Argenteuil, Monday, 21 August 1882 
11 Boulevard Thiers 

Dear Frep, 

The ‘conversion into silver’* took place the day before yester- 
day. 

The week beginning last Monday ° distinguished itself by abomi- 
nable weather: rain (at times cold), storms, sultriness; above all wet, 
while a ‘water shortage’ was ‘officially’ announced in Paris. Not even 
the Flood would have deterred the bureaucrats here from contriving 
an ‘official drought’ in respect of water for drinking, washing, domes- 
tic and industrial purposes, etc. 

Yesterday, my last perambulation in the salle d’inhalation: and the 
pleasure of a bath and douche at Enghien, where I was also given 
my valedictory examination by Dr Feugier; result: 

1. The bronchial rale much reduced; would have gone completely 
but for my ill-luck with the weather. 

2. The pleuritic frottement* noise remains in status quo; an altogether 
predictable circumstance. At best, and this is by no means frequent, 
the after-effects of pleurésie may last for years. They are sending me to 
Lake Geneva, whence the weather reports have so far been favour- 
able, since both doctores* are of the opinion that the last traces of my 
bronchial catarrh might well depart of their own accord there. Qui 
vivra verra.' The season, they say, is too far advanced for respiratory 
gymnastics in the mountains, and I must, above all, avoid the 
cold. 

On this occasion I have been ordered to travel to Switzerland only 
by day and shall therefore have to stay overnight in Dijon and not be- 
take myself to my destination until the morrow. They are absolutely 
determined, of course, to obviate any pretext for a ‘rechute’. 

Tussychen left last Wednesday with Johnny; we have had a letter 

* A jocular hint at the receipt of money from Engels.-> 14 August-° inhalation 
room-* rubbing-* Dourlen and Feugier-' We shall see.-8 relapse 

from her; all went well. She intended to go to Eastbourne with 
Johnny on 19 August (Saturday). Because her pedagogic purposes 
demand above all that to begin with rHe younc man should be solely 
under her supervision, Tussy has chosen a seaside resort where he 
won’t find any ‘friends’. 

Jennychen is, alas, poorly. What is more, present ‘circum- 
stances # make rest and recuperation completely impossible for 
her. 

Laura Is ALL RIGHT, leaves with me tomorrow. 

Lissagaray’s row with the Brousse gang °°°-has had one good result 
in that the latter no longer has a daily paper at its disposal. That dip- 
lomat Malon is keeping neutral vis-a-vis Brousse in this affair, since 
he (Malon) could not permit himself, vis-a-vis Rochefort, his editor- 
en-chef, to express sympathy for Brousse e¢ ce in the Jntransigeant (nor 
does he ‘wish’ he ‘could’). 

Guesde and his party are gaining the upper hand. 

Best wishes to Jollymeyer* and Pumps. 

Salut. 

‘Moor’ 

Mr Longuet, with his usual tact, is fetching Roy to meet me at déjeu- 
ner>; in the course of 3 months the only day he could hit on for the 
purpose was today, when I have to pack, etc., etc.; in addition, I must 
pay a farewell visit to Dr Dourlen and, finally, would like to be on my 
own with Jennychen.