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The Scarlet Letter
Volume II, Number 2 | October 1994 Part III: July 1, 1924 to December 14, 1924 The Magical Record of The Scarlet Woman By Leah Hirsig, Alostrael 31-666-31
pg.18 (cont.) July 1 E 19 Programme in Paris (resume) July 2 10AM A July 3 1AM 1:08 AM 20 July 5 G In Paris I told her I had called to pay back the 20 francs lent by Miss Clayton, unless it had not yet already been repaid. She said "No." Then, I pulled out the 20 ft., held on to them for dear life, and said I should like to talk to Miss the lady—etc—I don't know her name—what is her name? She refused to let me talk to Miss C. on the ground that they were finished with the case, it being a consular case and "You're not a British subject? You're an American." I protested: "Oh no, sweety, I'm Swiss." She referred to the "record" before her and said that there was nothing to report—M. C. & his friend (secretary) had been ejected, order 5000 ft. to the proprietor, and she had telephoned the Consulate on May 2 to say it was a Consular case. "Is that all?" said I, innocently. 21 "Yes," she said. "Then what did the man at the Consulate refer to when he told you that throughout it looked to him like a 'professional case'?", flashed I, verbally and with my eyes firmly fixed on her. No answer. Damn my soul, I became kind-hearted, and helped her out (I wonder whether I did really) by saying "You don't remember those words?" Said she "No", but hardly audibly. "Well, I do," remarked Miss Leah H, and told her my embarrassment in being forced to listen to a telephone conversation. She dropped the subject and asked quite cooly about the payment. I handed her the 20, and she dipped her pen in a nearly empty ink-pot (red ink) at least 20 times. I wonder if anyone can read what she wrote! I paid up and asked her, as she refused to allow us to do so myself, to thank Miss C. for her kindness and timely help. 20 ft. looked very large to us that day." said I. The ugly old Macnaughton was back on the job. "It's very queer," said she, "that such a condition should have arisen." (This with as positive conviction as the rosy cheeked person's "professional case" remark. They should leave the Pooblic Service and give Jung etc. instructions in psychoanalysis. "Not when you know the circumstances," quoth I, and exited. Later, we called again and were received by the Furnance Man, so I thought at first sight. Our acquaintance he viewed more like what I imagine the least incapable people in a poor-house to be like. He swelled with importance when he announced that he was in charge!!! A.C. rambled on and the charge gave his views on the duties, priviledges, etc. of a Pooblic Servant. 22 His final speech, on A.C.'s asking if he saw murder done in the street, would he give evidence or notify the police, was "If you want to keep out of trouble, you'll get away as fast as you can" or something to that effect. So much for Poohblick Survints! July 6 A July 7 K July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 G July 16 B 5PM n K I had too much and was deathly ill with it, too much '75 and wine. 4 drops gives me all I need in the line of relaxing and no discomfort. July 17 F 23 July 18 4:15PM (Later msbtd: this AM 8:30? Some Life in A.C. Wrote letters. 4 gr before lunch —4 before dinner. To write to Alma. 8:40 PM The keynote to Alma is that her mind is practically gone. A minute or so ago I found B's bottle of 0. and took a bit to sober me sufficiently to write Alma. 8:50 I started to write Alma. But it doesn't write. I think I'll decide on the Yi's first injunction and take not the initiative. July 19 G 7PM Eventful day: 24 6. Letter from OPV 4 PM I also washed my hair and scrapped the tin box. Feeling rotten, I decided to feel rottener. Oh yes! Greatest of all!!!!! 666 ate 2 bananas! before lunch!!!!! Trying to write to Alma but simply can't. July 20 A July 21 K July 22 E 5:53PM 666 sleeping. Baggage, baggage everywhere. And not a rag to wear! July 27 A Montramarte 24 rue Samarck 10:35 AM —Making list of books in Box B. 12:30 PM At the Savoyard, after listing books in Box B. Fine day. Four pounds from D.L.T.C. I feel very excited about going to London. I must get my Rogues Gallery going again. Auiden yesterday —planetary restaurant. July 30 B F Chellas by the 9:14. Hall came out later. I like him —but? 24 Aug 1 C Dec 2 1924 ev Dec 14 1924 e.v. A I start a new Magical Record. For months now I have dared and sneered at and rejected what I termed "old magical methods." But all my actions to get something new have brought me merely to a state of nervous collapse which seems to have reached its limit today. I can do no more than start all over again. I affirm that my only reason for holding out against what seemed hopeless and unending difficulties is that I may be of service in the Great Work. I have in the past taken upon myself a series of tasks of which I neither understood the purpose nor consciously. I do not know whether I have failed hopelessly or whether I can still make good. I do know that I can merely re-affirm these oaths, one by one; tho whichever one I may select will torture me to look at the next. But I think on reading over various old Diaries, that I had better start with my 8°=3° Oath and work along those lines. I hereby, 4:40PM, A Dec 14 repeat: 4:44PM I did so —adding Lilith to the other names. I am ashamed to say that I was weeping like a baby all the while but I think the tears have loosened up something that needed to be hit at badly. 5:07 PM I just accused myself of not having the courage to give up smoking. I have and I will not smoke until I have recovered my physical looks sufficiently to allow me to do so sensibly. I look like a butt that has been lying about for a week. |
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