…[Baudelaire, replying to Mme. Sabatier]

My dear Madam,

I regret to report that I am engaged to be groomed on Thursday this inst. My hair (such as it is) is to be curled and set. Perhaps the more shall I resemble your doggy Lonnie. You, above all others, know how one disappears once the façade of style is relinquished!

Vexed,

Chas.

P.S. I seem to have misplaced my diminutive datebook, but will encourage you in future by this same courier (Manet) should Time ever begin to tock forward for me again.

P.P.S. Plus, I haven’t been to the aquarium in simply ages, and Thursday it is usually pretty empty. Plus, I heard that they have got a devilfish, you know, a manta ray, and I’ve never seen one–outside the precincts of a mirror, of course.