I Tatti, Ponte a Mensola (sotto Settignagno). - Has just arrived from Paris. Mary [Berenson] is still 'very much an invalid', but B.B. and Nicky [Mariano] seem all right. Saw [Maria] Germanova in Paris, who hopes to see Julian if he comes over; [her son] Andryusha is arriving today he would see him. Also saw Betty Chetwynd, who still seems 'rather an invalid', and has to take things very easily; she is going to her mother at Nice for three weeks on Sunday and says if Julian and Ursula would like to use her flat when in Paris they need only go and tell the concierge; they need not write to her beforehand. Discovered that the friend of [Jean] Marchand who is so ill lives in the same house, so went to see them and Marchand afterwards.
Originally enclosing another letter to Julian. The [Adolf] Busch-[Rudolf] Serkin visit was 'a great success'; his German was 'not up to the occasion' but that did not matter. Thinks they are going to Paris in November or December, but Elizabeth will send concert dates. Had meant to write to Betty Chetwynd and get her to go, but saw in the evening papers that her brother Philip has 'killed himself in a tube station' so she will probably be too upset. Did not know Philip as well as her other brother [Wentworth]. Will probably not go to Italy until January. So Julian has now met Cyril Connolly: he is 'a queer fish, very intelligent but very lazy'; always got on well with him, but has never been an intimate friend.
Glad Julian is having such a good time in Spain. Betty Chetwynd wrote recently saying that she was going to Paris on 1 Oct, so recommends that Julian write to her about bringing the parcel of drawings and canvasses. Betty Muntz's sister Hope is also going to Paris soon, so Julian could write to her; recommends he meet her, as they should get on. [Lascelles] Abercrombie is still 'rather well', as is [his daughter] Elizabeth. Donald [Tovey] is finishing scoring his cello concerto, and will leave on Tuesday. C.A. [Clifford Allen] is very well but [his wife] less so. Had a 'pleasant' week at Wallington and Hallington. Bessie is well, but 'a bit over-driven with all our guests and invalids'.
Addressed to Julian at 7 Villa Brune, Paris XIVme . - Hope Muntz is now not going to Paris until January; Betty Chetwynd is, he thinks on 1 October, so she may be able to bring Julian's canvasses if he writes to her. Donald [Tovey] has gone, having finished his cello concerto; Lascelles [Abercrombie] is much better.
5 rue Denfert Rochereau, Boulougne S[ur]/S[eine]. - A[leksandr] P[etrovitch] has sent the larger part - ten chapters - of her manuscript to Bob today; these cover the 'most important turns' in her life and the theatre, and discusses the roles which formed her as an actress; they give a good impression of the work as a whole, and she thinks Bob could send it to Mr R[odker]; she hopes to send the rest in a few days. Anxious to hear what they think of it. Rang Miss Chetwynd on the telephone today to see how her operation had gone, but found it had been postponed due to her surgeon's influenza. The weather in Paris is lovely, and she much enjoys the views from their windows; expects it is also 'wonderfull [sic]' at the Shiffolds.
5 rue Denfert Rochereau, Boulougne S[ur]/S[eine]. - Very good of Bob to talk about her memoirs to Mr Rudker [sic: John Rodker]. Hopes to send the manuscript in a few days; she and her husband are currently re-copying it to make it 'decent and readable'. Is feeling 'very shy', as this is a new area of work for her; understands it may not suit English traste, being 'too Russian - personal, intimate and "mystical". It will be a disappointment, not a discouragement, if Mr Rodker does not publish it in English; in that case would like to know whether Rodker's opinion is also unfavourable towards the book itself; is 'very brave' and likes to struggle. Has seen Miss Chetwynd, who looks 'charming' but it is clear she is 'suffering'; liked her very much, and it turned out she had seen Maria act in London so they were 'not quite strangers'; an American girl had also seen Maria act, in New York. Asks him to thank Bessie for inviting her to see Mrs Moore; she enjoyed the evening very much. Mrs Moore is 'so artistic and human' and plays the piano, Maria's favourite instrument, beautifully. Will not judge Mr Ryker's [?] playing, but he was 'very nice and friendly'. Asks to be remembered to Ursula, and hopes she is well now.