SD1985. Joseph Milsand to William Henry Darley

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 255 (in part).

Dijon

31 October [1856]

My dear Darley

… But I have plenty of things which call me back to Paris, among them the eternal illusion of doing something important and the impatience to find out whether the Revue Contemporaine will pay me. Unfortunately, I have some reason not to be sure. …

A very lucky break let me meet the Brownings on their way through Dijon: I first was planning to leave for Paris so as to be there on their arrival from England; but a letter from their sister stopped me from following through on the project. She told me that the same day her letter reached me they were leaving London to spend just one day in Paris and then immediately go on to Lyon. As a result it was last Friday that they were to pass through, and on that day, in the hope of finding them, I went to the station at the time the express stopped. But I found nobody–

The next day I had a visit to make in the country. Coming back at four o’clock, I took the train, and precisely at the moment when I set foot on the ground there, I found myself face to face with Signor Ferdinando.

I spent ten minutes with Browning and his wife; and truly, my dear Darley, I could not tell you with what warmth of affection he welcomed me. I was completely overwhelmed: and even now I cannot think of this encounter without a sort of intense feeling. Mme Browning seemed less tired than I feared. The child did not look ill; but he had looked better in Paris. I will show you a letter Browning had written me a little earlier. In it you will see the man.

But what a sad prospect for him in regard to his wife. It seems to me that Algeria would have been better for her than Florence. …

Address: Monsieur / W. H. Darley / 157 rue du Faubg St Honoré / Paris.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Armstrong Browning Library, Joseph Milsand Archive.

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