[Budapest,] Again after midnight,
December 19/20, 1917

Dear Professor,

Unfortunately, I must again—in absentia—take an hour from—or with—you, since a sad occurrence of the day does not let me sleep, despite sleeping pills. Perhaps this peculiar technique of self-analysis—by letter (i.e., in the constant presence of an imaginary analyst)—is not altogether unsuitable for terminating a treatment.

This afternoon the sister of a former [female] patient came to me and informed me that my patient had shot herself.