Paris
He explains the disappointment of the Pardo de Tavera family at Rizal’s departure – They would have liked him to stay for a birthday dinner – Sending Rizal money – His baggage at the train station – Would Rizal want issues of La Solidaridad and El Dia sent to him? – Manly activities.
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Paris, 5 February 1890
MR. JOSE RIZAL
MY DEAR FRIEND,
I have before me your postal card of 30 January and your letter of the 1st instant. I am glad that you have arrived there safely and that your first impression of that city has been favorable.
I was afraid that after having lived eight months in Paris and with our great manliness you would be bored there. But I see that you really have the qualities of a traveler, on which I congratulate you, for these are very useful, so that you would not be married or be chased,[1] which is the same thing.
I already told you not to worry about the seriousness or the peevishness of the Pardo family. The lady of the house did not “gossip,” so far as I know of, but simply that they wanted you to stay until after Wednesday to eat with them on that day, being Eloisa’s birthday. For this reason, Eloisa is so resentful; truly the commitment is strong, worse than . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
On Wednesday morning I received a letter form Doña Tula inviting me to dinner. I went and at the dinner I was told that it was Eloisa’s birthday. Imagine my surprise for I knew nothing about it.
Doña Tula and Eloisa were very resentful of you for not having stayed, but I told them you did not know about it, because had you known it, you would have certainly stayed.
So that as far as this side is concerned there has been nothing of “having left on time,” as you said. After what I am telling you, you will understand that the “anger” was rather a polite attention
At last I have collected the postal money order this morning. Tell me how you want me to send it to you. It seems to me that the simplest way is to send you a one-hundred-francs bill in a registered letter.
They have come to get your trunks. Only on the day following your departure did they come to ask for your address and as at that time [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ] I understand that your packages have been sent to the railroad station of that city, so that it may not be superfluous for you to go to the station to inquire. Ma . . . will write you about the matter.
I have received copies of La Solidaridad as well as of El Dia. Tell me if you want to send them there.
Enclosed are three letters for you.
Finally I sign today the lease of the new house for two years – Rue Chateaudun 4 bis.
I continue with my manly activities. At this moment they are knocking at the door.
Regards to Alberto and you receive a close embrace of your true friend.
V. VENTURA.
03-499 [Reformists]
[1] There is a play of words in the original Spanish: “ . . . para que no se case V. o que le cazen que es to mismo . ” The word case is from the verb casar (to marry) and cazen from the verb cazar (to hunt, to chase).