Item 125 - Letter from Maria Germanova to Elizabeth Trevelyan

4, Rue Nungesser et Coli, Paris XVI. - Thanks 'Elisaveta Ivanovna' for showing such concern about her own 'poor naughty heart'. Reksuchka [the dog] was 'so mad with joy' when she got back that it was 'imposssible' for her husband to hug her; then when she had to go to a rehearsal he 'put his paw on her foot, as if to stop [her]'. The theatre did not mind her absence [for a performance in London]; they have had a dress rehearsal already, and the costumes are 'very pretty, but rather heavy'; everyone is nervous about the play ["Crime and Punishment?"] so rehearsals are long. Does not know what she would do without her husband; he asks her to send his thanks to the Trevelyans for their kindness to her. She would be very happy to rest at the Shiffolds, which is 'a dream'; hopes God will let her do that. Managed to avoid sea-sickness on her crossing by praying. Thinks "Anna Karenina" is the 'best of Tolstoi's novels'. She acted the part of Anna for the cinema in Russia in 1914, and was 'so wrapped in the part' she 'studied all the smallest movements of her [Anna's] heart'; they wanted to put it on in the theatre, but Tolstoy, unlike Dostoevsky, is hard to transfer to the stage without losing his 'charm'. Very glad to know the Shiffolds and be able to picture them all there; asks to be remembered to 'Robert Egoritch' and Julian - who 'as usually' was right about the train. Looks forward to Elizabeth visiting her in Paris.