8 Sept. 1911
My Dear Captain*--
You were quite right on all of the points made to me yesterday afternoon- Mama is quite mad, you must not be obligingly nice to dear Marjorie, and the capital C is quite the best letter I know of. My darling girl-- I have such an adventure to tell you of you will scarce believe, but you must promise not to tell a soul.
My friend Willy, or Mr. A____ as he is known in polite society, was arrested yesterday from my very doorstep here in Paris by His Majesty's police! Why, you might ask, was my lyrical young friend spirited away? Because, dear girl, they think him guilty of that most infamous crime-- the theft of the Mona Lisa on 22 August of this year. And would you believe? They came for Picasso later in the afternoon. Nothing must happen to them, of course, for they are perfectly innocent, but imagine the intrigue and glamour of the true thief. My dear, I am inclined to begin at once on a new career!
Ah! I must go, give love to your dear mama for me.
Yours ever,
Ned Divine
*Alice Mae Wilkinson
Editor's Note: There is a mysterious element to this letter which bears closer inspection and explanation for the curious reader. 8 Sept. is certainly before 19 Sept., when Alice Mae wrote to Conrad discussing many things that are touched upon in the beginning of the letter. Perhaps we may assume that Alice and Ned had a conversation about it in person.
You were quite right on all of the points made to me yesterday afternoon- Mama is quite mad, you must not be obligingly nice to dear Marjorie, and the capital C is quite the best letter I know of. My darling girl-- I have such an adventure to tell you of you will scarce believe, but you must promise not to tell a soul.
My friend Willy, or Mr. A____ as he is known in polite society, was arrested yesterday from my very doorstep here in Paris by His Majesty's police! Why, you might ask, was my lyrical young friend spirited away? Because, dear girl, they think him guilty of that most infamous crime-- the theft of the Mona Lisa on 22 August of this year. And would you believe? They came for Picasso later in the afternoon. Nothing must happen to them, of course, for they are perfectly innocent, but imagine the intrigue and glamour of the true thief. My dear, I am inclined to begin at once on a new career!
Ah! I must go, give love to your dear mama for me.
Yours ever,
Ned Divine
*Alice Mae Wilkinson
Editor's Note: There is a mysterious element to this letter which bears closer inspection and explanation for the curious reader. 8 Sept. is certainly before 19 Sept., when Alice Mae wrote to Conrad discussing many things that are touched upon in the beginning of the letter. Perhaps we may assume that Alice and Ned had a conversation about it in person.
posted by BeckyF | 11:45 AM
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