7th July Satu Friday[RG] Thursday[RG]

We intended to move into M. Judais apartment at 18 Esplanade Champ du Mars but nothing had been done as promised; and he was not to be found. At last he[RG] was to be there with the furniture at 5.30. Laura & I went there & waiting till [until] 7.30: then left a note calling all off & paying his expenses, & felt much better. Back to the Hotel Central. A telegram from M. Pinson, the notaire1 at Montauban saying that the Countess could sign the lease on Monday[RG] Tuesday[RG]. Our lost luggage is at St.Malo. Laura need only go to Nantes, not Havre for her passport. Karl is settled with Home Office permission. (Maisie is pretty ill only.) This was a dreadful day but our luck turned at about 8 o'clock; we had a nice supper, all four at 'Chez Metayer'. Laura very tired.

Editorial Notes

1 "lawyer" eds.

Hands Referenced

    • Annotation: ink correction
    • Character: regular
    • Ink: black

Places Mentioned

  • Montauban

    Montauban-de-la-Bretagne, Brittany, France

  • Hotel Central

    Rennes, France
    RG and LR's temporary accomodation while travelling to and from France, 1938 eds.

  • St. Malo

    St. Malo, France
    port on the north-west coast of France. eds.

  • Nantes

    Nantes, France
    city south of Rennes eds.

  • Havre

    Le Havre, France

  • Chez Metayer

    Rennes, Brittany, France
    restaurant eds.

People Mentioned

  • E. Judais

    Judais, Emile
    RG & LR's landlord at 18, Esplanade Champs du Mars, Rennes eds.

  • Laura

    Riding, Laura
    (1901-91) American poet. Laura Riding (née Reichenthal; then Laura Gottschalk).

  • M. Pinson

    Pinson, Monsieur
    lawyer in Montauban, France who handled the rental agreement for La Chevrie eds.

  • Countess

    Kerellouan, Comptesse de
    landowner of Château de la Chevrie in Montauban, France eds.

  • Karl/Carl

    Goldschmidt, Karl
    Karl Goldschmidt, later Kenneth Gay: Graphic artist, friend and secretary of Robert Graves and Laura Riding since 1934. R. G. spells both as Carl and Karl.

  • Maisie

    Sommerville, Maisie
    Head of BBC Education broadcasting department. Friend of R.G. and L.R. Arranged accomodation for them when they returned to London as exiles. W.G., eds.