L E T T E R S

444Letter Nr. 101Paris, March 21, 1836[To L. Królikowski]What are you thinking, my dear Louis? How do you interpret my silence?Does it not spell the end of your long friendship for me? (If anyone had told mefive years ago, at our parting, that five years would pass, as God is my witness, Iwould not have believed him) x . I am deeply concerned about this, for before Godand conscience I can testify that my former friendship, my most sincere regard foryou, my complete confidence in you have not changed in the least, and remainalways the same. But the constant turmoil of ideas and theories by which I havebeen absorbed in the years that have passed since our parting 449 , a lengthyinfirmity, as well as .great moral and physical sufferings had, as it were, snatchedme out of the real world, causing me to withdraw within myself, and, for a longtime, rendered me incapable of any correspondence.This moment, in which I am able to write at least a few words to you, isfor me truly festive and most happy... I have so very much to say to you. This isnot to abandon the hope that we might have a personal conversation sometime,perhaps in the not too distant future. You know that I am not an emigrant. Thereare not insurmountable difficulties; and there are tremendous needs.I wrote to you at the end of 1834, through Doctor Walter 450 , who wasgoing your way. I wondered why you gave me no response. Ultimately, ―let thedead bury the dead,‖ the past buries the past. I promise to do better in the future,and to write as often as you wish to correspond. But, for your part, do not forgetme. Write to me soon, with an indication of how I should address my letter to you.For a while yet you could entrust your letters to the person who delivers this449 Spring, 1831.450 Phillip Walter (1810-1847). A talented Polish chemist, working in Paris after the failure of therevolt, a friend of B. Jański; or his brother, Leo, who lived with his father in Cracow where, at thetime, L. Królikowski was teaching in a boarding school.