Letter from Jacques Mesrine in prison about his book "L'Instinct de mort" and the trial of his partner

Letter signed "your husband El Viejo", written the day before his partner's trial, tinged with reflections on death, and on the writing of his book [L'Instinct de mort, which would be published in 1977].

"Hey there, young lady! Yes indeed! After seven and a half years of abstinence, you're practically a virgin (sic!). How are the nerves of the woman of my life holding up? Tomorrow's the big day […] Finally, we will have done everything we could, and if you stay in prison, it won't be for lack of trying […]". He tells her about his daughter Sabrina and the purchase of a new moped. "It's not about money for me, but about merit. I mustn't forget too quickly what she did to me a month ago. Everything will depend on whether you regain your freedom or not. Otherwise, I feel calmer today, but my mind is still blank when it comes to writing my book […]. I'm supposed to receive a visit from Smadja [his lawyer] with a lawyer from the publisher, Robert Laffont. She'll be disappointed because I won't publish anything in France until my trials are over." He talks about his mother, who lives in the mountains and doesn't want to receive his letters. "I understand her; in small villages like the one where she lives, it's better if people don't know she's the mother of that awful Mr. Jack." He mentions his possible release from prison, during which he would go and work with her in a clinic or private center. "Luckily for me, I don't believe a word of it. I'll have long since joined the dead and my 'widow' will come to get drunk on my grave to mourn her lost 'love'... especially my beautiful one... nothing but red roses (sic). It's true that all this amuses me... death has a comical side, a lottery side... it's often the one who always gambled with his life... who ends up around 80, and the good guy who worked all his life who kicks the bucket at retirement age. Death can't be frightening, it only makes those left behind suffer if there was 'love'. Look at 'Dad,' it's been three years and I feel him very close to me. I think about him very often, I see his smile again. I truly had a good father... I will adore him until the end of my days... perhaps that's what eternity is, being loved after death [...]."