London, 11 April 1883 

My dear Laura, 

I do indeed think, along with you, that Paul ought to go and see his 
mother and I have told him so many a time and many a year ago. As 
to the extra expense, that will not be much and I can soon find you 
that, if informed in time. Only, if things are as you describe, it will re- 
quire some considerable diplomacy on Paul’s part, not to spoil his 
own game — that Christian sister of charity ought not to be made an 
enemy of’—she is always there and Paul not, and if only her sus- 
picions are aroused, be sure she will never cease to beguile the old 
woman into a will as much in her favour as the law will permit. So 
that point I suppose is settled — you'll have to look after the execu- 
tion. 

We all of us have had a hearty laugh at your account of the Argen- 
teuil adventures. It is so like him? from beginning to end. To-day it 

* Charles Longuet 

is a week that Tussy sent him a very categorical letter: when is the 
boy? to come? Not a line in reply. Hi est toujours en train de réfléchir.” 

Paul is sure of six months at least. ° He was awfully funky about it 
when here, and amused Liebknecht out of all measure with his horror 
carceris.© But if he does not now start in earnest to learn German, 
I shall consider him to be nothing but un enfant gaté.? Imagine he 
writes to me that he wll learn it— ‘comme vous le dites trés bien (!) il 
pourra (!) devenir nécessatre que je le sache pour des traductions!’.° As if the 
perfection of his own accomplishments, bright as they are, did not en- 
tirely depend on his reading certain German things, published and 
unpublished! He rejoices in the prospect of the 2nd volume [of] Capz- 
tal being published, but will he ever be able to read it? 

If M-me Gendre will translate the Manifest‘ into French and let me 
revise the translation (it’s no child’s play, you know) I will write her 
a preface sufficient to explain the historical circumstances, etc. !° But 
as I know nothing much of the lady, I am bound to say at present: no 
revision, no preface. A right to stop any proceedings of hers in that di- 
rection I have not. This notabene is for Paul. So is this: What speech 
of Giffen he writes about I don’t know, nor where it was published. 

Pumps is still ‘expectant’, or was so at least last night. Percy’s 
mother told him the other day that really he ought to be a little better 
informed in a case like that. 

Jollymeyer is here for a few days. Since then (as some days before 
he left 10 days ago) we have every evening a bobby promenading be- 
fore the house, when I let Carlo out about 12. The imbeciles evidently 
think we are manufacturing dynamite, when in reality we are discuss- 
ing whisky. 

Kind regards from him and myself to both of you. 

Yours affectionately, 
F. Engels