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Business letter regarding silks, hangings/pieces/ coats purchased from Imperial Palace. List, costs of each item, used his own money to buy as her banker's draft not arrived. Suggests to bake, disinfect and clean items to rid of infectious germs. In ps suggestions of other items to purchase.

Not well, overdosed on arsenic taken himself, found funny, well again. Pleased off to the English & French front from Foreign Office for 5 weeks to write about it. Beautiful Young Man [Milner?] and Saxton's attitude to sham marriage.

Convalescing, Celia had sent him pheasants, no substitute for her presence. His book, Void of War - she regards well, as do others - he likes the praise.

Not heard from Celia. Describes being in no man's land, a wild sparse wilderness and the overmastering romance of China & Tibet. Going to spend the winter in the golden palaces of Mandalay - invites her to join him there. ‘Stand as it were in exile, looking out over the infinite smiling distances of Szechuan. The freedom is divine.’

Describes about to leave his camp to winter in Mandalay. Accepts Cynthia might marry another not him. Enthuses about the merits of women but no understanding at all of men. ‘Men, they are a perpetual puzzle, contradiction & delight.’

Describes the rain, 4 days of forested mountain passes, then needing to cross a raging torrent on a bamboo raft. He, his pony and goods safely crossed to a dry shelter. The mules of his procession fled at the sight of the river crossing, hopes the treacherous mulemen in the forests suffering with leeches & ticks. ‘After miraculous paddlings, inshore among the boulders all a-blossom with scarlet Azaleas.’

Escape from murderous monks from Sian, retreated to temple, further threats to safety, at Siku stayed with the military Governor - raids and violence so moved to Thibet where no fewer than 5 Living Bhuddas, gives thanks for her letters adoringly, moving to Kansu.

Has spent the summer in the mountains in Valley of Rocks & Wolves. Describes sward of dancing lavender-blue poppies by tarns higher up. Received letter from friends regarding the War, death of one. Feels calmer, states he's taken a house to write book, begs her to visit, Bhuddhas around. Restoration of Imperial residences, killed the Republic and Yuan - being enthroned in New Year ambiguously President and Emperor. Further pleading to Celia to come.

Writes of the contrast of the splendours of Paris & the Western Front, feels there is a rising wave of human sacrifice & aspiration. Personal intrigues - difficult to make sense of. Pleads Celia to visit him in Paris.

Impassioned letter to Celia, acknowledging her prior attachment, makes out this is his reason to flee to Burma-Tibet. ‘Now must flee for a perilous safety into the Alps of Burma-Tibet where whatever claws of tigers or bears…’