Dyuman's Correspondence with The Mother

1 July 1934

Mother,

The 14th of July ¹ is coming. The roads on both sides of Aroumé will be filled with crowds of people and there will hardly be any space for people to pass, especially in the evening. I propose that the inmates finish their dinner early, a gate-keeper be put there all through the day, and the gate be locked from inside at 7.30 p.m. I do not fear the public rowdiness, but it is better for us to be on our guard.

Yes, it is better to be on guard. It may even be better to close completely the front gate (except for letting in and out the cart) and to open the door of the waiting room on the rue Francois Martin, with somebody keeping that door. Moreover the terrace of Aroumé will be a wonderful place for watching the fireworks. All those who want to see them must be allowed to remain there and go away together by the back door when all is finished. When they are gone M will bolt the door.

A suggests that the ladies need not go for their food that evening—it can be sent to their rooms in tiffin boxes.

I do not see at all the necessity of these precautions, if things are arranged as I have explained. Moreover, some of the ladies may like to see the fireworks and if they go and come with somebody to accompany them, there is no possible danger.

1 July 1934