FLAUBERT Gustave (1821-1880). L.A.S. "Gve Flaubert", Croisset February 11, 1880, to Laure de MAUPASSANT; 1 and a half pages in-8 (marginal trace of tab). Beautiful letter to Guy de Maupassant's mother. [Born Le Poittevin, Laure de Maupassant was the sister of Alfred Le Poittevin, Flaubert's youthful friend, with whom he had created the character of Le Garçon, a caricature of Le Bourgeois]. "My dear Laure, I feel the need to tell you that my Disciple (that is how Caroline calls your son) is becoming a big shot! He is now very, very talented. His prose tale entitled Boule de suif is a marvel, and yesterday he recited a piece of verse to me, such as I know few better! I do not believe that affection blinds me? no. I know about it. - & what a good fellow! although Mlle Suzanne Lagier, (a person of great morality) calls him "that little scoundrel of Maupassant"! I knew, through him, that the stay in Ajaccio was doing you an infinite good - so stay in Corsica as long as possible, my dear Laure - & then, do you know a dream? It would be to come this summer to spend a week here with our young Man - What a flap we would make! as we would talk about the old days - & the Boy. Since the middle of November, I have lived completely alone. And how many times, at the corner of my fire, while ruminating on the Past, have I not thought - of him - (the Boy!) & of all that relates to it... Farewell, my dear Laure, I kiss you fraternally "... Correspondence (Pléiade), t. V, p. 825.