L E T T E R S

483where he was living. Mikorski reported this to me immediately. (I was a witnessto his difficulties) x . But, without going into any more of his past life and hispresent situation, I can assure you most conscientiously that, after a thoroughinvestigation of all the circumstances of his conduct, I am firmly convinced thathe is more unfortunate than deliberately and willfully guilty. At present, I evenhave good reason not to despair about him. In fact, I have reason to hope that hisdesire to improve is sincere. (N.B. I can assure you that he did not seduce ordeceive this girl; she is more, if not completely, at fault. He did not induce her totravel with him. Quite the contrary, he resisted this with all his strength; sheinsisted on following him, tears and cries of despair). x And so, once more I appealto your sentiments of forgiveness for youth.Because you may already have made some mention of his present situationto your colleagues, and because some of the Poles in Orleans may know of it, toavoid any scandal, I am not insisting that he enter your school, though I can assureyou that, if he did enter, he would study diligently (naturally, it would benecessary to send the girl back to her mother). I would truly like to see himenrolled there if this still possible. However, if this is not possible, or too difficult,or if it could compromise the school or your own person, I would ask you, withthe genuine confidence that I have in your friendship, to help him to leave Orleansfor his destination, which, according to his passport, is Cahors. I will try to obtainpermission for him to go from there to Lunel, where Celiński is located; he willhelp him in his initial studies.The help I’m asking of you for his departure consists of a tactfulexplanation of his situation in the prefecture: why, when he was to have submitteda petition to the government to stay in Orleans he did not do so. Perhaps youcould say that he did not do so because together you became convinced that yourschool was not offering the kind of instruction he needed, and that, therefore, hethen decided to seek permission, to stay in Lunel, where one of his colleagueswould help him in his studies. Thus excused, he will set out for his destination onfoot; and I will recommed this to him very strongly (if it is impossible for him toenroll in the school).