D O C U M E N T 7 1 M A R C H 1 9 2 2 8 7 tomorrow or the day after tomorrow an agenda, taking into account what will most interest those who still encounter some difficulty comprehending you properly. It is understood, of course, that we hope to see you come with Mrs. Einstein, who, I believe, accompanied you to the United States and whom it would be a great plea- sure to have here with you. As the housing crisis continues to rage here and you would find little peace in the very heavily booked-up hotels, I could place at your disposal a small, very quiet apartment situated near the botanical gardens, a ten-minute walk away from the Collège[4] and five minutes away from the place where I currently live.[5] You would be alone there with a housekeeper who speaks German. There is no tele- phone and the furnishing is very simple but you will perhaps be better off there than in a large caravansary where journalists would come to bother you in person or by phone. Your address could, if you desire, not be known to more than a small num- ber of persons who would have the selfish joy of having you nearby in the academic quarter. The most urgent thing is that you let me know if you can come before our Easter vacation, from 28 March to 9 April, for example. We could maybe afterwards, if you have time, spend a few days in the countryside together. ’Bye for now, my dear friend, your most affectionately devoted, P. Langevin. 71. To Paul Langevin [Berlin, between 8 and 13 March 1922][1] Dear Friend, So I shall be coming around the 28th of March.[2] You are a kind, good person to have sought out such an ideal hideaway for me. (The service person does not need to speak German.) Nobody should know about it besides your closest friends[3] and Solovine.[4] I happily accept this proposal. Planck called this deci- sion of mine to go to Paris “heroic,” because he thinks that, although beneficial, my visit there will make a thousand printed and unprinted enemies for me. But he doesn’t know the thickness of my skin. I find your decision was much more heroic than mine and duly appreciate it. I still have not received either the official invitation or your agenda but am not going to wait for either of them. I will inform you about the exact time of my arrival. I am not going to take my wife along because I think we will be more at ease by ourselves. The simpler and less official everything is, the finer it will be.
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