31st January, 1961.

My dear Phienka,

I find among my letters one from you which I have never seen before, and which I regret very much I did not answer at once. What prevented me was that I have been enmeshed in a number of domestic and legal difficulties. I spent the early part of last year in South Africa and I came back to a series of calamities. My favourite cousin and my dear sister, Winifred, both died within a few weeks of each other, and my cousin's affairs produced a lot of work for me. On top of all that I have had a harassing and really dreadful libel action, and things have mounted up around me.

I could not have given you any help with Lord Beaverbrook because I am not on good terms with him. I was very fond of him and his wife at one time, but there have been serious difficulties in connection with his and my family, and I do not care really to see him or approach him in any way. The only link between us that really remained was his sister-in-law and she died last year so I am afraid I could not help you at all with any introduction to Beaverbrook whose buying, in any case, is done at present through a French woman who has very little knowledge of English art.

I will talk of this matter to somebody. I am going to Spain for a week quite soon, and when I come back I would love to come to see you if I may? If I could have a look at the pictures it would be very nice.

With many apologies,

Yours sincerely,

2nd March, 1961.

Dear Phienka,

Forgive me for not answering your letter before.
I must thank in your mind as the world's worst correspondent!

I would like to come in to see you about the pictures.
I shall be in Town around about the 15th, and I will ring you
up and ask if I can come in for a look at the paintings you
have with you, and to talk over things.

Surely you must know somebody who knows Lord
Beaverbrook? And cannot you say that Elliott was an adopted
child and was born in Canada? If you could add that his
young mother frequently mentioned the name of Max in her
delirium when she died, then it would be a cinch as the old
man loves being considered as a gay dog. But perhaps we
will think of some less simple way.

Blessings on you,

Yours ever,