Item 9 - Letter from Venetia Stanley to Edwin Montagu

18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.—Refers to Montagu's apparent annoyance at something said by Violet. Invites him to come again.

(Dated Tuesday. Montagu's reply is B1/9.)

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Transcript

18 Mansfield Street, Portland Place, W.
Tuesday.

My dear Mr Montagu

I dont know whether your annoyance with Violets repetition was entirely simulated so as to see what I should say. Was it? This is what I do say that what she said to me couldnt possibly have mattered in the least and was only passed on to you by me so as to give you a momentary sensation of discomfort if you had a guilty conscience, which I suspect you must have had, also that in practise† she really never repeats unpleasant things that have been said about one. It wont matter much if you do tax her only it wont make a very amusing conversation. I wish I could have got Winston as well as his wife to lunch. Come again one day, {1} any one except Saturday or Monday.

Yrs very sincerely
Venetia Stanley

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{1} ‘day’ interlined above a caret. The caret is placed after the comma, but the word belongs before it.

† Sic.