"Tu ne saurais croire la déception d'un courrier où tu manques."

Autograph letter signed by Victor Segalen addressed to Emile Mignard. One page written in black ink on a leaf. Transverse fold inherent to the mailing.
Emile Mignard (1878-1966), also a doctor and native of Brest, was one of Segalen's closest childhood friends whom he met at the Jesuit college Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, in Brest. The writer maintained with this comrade an abundant and very regular correspondence in which he described with humor and intimacy his daily life to the four corners of the globe. It was at Mignard's wedding, on February 15, 1905, that Segalen met his wife, Yvonne Hébert.
Segalen regrets not having news from his "dear little one": "Pas un mot de toi par les deux derniers courriers [...] Comme ta dernière lettre était plutôt énigmatique et courte, tu vois qu'il y a près de quatre mois que je suis sans nouvelles directes de toi. Quant aux indirectes, elles sont peu gaies ; ma soeur m'écrit ta visite chez moi, et tes craintes au sujet de la santé de ta soeur. Je t'en prie sois plus exact. Tu ne saurais croire la déception d'un courrier où tu manques. Avec une nuance de reproche, très affectueux - Victor" ["Not a word from you through the last two mail deliveries [...] As your last letter was rather enigmatic and short, you see that it's been nearly four months since I've had direct news from you. As for indirect news, it's not very cheerful; my sister writes to me about your visit to my place, and your fears about your sister's health. Please be more punctual. You cannot believe the disappointment of a mail delivery where you are missing. With a shade of reproach, very affectionately - Victor"]