UNEXPECTED RELIEF. 185 



boldt, whom I had not seen for a long time, 

 in order to speak to him concerning Auguste's 

 affair, but that I did not find him. In former 

 visits I had spoken to him about my position, 

 and told him that I did not well know what 

 course to take with my publisher. He offered 

 to write to him, and did so more than two 

 months ago. Thus far, neither he nor I have 

 had any answer. This morning, just as I was 

 going out, a letter came from M. de Hum- 

 boldt, who writes me that he is very uneasy at 

 receiving no reply from Cotta, that he fears 

 lest the uncertainty and anxiety of mind re- 

 sulting from this may be injurious to my work, 

 and begs me to accept the inclosed credit of 

 a thousand francs. . . . Oh ! if my mother 

 would forget for one moment that this is the 

 celebrated M. de Humboldt, and find courage 

 to write him only a few lines, how grateful I 

 should be to her. I think it would come 

 better from her than from papa, who would 

 do it more correctly, no doubt, but perhaps 

 not quite as I should like. Humboldt is so 

 good, so indulgent, that you should not hesi- 

 tate, dear mother, to write him a few lines. He 

 lives Rue du Colombier, No. 22 ; address, quite 

 simply, M. de Humboldt. . . . 



