Marcel PROUST (1871-1922). L.A.S. "Marcel", Thursday evening [May 17, 1888], to his maternal grandfather Nathé Weil; 2 1/4 pages in-12 in purple ink. Capital letter on the young Proust's sexuality. "My dear little grandfather I have come to claim from your kindness the sum of 13 francs that I wanted to ask Monsieur Nathan for, but that Maman prefers that I ask you for. Here's why. I needed to see a woman so badly to stop my bad masturbation habits that Dad gave me 10 francs to go to the brothel. But 1° in my emotion I broke a night vase, 3 francs 2° in that same emotion I couldn't get laid. So here I am, waiting every hour for another 10 francs to empty myself, plus the 3 francs for the vase. But I don't dare ask Daddy for money again any time soon, and I was hoping you'd come to my rescue in this circumstance, which you know is not only exceptional but also unique: it doesn't happen twice in a lifetime to be too upset to get laid. I kiss you a thousand times and dare not thank you in advance. I'll drop by your place tomorrow at 11 am. If you have been moved by my situation and will listen to my prayers, I hope I can find you or a commissionaire to take care of the money. In any case, thank you for your decision, which is based solely on your friendship for me". Correspondance, t.XXI, n°395. Provenance: Bibliothèque Jacques Guérin (VII, May 20, 1992, no. 60).