Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Bertha Busch

[Undated: circa 20 June 1932]

Darling Big Girl

You have got a gift! Schmidt was so tickled by your letter that he was sweet as honey and stood me a couple of drinks!!

But the Mattmer business is in a bad way without you. Meller went down with me to Küntzel [Martha Küntzel] and had a long talk. Wallace postponed till July 5.

It's true I ought to be over for people like Norman Haire—who seems to be the sort that might do a whole lot. But I don't trust Lloyd one inch. Under that stolid placid mask is a vain dishonest Welshman.

God it's damn dull here without you. Not a carving knife to be seen for miles!

The difficulty about Yorke [Gerald Yorke] is that he is such a brainless ass. He has more nerves than an hysterical woman, and less imagination than a lump of shit. He simply can't act until the situation is hopeless before his very eyes. That is why it is so difficult to bring him to the point.

So, once he starts to say "Well, I suppose I must try to do something" take a firm grip of him and rush him into taking irrevocable steps—signed documents that he can't slip out of.

I heard, by the way, that Cora [Cora Germer] is taking steps to prevent Yorke putting his money in trust. I didn't answer the letter. But it's a good thing for us. If Cora can be got her £1000, I'll manage to make her leave the bulk of it to invest with us.

Hamilton [Gerald Hamilton] is still away; had a note from him yesterday. Nothing in it.

I'll ask Meller's girl to pack any available things of yours—send them or bring them according as £50 comes or not.

I want you badly, dear my love!

Aleister.

Marie is very good, not asking for her wages. But I feel she would like them, and I'm rather ashamed that I can't pay her.

Keep up your courage sweetheart! I've great hopes of my yesterday's letter to Slippery Joe.

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