: donc 
je veux Vexploiter en air libre, au lieu ‘d’écrire’, et de ne pas écrire le soir. 
C’est convenu avec mes conseillers de santé. 

Before leaving ami Fermé, I told him: On landing at the Southern 
coast of France, the weather at once will come out a turn-coat. And 
indeed — so ‘fatal’ a man I pride myself upon this my quality — the 
prophecy has been partially fulfilled. From the beginning of January the 
Riviera enjoyed a summer weather never so brilliant, some grumblers 
only complaining of an absolute lack of rain almost. The moment 
I arrived on the 4th May at Marseille, there set in rain, lasting some- 
times a whole, more generally a half day, and mostly during the 
nights; a general lowering of temperature; then and there cold winds; 
altogether changeable, variable weather; atmosphere, even if not of- 
ten, too saturated with aqueous vapours. With all that, here a rela- 
tively good warm weather, only not so dry and more constant than I want 
just now for my lungs. But nowhere in Italy or elsewhere you will find 
it a better one now: Cannes, Monte Carlo and Mentone are the three 
most healthsome places, of the most equable and on an average — 
warmer temperature than Nizza, Rome and Naples. 

Yours, 
Old Nick 

[On the side reserved for the address] 

Miss Marx 

41 Maitland Park Road 
Maitland Park 

London (N.W.) (Angleterre)