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Vienna, October 7, 1901
IX., Berggasse 19
Dear Wilhelm:
It is three weeks since Mrs. D., whom you referred, arrived here; so I ought to have reported to you about her some time ago.
Shé is, of course, just the person I need; a difficult constitutional case, in which all the keys fit and all the strings respond. Painless work with her is hardly possible; for this she is too fond of having pain and of giving pain, but I expect that success is certain and will last.
Unfortunately there are other things in the way. Her husband, who with all his artistry appears to be seriously meschugge (he came here with her), has not yet agreed. He released her for three months only, which I of course rejected, but even this concession was not real because he wanted to pack her off the very same evening and she is daily expecting him to come and fetch her. If he does, she will go with him. Already she can no longer stand being without him.
If this is how things are in relation to time, they appear to be no more certain in relation to money. Is everything really so unfavorable, or has she already succeeded in confounding me? Briefly, it is by no means impossible that I shall shortly declare that it is better not to start building on so shaky a foundation. It is very improbable that she will achieve anything of value in three months in spite of her intelligence. But the husband approached me with such obvious, jealous mistrust that I cannot hope to make any impression on him by arguing this out.
Perhaps everything will still turn out all right. I only wanted to prepare you for the possibility that you may see her again sooner than you expected, and to justify myself in advance if that is how I must respond to the great trouble you have taken.
Since we now write to each other so rarely, I have not been able to thank you before.
With cordial greetings,
Your