To A. S. Lazarev, 25–26 March 1888. Moscow.
А. С. ЛАЗАРЕВУ (ГРУЗИНСКОМУ), 25 или 26 марта 1888 г. Москва.
Headnote
1 Written from Moscow around March 25-26, 1888, this brief note is addressed to the writer Alexander Semyonovich Lazarev, who wrote under the pen name Gruzinsky. Chekhov recalls that Lazarev once mentioned, in passing conversation, a man named Raysky who was said to be working somewhere as a proofreader.
2 Chekhov asks Lazarev to write back with Raysky’s whereabouts, saying he urgently needs to find him, but adds that if he is mistaken about the source of this information, Lazarev should forgive the intrusion.
Dearest fellow,
Милейший
Alexander Semyonovich! I believe – if I’m not mistaken – you once mentioned in conversation a man named Raysky, and said that this Raysky was working somewhere as a proofreader. If it was indeed you who told me this, then be so good as to write back at once and let me know where I can find this Raysky. I need him very badly. And if it was from someone other than you that I heard of him, then forgive the bother. Keep well.
Александр Семенович! Вы, кажется, если не ошибаюсь, однажды в разговоре упомянули фамилию Райского и сказали, что он служит где-то корректором. Если Вы это говорили, то поспешите написать мне, где я могу найти этого Райского. Он очень мне нужен. Если же о нем слышал я не от Вас, то простите за беспокойство. Будьте здоровы.
Yours, A. Chekhov.
Ваш А. Чехов.