Shades of Orange with Many Greens by Walter E. Thompson

Author:Walter E. Thompson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hillcrest Media Group, Inc.

8

A LONG DAY IN AIX

Hotel de la Mule Noire

3, Rue Lacépède

Aix-en-Provence

* * *

Wednesday

Dear Maurice,

Greetings from Aix!

Yes, you must be astounded to learn that I am here. I arrived yesterday evening, making the trip at the very last minute. It was a reckless impulse on my part, and I paid the price. I met Cézanne, and our meeting was a disaster!

This all took place late this afternoon, and I'm still beside myself. Now it's after midnight, the air is stifling, and I'm so upset I can't sleep or even remain in bed for long. Since I can't calm down, I'm going to set down on paper everything that has happened to me from the time I decided to come here yesterday. Maybe then, if I get today's events recorded, my mind will surrender to a little sleep. If not, at least I'll have put these odd hours to some good use.

Let me recount things exactly in the order they occurred. I'm sure you will want to savor every morsel of this story. However much it has devastated me, it must intensely interest you. Even in my present state of mind, I can't fail to see some amusing sides to my ill-fated adventure here.

You will recall I thought it unlikely that there would be time left over after my business in Avignon. Well, I was quite wrong about that. The presentation to my father's clients went more smoothly than I could have imagined. I was finished by noon, and they said they would have an answer for me in a day or two...if I didn't mind spending a little time in the town...just until the day after tomorrow...they would arrange excellent accommodations, etc. Can you imagine?

The extra day and a half suddenly made it possible, after all, to think of going to Aix to try to meet Cézanne in person. Given his difficult personality, I knew from the start it was an imprudent idea, especially without warning him. But to tell the truth, I was inspired by Émile's success when he spent a month with Cézanne. If he could have such a wonderful encounter with him, I thought perhaps I could too. To me it would have been worth the trouble if I had only an hour's pleasant conversation with him. And I don't mind admitting that the desire to bring back some new impressions and stories about him to surprise you all was a big part of what prompted me to undertake this escapade. And perhaps doing it all on my own tempted me too.

I walked from the train station to the Hôtel Nègre-Coste, which you may remember Émile recommending. Unfortunately, their rooms were all taken, but they suggested that I try the Hôtel de la Mule Noire nearby, just off Place Forbin. It's a slightly more modest establishment but adequate still in every respect After getting settled in my room, I went to the restaurant—the one Émile found so delicious— where I had an impressive pate de fois gras and the brandade he raved about.

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