To General le Duc Alain de Mylcandonai
Palais Royal
Rue St Honor�
Paris
Mon Cher Fils,
Apologies for the delay in writing to you. If you recall, I was suffering
from an embarrassing ailment at the time of our last correspondence and
finally had to travel to Baden Baden to take the waters in order to clear it
up. Damn'd nuisance. Place reminded me of Switzerland - not a decent
bordello to be found anywhere.
I was surprised to find that Duc von Fersen was so popular in Germany. The
Sauerkrauts, to a man, are convinced that he will persuade His Majesty to
concentrate on Spain where military affairs are concerned - and leave them
to grow their cabbages in peace for the foreseeable future. Is there any
truth in this ?
I got back to Paris just in time to attend Nicole's wedding. Grand enough
show - but since I was footing the bill there would have been hell to pay
had it been anything less. Your presence was sadly missed, but from the
recent news I presume you were busy canvassing support for your attempt to
become Minister of State. Who'd have thought it, eh? A son of mine vying for
the Ministry of State! The de Butante's will be green when they find out!
Good luck, my boy!!
No doubt finally getting Nicole off our hands will be as great a relief to
you as it is for me. What a merry dance she has led us before getting to the
altar! I thought that poor Bleys would have kept her out of Grosscanard's
clutches - until that Spanish sniper did for him. I see that Grosscanard
will never forgive you your part in arranging for him to spend a year at the
front - though since he persistantly refused to leave your sister alone
there was little else you could do. It would have been different if the
beast had had the merest shred of gentility, of course, instead of making a
point of trampling your poor sister's good name in the mud at every
opportunity. I told you at the time you would be better to persuade Duc Zer
to send him to the scaffold if you didn't want to have him dogging your
steps in the future - some men are born to be hanged and I'm still convinced
that Grosscanard is one of them - and time has only proved me right. I'm
told that he recently made a song and dance concerning a suposed slur to his
'honour' (pretty rich from the man who made a point of cuckolding as many
campaigning soldiers as possible over the Summer!!) and then failed to turn
up to meet you!! Typical of the 'man' isn't it? There's nothing more
pathetic than an embittered old reprobate who finds it impossible to accept
that his misfortunes have been brought about by his own actions. God help
France if Axel becomes Minister of State and appoints him as
Commissioner....
At the wedding I heard all the gossip regarding your recent troubles with
Senior, of course, but what's the real reason behind Senior's incredible
behaviour? Did he _really_ want to usurp all the powers of His Majesty, or
just nail you before running away to the Colonies?
By the time you read this I'll be back at Mylcandonai-sur-Rhone. Having
missed the vindange I want to make sure that everything is in order. I
thought you were talking of regaining Petite Masure for estate? Any movement
on this?
Your Proud Father,
Lt.Colonel (Retd) le Chevalier Marcel de Mylcandonai
