Paris
Cost of living in Brussels compared to that of Paris is after all not so cheap – Ventura offers Rizal his apartment at Paris and money if he needs any – Various pieces of news, letters, and envelopes for Rizal – Ventura talks about the ladies he is with.
* * *
Paris, 24 February 1890
DEAR FRIEND PEPE,
I have two unanswered letters from you, one dated 13th and the other 22nd received yesterday. I have read them both and I am glad that you are well.
I see by the budget that you send me in your first letter that it is not so cheap there as you thought at the beginning, for, according to that note, your monthly necessary expenses amount to thirty-one pesos. With an equal amount, without paying for house and service, you could live in Paris, a city far more important than that and which suits you much more under any consideration.
I say “without paying for house and service,” because I hope you have not been punished for living with me, and always whenever it may occur to you to come to Paris, you must stay at my house. You will thus do me a favor for I shall be accompanied, without taxing my budget, as I am spending the same amount now as when you were here.
In short, it is up to you, V. cuidado, as we say over there. You know that this house is at your complete disposal.
With regard to the house, in my letter of the 5th of this month, I wrote you any new address: 4 bis Rue de Cateaudun and I hope there will be no trouble in your mail. If it is convenient and more secure, put your letters in double envelopes, one with my name and address and the other with your own.
Do not worry about money for, as Monsieur says, I have never been so well off. Two days ago I gave him the first draft for 200 pesos. Tell me what you need and I will send it to you by return mail.
I have thanked Monsieur Raulin on your behalf and told him to charge me for what he has paid for you.
Next Saturday I shall go to see Luna and at the same time I will take along the copy of Morga for Don Pablo.
You have not told me if you have received a letter from Hong Kong that I sent you last week.
With this goes a paper which was received for you, in case it is of use to you.
I have not received El Dia for a long time.
I hope he would make up his mind to spend a few days with you. He will divert you from your ordinary routine and remind you of happy days in Paris.
On the other hand, I have almost broken with my brunette. The other night I went to the theater with her and I do not know if it is by accident or because she gave him an appointment, the fact is that in the middle of the performance someone came and wished to stay. Politely I made him understand that he was a bother until he finally went away. As a result of this, she became serious and then with the frankness that characterizes us I told her clearly that when she was with me I did not want anybody to come to the lodge. We separated very much disgusted and for a week now we have not seen each other. These people do not want to understand that a Filipino will not play a ridiculous role.
For the present I have only my blonde and I am glad because I can now devote myself to her, which she well deserves, for the poor one is very amiable
Until the next, receive a close embrace of your sincere friend who esteems you,
V. VENTURA
03-507 [Reformists]