François Mitterrand sends a long loving letter to his lover.

François Mitterrand (1916.1996)

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

Two pages in 4 °. Light tear in mind.

Paris. September 29, 1938.

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

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“My Marie-Louise Chérie, here I am in Paris. Heaven, streets, faces, rumors, I recognized them as friends. But friends who count little, because it is not the ones I came to seek. I decided to leave Jarnac yesterday morning. Before leaving, I received your letter: I had been waiting for it for a long time and began to make a hundred assumptions that could explain your silence. I had to delay my departure for a few hours because I went to fetch in Royan, in the afternoon, my sister of Algeria returned in haste in France to find her three small children. At 10:26 pm, I left Angoulême and at 4:30 am, this morning September 29, three months for day after our separation, I touched the floor of Paris “my big city”.

I have already made a kind of pilgrimage ... and your thought, my darling, follows me everywhere. I rediscover every moment that I love you. Not half, but totally, absolutely. As it is only possible to love once. If I'm here, it's only for you, and to see you. Nothing has any interest for me anymore, if it is not to find you , to hear you say that you love me.

You do not return, tell me, that next week avenue d'Orléans. I cursed Jean Zay and will never forgive him for it! But wouldn't it be possible to see you anyway? I would like it so much! Can you not meet me in Valmondois and surroundings? Or come to Paris, at least one day, which would allow this long meeting to come? Think very seriously about a way you would tell me immediately. I will certainly be at the fixed place. You see, my Marie-Louise, I love you too much to be patient : and if you want it, make this impatience not find too free field!

This letter must be short: I am expected to dine. I have already reviewed several friends (real or false, in any case nothing dangerous (for seconds!)). I myself am surprised to note that nothing exists out of you! But I do very well, and would not change a state for the most sumptuous treasures! I love you: What is more wonderful than that?

My little darling, I'm going to ask you for a big sacrifice: so that Saturday I feel a bit of your presence and your love, write to me tomorrow and tell me everything you would have told me (or thought) that day. It will replace what I was hoping for ... I will be very careful.

Darling, I have a lot of things to tell you: projects, ambitions (you will help me make them), and above all: my love for you. I am so easily worried that you also have to tell me that you love me ... At least a little bit ... My beloved Marie-Louise, see you very soon, right? I can't wait to see you finally, you I like more than anything. François. PS: 1) I hope to see you in a week, because after Oct 19 ... Service! 2) Here is my address: Chez M. Bouvyer's, 16 rue Gustave Zédé 16, Paris 16th. Eternal post-scriptum: I love you. »»

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Catherine Langeais (1923.1998), whose real name is Marie-Louise Terrasse, met François Mitterrand on January 28, 1938, during the École Normale Supérieure ball, with whom, although only 15 years old, she became engaged. Mitterrand wrote more than 300 letters to the woman he nicknamed Zou.