I should wish to stay with you, and what would poor Ernest[9] say if I were to leave him so long?
He would perhaps try to fly after me, but I fear he would not get far; he is rather tall and heavy for flying.

So you see I have nothing left to do but to write to you, and wish you in this way all possible happiness and joy for this and many, many years to come.

I hope you will spend a very merry birthday.

How I wish to be with you, dearest Victoire, on that day! I have not thanked you, I believe, for a very dear letter you have written to me, which gave me the greatest pleasure.

Your descriptions of the plays you had seen amused me very much.