My Beloved Toto: Letters from Juliette Drouet to Victor Hugo 1833-1882

1870s

1870s 199 Letter 168 Guernsey, 7 August 1870 Sunday afternoon, half past 3:00 Whatever you decide and whatever you do, my dear beloved, I’m with you, heart, body, and soul. So don’t hesitate to make and unmake plans until you find one you like and can put into action.1 But above all, no separation, not even for a second, whatever happens! Happiness or unhappiness or death must find us inseparable. This is our contract that neither one of us any more than the other has the right to break. It must be accepted once and for all and never breached, no matter what the circumstances and events that present themselves . I harp on it so that you won’t make me any more nasty propositions for the future. For this once, I forgive Papapa.2 I see that the Rimmel fellow and the Austrian fellow have the capital luck of dropping into Hauteville House precisely on the day when you’re doing your Charles the favor of reading him some poetry! Happily, I’ll benefit from it also along with him, along with them, and along with all the company present at that moment. What happiness! What happiness!! What happiness!!! Letter 169 Bordeaux, 27 February 1871 Monday evening, 5 o’clock Dear beloved, far from filling me with joy, this beautiful day gives me, on the contrary, an immense desire to cry. It’s because I’m thinking of our dear little paradise lost, in Guernsey, of our sweet walks around the island that we will perhaps never take again, of our life that was so peaceful and so happy, of your undisputed glory, of your genius shining over everybody, of your sublime word heeded religiously at all four points of the compass—compared with what happens here1 and what threatens you in the future—and I’m sad right to the depths of my soul. I don’t dare to wish for an egotistical happiness by asking God to return to me what I miss so bitterly, because I’m not sure that your heart feels the same need as mine. But I ardently beg Him to keep at a distance all the chalices that are extended toward you all at the same time and to preserve you from all perils. 200 My Beloved Toto Letter 170 Brussels, 28 May 1871 Sunday afternoon, 4 o’clock Is it possible, my great beloved, that it’s because of your letter that was so sublime, so magnanimous, and so generous for the vanquished and the victorious, that the attempt was made, almost successfully, to assassinate you last night at your house, perhaps risking the life of your two little grandchildren and of their mother, the poor widow of your son Charles?!1 It is hard to believe, and it puts this country to shame and reveals the black ingratitude of those you defend, which is as great as that of your opponents. I am devastated and overwhelmed by it more than I have ever been by anything in my life, long and full of trials as it has been. Here is Suzanne back from your place. The superintendent of police was just at your house. He came to ask you not to sleep there tonight. Not that he doesn’t answer for2 Letter 171 Paris,a 27 January 1872 Friday evening, 4 o’clock I hope, my great swot, that you haven’t decided to take the key to the fields or the key to the woods or to the wildflowers in this season of frogs and Gribouilles?b On this topic, I remind you that your umbrella is here. You must have received the letter containing the three hundred francs for Charroin that Suzanne was to deliver to you personally this morning. I give you this little reminder so you won’t forget it in the midst of all the things you have to do, not to mention all the fish you have to fry. Tell me now, Mister Poet, to what astonishing nurse are these gallant verses dedicated that you thought inappropriate to have me copy?1 This little scruple of conscience probably hides a big infamy for which my poor old heart will have to suffer, alas! The proof is that the strained smile I tried to put on as I began this question ends with my eyes filling with...