Armand’s First Letter. Amelia’s First Letter.
16 September 1018
Former’s Guild House, Mont-Havre
Dear Armand,
This has been a bittersweet week, making notes about cafés and shops that I grew to love and now do not dare to enter, but it has had its moments. Durand Park remains open to all, though I have attracted a glare or two as I stroll about; I have quite reconciled with M. Fournier; and Leon Suprenant has been an absolute brick and a great help.
The city is growing, which will not surprise you; I suppose it has been growing endlessly since the Deuxiéme Debarquement, when Durand brought the children of Provençe to the Promised Land, so to speak. And so I have found new cafés for my petit dejeuner, and new shops where I am not known that will amply serve the needs of any newly arrived gentleman. They will perhaps not be up to snuff for those at the highest level of His Majesty’s service, but no matter; they shall not be short of introductions, I have no doubt.
And yes, this means that some of my old favorites will get not much more than a mention. A tailor who will not look at a man who has lost his patronage will be of no use to a man who has gained none. Once my guidebook is out, I’ve no doubt that some of the shops that snubbed me a few weeks ago will begin a sing a different tune. Not that it will help them or me.
I’m sorry, Armand, I know I shouldn’t be spiteful. But the fault is hardly mine, as they have made me unwelcome in their establishments, and that unfairly. And you see, I daren’t let the cat out of the bag. If my book is published it must be under an assumed name; and so no one here, other than you, can know that I am the author. My old tailor might perhaps reconsider his snobbishness if given cause to do so; but that will not make me welcome, and so how should I know?
And I have come to discover that it’s better this way, you know. I wish to direct readers to those places where they will be treated well despite being nobody and knowing no one; and how can I judge that if every shopkeeper knows I will be writing him up for publication?
There is a matter upon which you can help me. I have enclosed a brief history of Armorica that I have written, and a list of points of interest in Mont-Havre and in the wider region, in the production of which I have had the aid of M. Suprenant. I wish you to read them to Madame Truc and to Jacques-le-Souris, and to take down their reflections, and especially their corrections. Jacques, I am sure, will have some choice anecdotes, and I well know that Madame Truc forgets nothing and no one.
Also, see if they can give me names of other early colonists who might still be here in Mont-Havre. If I am to do this thing, I shall take care to do it thoroughly!
I am sorry to write so briefly, but my good right hand is tired, for I have spent the day at my desk; to make up for it, I enclose a sketch of the fountain in Durand Park that I made yesterday afternoon.
Your pained but productive cousin,
Jack
____
Photo by Peter Herrmann on Unsplash
Zymurgia House 