François Mitterrand sends a long love letter to his lover.

François Mitterrand (1916.1996)

Autographed letter signed to Marie-Louise Terrasse, known as Catherine Langeais.

Two pages in quarto. Slight tear at the top.

Paris. September 29, 1938.

"You see, my Marie-Louise, I love you too much to be patient." »

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“My darling Marie-Louise, Here I am in Paris. Sky, streets, faces, rumors, I recognized them like friends. But friends who matter little, for it is not them I came looking for. I had decided to leave Jarnac yesterday morning. Before leaving, I received your letter: I had been waiting for it for a long time and was beginning to make a hundred suppositions that could explain your silence. I even had to delay my departure by a few hours because I went to Royan in the afternoon to fetch my sister from Algeria, who had rushed back to France to be with her three grandchildren. At 10:26 p.m., I left Angoulême, and at 4:30 a.m. this morning, September 29, three months to the day after our parting, I touched down in Paris, ‘my great city.’”

I've already made a sort of pilgrimage… And your thoughts, my darling, follow me everywhere. I rediscover with each passing moment that I love you. Not halfway, but completely, absolutely. As if it's only possible to love once. If I'm here, it's solely for you, and to see you. Nothing else matters to me except being with you again , hearing you say you love me.

You tell me you're not returning to Avenue d'Orléans until next week. I curse Jean Zay and will never forgive him for that! But wouldn't it be possible to see you anyway? I long for it so! Couldn't you arrange to meet me in Valmondois or the surrounding area? Or come to Paris, at least for a day, which would allow for this long-awaited meeting? Think very seriously about a way you could arrange it and tell me immediately. I'll certainly be at the agreed-upon place. You see, my Marie-Louise, I love you too much to be patient : and if you yourself wish it, please don't let this impatience get the better of me!

This letter must be short: I'm expected for dinner. I've already seen several friends (real or not, in any case nothing dangerous (for the latter!)). I'm quite astonished to realize that nothing exists anymore without you! But I'm getting used to it very well, and wouldn't change my ways for the most lavish treasures! I love you: what could be more wonderful than that?

My darling, I'm going to ask you for a big sacrifice: so that I can feel your presence and love a little on Saturday, write to me tomorrow and tell me everything you would have said (or thought) to me that day. It will be a small substitute for what I was hoping for… I mean so much to you.

Darling, I have so much to tell you: projects, ambitions (you'll help me achieve them), and above all: my love for you. I worry so easily that you must also tell me that you love me… At least a little bit… My beloved Marie-Louise, see you very soon, won't you? I can't wait to finally see you, you whom I love more than anything. François. PS: 1) I hope to see you within a week, because after October 19th… Service! 2) Here is my address: c/o Mr. Bouvyer, 16 rue Gustave Zédé, Paris 16th arrondissement. Eternal postscript: I love you .

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Catherine Langeais (1923-1998), whose real name was Marie-Louise Terrasse, met François Mitterrand on January 28, 1938, at the ball of the École Normale Supérieure. Although only 15 years old, she became engaged to him. Mitterrand wrote more than 300 letters to the young woman he nicknamed Zou.