Paris
MR. JOSE RIZAL
Ghent
DEAR FRIEND PEPE,
At this moment I receive your letter of yesterday and without losing time I am answering it, so that you can do what seems to you best, without thinking of the question of funds.
Yesterday I sent you two hundred francs and in the letter I wrote you, I told you to let me know if you needed more. You can count then on one hundred fifty pesos and some more, if you need it, without having to resort to anyone. Precisely I am well off now with funds that I do not need.
Telegraph me if you want to send there the one hundred fifty pesos or part of it only. Do not bother about the amount you have already taken, because I do not need it.
Without doubt it must have shocked you that I have not told you my impression of your work El Filibusterismo. Frankly, I read it once and I am thinking of reading it again to see if I find something which will permit me to make a little observations; because to tell you only that I have found it perfect, good, correct, vigorous, poetic, and with feeling, as you must have already been told, is not worthwhile. Knowing our friendship, it must be supposed that though these are my impressions, it is unnecessary to tell them to you.
Of all your personages or characters, the one I like best is Isagani, who is gentle and poetic when dealing with Paulita, energetic and consistent when he talks with his enemies and for his country. Neither is Basilio bad, only it seems to me that he deserves everything that happened to him for being so indifferent to the things pertaining to his country. Juanito Pelaez and Ben-Zayb are two characters whose originals, it seems to me, are two countrymen of ours; one that we knew in Barcelona, then was with us in Madrid, and presently is in the Philippines; the other we met here during the Exposition. Do you recognize them?
I appreciate very much your having inscribed to me the rough draft, but you already know that we are like two brothers and for that reason I ought to be the last; so that if you have any other commitment, you may dispose of it without any . . .
When you come, bring three or four copies. Do you not think you ought to inscribe a copy for Ramirez?
Your affectionate friend,
V. VENTURA
03-654 [Reformists]