漏 Copyright 2001 R. G. Harrison Letter 487 Arles, 12 May 1888
My dear Theo,
I am writing a line again to tell you that I have been to see the gentleman whom the Arab Jew in Tartarin calls 鈥渓e Zouge de paix.鈥?p style="line-height:25px;text-indent:32px"> Anyway, I have got 12 francs back, and the innkeeper was reprimanded for keeping back my luggage,
seeing that he had no right to keep it when I did not refuse to pay. If he had won his case, it would have been harmful to me, for he would not have failed to tell everyone that I could not or would not pay, and that he had been obliged to keep my trunk. Whereas now 鈥?for I left at the same time as he did 鈥?he said in the street that he had lost his temper, but that he had not meant to insult me.
I think myself that this was probably just what he was trying to do, and seeing that I had had enough of his joint and that he could not force me to stay, he would have tried to blacken my reputation here. So that鈥檚 that. If I had wanted to get what is probably the fair reduction, I ought to have claimed more, for instance for damages. If I let myself be had by the first comer here, you can imagine that soon I should not know where to turn. I have found a better restaurant where I can get a meal for 1 franc.
I am in better health now.
Just now I have done two new studies like these [F 408, JH 1417; F 409, JH 1416]: you have a drawing of one of them already, a farm by the high road among cornfields [F 1415, JH 1408].
A meadow full of very yellow buttercups, a ditch with irises, green leaves and purple flowers, the town in the background, some gray willows 鈥?a strip of blue sky.
If the meadow does not get mowed, I鈥檇 like to do this study again, for the subject was very beautiful, and I had some trouble getting the composition. A little town surrounded by fields all covered with yellow and purple flowers; exactly 鈥?can鈥檛 you see it? 鈥?like a Japanese dream.
I asked the cost of carriage for the things I sent, which have gone by goods train, and it will be 7 francs to the station in Paris. As I haven鈥檛 much left, I did not pay in advance here, but if they ask more you must protest; the case is marked VV&W. 1042.
Yesterday and today we have had mistral again. I hope that what I have sent will arrive before Tersteeg comes to Paris.
With a handshake, write soon.
Ever yours, Vincent