"I love nothing better--setting aside the political--than a good meal with my friends. My only good luck is that my friends feel the same way. We all owe one another so many meals by now that there's no keeping track. Though I am sadly behind in the ledgers, as my pockets are usually empty. --And Meaux is a deadly place. Have you been there? I have no desire to make my life there, not by arguing some gentleman's case against the old woman who picks up firewood at the edge of his woods."

Yes, so much in common!