Letter from Mrs. Martin CF 79
To his brother Isidore Guérin
Mai 1872.
I would really like to know what you think of the terrible events predicted for this year, since everything is turning in the opposite direction to what was expected: the Government is more assured than ever, everything seems to be going well, and it is not possible to believe that there will be something tragic, unless you are a prophet. Finally, I would however like to know a little about what to expect, I am making enormous sacrifices to ensure the return of the funds for my goods, by the end of June.
Next Tuesday, I'll send another shuttlecock [see here a piece made by Zélie] for three thousand francs to a very good house, but I can't be paid before the end of July. If I demand it for the next month, I must make a discount of 5%, which gives a fairly considerable loss; but what displeases me the most is to appear to be embarrassed, because, if one acts thus, one passes for a house without credit; you understand, indeed, that one cannot imagine my fear of a revolution.
However, my husband is not reassured, and I saw today that he would not be sorry to have an opinion from you and to know what you would do in our place. If so, you can write me a little note for Sunday, you will give me great pleasure; if you can write a big one, that will do my business even better.
Louis left Tuesday morning, at five o'clock, with six gentlemen of the city, for a pilgrimage to Chartres; they've been back since yesterday. They found themselves about twenty thousand at the feet of the Madonna, it seems that it was magnificent, but there were not enough beds for everyone, they had to sleep on the straw or in the church. Louis spent the night in the underground chapel, where there were masses from midnight until noon the following day. He dined with the priests of Alençon and those of the Pilgrimage. He told me that everyone seemed to believe things would work out amicably, with no broken heads or burnt houses. One of them claimed to know, from a certain source, that the Church would soon triumph. Can he tell the truth!
