And I wish to tell you the state to which I am reduced, which is such that I am very near the enemy, and have not, as you may say, a horse to fight on or a whole suit of harness to my back.

My shirts are all torn, my doublets out at elbows; my cupboard is often bare, and for the last two days I have been dining and supping with one and another; my purveyors say they have no more means of supplying my table, especially as for more than six months they have had no money.

Judge whether I deserve to be so treated, and fail not to come.

I have on my mind, besides, two or three other matters of consequence on which I wish to employ you the moment you arrive.

Do not speak of all this to anybody whatsoever, not even to your wife.