Prague, 29 July 1938.

Dear John,
I’ve finally now found time to write you. Starting on the 26th of last month I had plenty of work to do for the Pen Club, over whose congress there was much concern. Then on July 2nd I received a group from Marseille. I knew from when I was semi-officially involved there last year and whom I had to accompany. Then I gave a lecture to students at Řadová where I somehow caught a cold in the rainy weather. It turned into an ugly flu that kept me in bed until just a few days ago, which is why I was unable to accept your invitation or even apologize properly. I am now catching up with the correspondence for that period. These matters and requisites disrupted all my holiday and work plans. Write me your schedule and let me know in all sincerity if I could drop in on you for a few days in August. I would combine it with a trip to see Černý and to Náchod, or take a look around all of northeast Bohemia as the case may be. Perhaps the weather has cleared up.
Cordially yours,
Boh. Mathesius