L E T T E R S

135Letter Nr. 34Paris, January, 1829It is about eleven in the evening, and in the words of Byron 102 :"Everywhere it is dark. Everywhere it is silent." But not in my heart! In myheart I can hear the constant echo of friendly conversation with companions,even though today these relationships may have grown cold. There is a lightthere, a glimmer of memories which, unfortunately, will neither beextinguished nor give me peace. It is a simple fact that one who is overly sensitivemust always suffer. In order to get into the mood, I have already lit myseventh pipe, and now I begin my letter to you. Good "Louis of the Cross,‖ 103my neighbor, is sitting by the fire, for n.b. it is important be warmed, evenwell warmed. Only here have I begun to understand the profound thought ofyour dear brother Andrew hidden in that deceivingly simple adage aboutwarmth and alcohol. Winter here is almost worse than it is in Warsaw. It isconstantly damp and chilly, when the temperature reaches 12 degrees and youcannot find a Polish stove. It is better to burn one franc in the fireplace daily,than to spend the equivalent for heat from a stove that is no bigger than athimble.Alone at the fireplace, what is this good Louis doing? He is bankingthe fire and repeating: "O yes, yes!" However, if I were to tell the truth, Iwould have to admit that I made a great mistake, even committed a great crimeby referring to this bird as "good". He is what he always has been: a perverseegotist, a fleecer. If you please, without going back to the very beginning as a102 George Byron /1788-1824/ - Lord, and leading English poet, originator of EuropeanRomanticism; the author of poems and dramas. A. Mickiewicz was called "the Polish Byron" afterthe publication of his "Grażyna" and "Conrad Wallenrod". Bogdan Jański is citing here fromChapter II of "Dziady.103 He refers here jokingly to Louis Królikowski. In general, the whole letter is written in ahumorous and figurative vein. This was meant to prepare the receiver to accept positively his pleafor the return of money he obtained from the sale of Pogorzelec.