Juliette DROUET, in love, wishes to be beautiful for her Victor HUGO. 1847.

Juliette DROUET (1806-1883).

Autograph letter signed to Victor Hugo.

Four pages in-8°. Fine restoration to the central fold.

[Paris]. April 26, Monday afternoon, 2:14 PM [1847]

"I don't want to be outwardly ridiculous and sordid as long as I can and as long as I belong to you.". »

Charming autograph letter from Juliette Drouet to her “Toto”: needing two new dresses – and not “ a public, ostentatious and spoiled patchwork ” – the actress solicits her lover before rejoicing in the return of Marion Delorme.

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" No matter what you say or do, my poor Toto, you'll have to go through with two dresses that I absolutely need. I'm speaking to you very seriously, and if you can't give them to me, I'll sell something of my own, because I prefer this extreme to the humiliating ridicule of an ostentatious and spoiled public patchwork."

You no longer need to fear the influence of my coquettishness, which has persisted for nearly fifteen years. I have given you ample proof of my simplicity and thrift for you not to question my needs. I do not wish, as long as I am able and as long as I belong to you, to appear outwardly ridiculous and sordid . Besides, everything I am telling you is superfluous , and your opposition is merely feigned and intended to tease me a little.

Well, I'm teased enough as it is; and besides, I'm unwell . Leave me alone and be quiet. And you owe me forty-eight sous in old money, not counting the new. Pay me and I'll let you off the hook.

Quiet, quiet*. It seems that, thanks to the warm weather, they've finally decided to give Marion Delorme to the Comédie-Française. This process moves me and fills me with admiration for the administration, the members, the grant, the stagehand, the prompter, and the fireman on duty.

If I dared, I would even extend it to you, for the selfless, foolish, and peer-of-France manner with which you allow yourself to be swept away in the pleasant season of flowers, villas, countryside, and travel. One could not be more academic and more charming. Come, let me embrace you in gratitude. Juliette.

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*A recurring expression found in Juliette Drouet's writing and in various contexts: " Voime, voime ". Florence Naugrette provides an explanation in the glossary dedicated to all the neologisms and other unknown expressions used by Juliette Drouet: "Its contextual recurrence suggests that it could mean ' look at me ' ('vois me') or ' ah yes, really '."