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20 May 1961

Dear Bob,

I wonder where you are now - perhaps in Stockholm - but wherever you are I feel I must write you.

For the past few days or even longer, I've been worried. There is I know resentment on Ileana's part for my not coming to Paris when both of you asked me, and from what you told Jasper (who didn't say much- perhaps because there wasn't much to say or because he wanted to be discreet) you don't seem to feel as kindly as you usually do towards me. Or, as far as you are concerned, am I seeing ghosts? But I really am almost sure that I do not, because I myself do feel badly about not being in Paris now with you. Not because, when you phoned me to tell me about Cordier's odd behaviour, I could or would have wanted to do anything about him at that moment. I thought about that very carefully, and if my coming had been of the slightest use in that respect, nothing would have prevented me from leaving immediately for Paris. Whatever business angles there were or still are to this whole matter would be better taken care of, I felt and still do feel, towards the end of your show. Three or four days in Paris would not have done the trick. I would have felt forced to do something, to act, and that would have been entirely wrong. Things, as you know just as well as I do, must take their course: there is no use cutting in arbitrarily. And now, judging from your interview that appeared in Arts, and so many other things that I hear directly and indirectly, events have taken their course as they should have, and as I never for a moment doubted they would.

Ileana played a very important role in all this. I expected her to be indispensable and tremendously helpful, and I'm sure she did not fail. Although I might have reinforced what she has been doing, I do not think that I could have done any better. So I am really the great loser because I could not participate, except from afar, in the initial phase of this incredibly important event.

I'm afraid that I haven't quite succeeded in conveying to you my complicated feelings about all this, but this must do for the time being. I shall be there very soon, still in time to see your show on the walls.