As Rudolph Valentino began work on his true autobiography with Baltasar Cue, he gave the Spanish journalist letters for his reference. Some of them are included in the book which are obviously of great historical value. The first letter I excerpt, because most of the letter is a long story Natacha suggests to Rudolph as inspiration for Daydreams. The second letter Natacha writes to Doug Gerrard around the same time.
From The True Rudolph Valentino, p.84, Natacha writes to Rudolph just after her arrival in Foxlair, summer 1922:
“...You do not know how the strain exhausts me; it's so hard! And it seems that I'm going from bad to worse. Instead of correcting myself, despite what I do. Nor does it ever leave me, the fear that this will separate us in the end. If you could hurry up and come before it's too late!
Try to have a little patience and I will also try to master myself as best I can. My imagination seems to be always active and exaggerating and I can not stop it. I anxiously await your letter telling me of your plans. I hope that this time we can make them. Things are getting so discouraging! That's all for now, my life. I must close, because A ... is waiting to take the correspondence.
All my love is for you, little boy. If I did not love you, I would not be so excited, nor would it excite you either; but I can not manage life without you.
A million kisses of love and tenderness.
Your naughty – LITTLE DOLL.“
*****
(A second letter from Natacha to Douglas Gerrard) “G.” is their lawyer, W.I. Gilbert, p. 82:
"Dear Gerry,
Thank you very much for your more than appreciated letter, which came to me last night. Of course, you had a lot of reasons to be angry when you received my letter. As for me, Gerry, please do me the favor of believing that I fully trust you and that I know that you have been my best friend, as well as Rudolph's, and that you are helping us in everything so that we can see each other again.
I am currently terribly worried about what I think I should do and want to do most of all in the world. Rudolph will probably have received my letter by this date and he will have told you how things are, as you will understand, I am dying to return home, but I can not ignore the advice of all or run the risk of ruining the future and the career of Rudie. I would never forgive myself; and it would remain between him and me for a lifetime, even if the fault was not mine.
After the stupid advice that G. gave us before, it is natural that your opinion does not inspire much confidence now that everyone advises me otherwise. G. is a good lawyer, but he does not realize how much the public opinion and the press opinion matter to Rudie. Perhaps the best thing I could do is go abroad with my mother and convince Rudie to make his next film in Europe.
But I hope everything is fixed in no more than a week. The idea of having to leave makes me feel weak. I know that you will continue to help us and that you will advise him what suits him the best. But his career must be considered first of all since that will mean his happiness. Nothing else for now. Do not stop giving me news of you when you have time.
With all my love for my dear and loyal friend Gerry.
N. "
