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Correspondence from Carl de Vidal Hunt to Gerald Yorke
130 Boulevard Brune, Paris.
Nov 7 1928.
I thank you for your letter of the 3d inst. and thoroughly agree with you regarding my role in the Crowley drams. As a curtain raiser I still believe the newspaper serial to be the only practical prelude to the lyrical stuff. Hope to God it'll come along soon. The apparent slowness of action at 200 Gray's Inn Road probably is due to the fact that prospective buyers are digging up the past history before venturing. I surely should get word from Stapley shortly.
In the meantime the Kasimira [Kasimira Bass] comédie larmoyante goes on. Crowley surely has written you all about it by this time. I accompanied him to the district commissary on Monday and yesterday, first to report the disappearance of Kasie [Kasimira Bass] and then in answer to a summons, the upshot of the whole matter being that Crowley was advised by the cop to let Kasie have her belongings. Kasie had called on the copy, you see, and told her own story. But Crowley has his own ideas about Kasie's bags. He still believes they may be a means of making her do her duty toward him and the money lenders. I heartily sympathise with him on that score, but I am quite certain—and I know you agree with me—that she is commercially nill and in no manner to be reckoned with. The rest is personal sentiment on the part of both parties and none of my business.
Anyhow, this morning I accompanied Crowley to Kasie's legal advisor, a lawyer called Shoecraft, at 24 Boulevard des Capucines. His own lawyer, Mr. Church, on hearing from Crowley yesterday that he (Crowley) intended to put the case before the Procureur de la République expressed his opinion that Crowley had no legal case against the woman and that he (Church) therefore begged to be excused from further participation.
Shoecraft asked Crowley to state any reasons why the personal effects of Kasie should not be turned over to her, whereupon Crowley gave him his side of the story, unemotionally and in a spirit which should have convinced the lawyer of his earnestness of purpose. Crowley also stated how fond he was and still is of Kasie, but in the same breath almost added that he must consider her a crook unless she comes through with her end of the bargain. The next thing he lat fall was that he could not imagine her to be a common adventuress, even though his friends are inclined to view her in that light. To make a long story short, Crowley agreed to meet Kasie at Shoestring's office tomorrow, Thursday, and engage in some more conversation, the matter of the lady's clothes being left open until "further proceedings", quoting Crowley. Well, I cannot see my way clear to be of any assistance any more to Crowley versus (or pro) Kasimira. It's a story with a love interest which must find its own solution. So I do not propose to be present at tomorrow's meeting.
Last night I interviewed Mrs. Freeman regarding the formation of a Crowley committee. She did not throw her arms round my neck with tears of joy in her azure eyes. So I didn't press the matter, providently hoping for a better opportunity or for other people to be met at her house. In a few says there will be a tea at which Crowley will be presented to Edith de Brettville, niece of a California millionaire. Then there is a large society gathering at Mrs. Westmoreland's Friday, to which I will take him. The unfortunate part of all this is his utter inability to "act" pretty over a cup of tea. As an impressario I am very discouraged. He can't be taught new tricks. When in company he appears to be plunged in a sort of mental torpor from which it is difficult to arouse him. And this is not exactly the way to make himself popular with the lydies. However, we'll carry on and present the lion as a surly old beast whose gnarls should frighten no one. Quem Jupiter vult perdere dementat prius, I might ad with a friendly smile.
I wonder if you've had a chance to call up Maud and find out about her mother. Hope you are well and working hard. Helen appreciates your kindness and hopes you will come to us next time you're in Paris. Regarding a possible Crowley court action she wisely suggests that in France 75 per cent of the verdict rests on the reputation of the principals. The fact that Crowley told Kasie the night before she left "I love you so much I could strange you" (quoting Kasimira) would be taken as an actual threat in the case of Crowley.
All the best from us both.
Hunt.
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