Wednesday [summer 1875]
TO THEODORE DURET

I went to see Monet yesterday and found him in despair and absolutely broke. He asked me to find someone who would take between ten and twenty pictures of their choice for 100 francs a piece. Shall we do the deal ourselves, putting up 500 francs each? Of course no one, and least of all he, should know that we're in on this. I thought of trying to find a dealer or collector but suspect they might refuse. Unfortunately, it takes people as knowledgeable as we are to do a good piece of business, in spite of the repugnance we may feel, in order to help out a talented artist. Send me an answer as soon as possible or suggest a rendezvous.
E. MANET