Good morning friends,

We here at chez de Guerre are eagerly awaiting tomorrow's announcement. I wonder if Mlle. has not had some advance information, however. She is in an extraordinarily jolly mood this morning, and arose several hours before her normal eleven a.m. In fact, I believe I have heard snatches of La Marseilles drifting in from the sunporch. A day long awaited draws near.

Mlle. asked me to come to this board for two purposes. First, she wishes to dispel any lingering rumours that she is a surprise dark-horse candidate for the presidency of USM. Although telephone calls to and from Jackson were "fast and furious" as you say, she has steadfastly declined any notion of accepting such an onerous level of responsibility. Although not a professional academic, her own record of publications is as extensive as that of many in positions of power at USM, and her temper is no worse. I believe she was tempted briefly, however, at the prospect of being Dr. Thames' supervisor as he resumes teaching. I noted that she studied the course schedule with great care.

That leads me to the second purpose, and to the query: what is Dr. Thames' teaching schedule for the future? We trust that he is extremely eager to demonstrate in his own right that famous maxim of his, "a day's work for a day's pay." Will he be working and teaching at the level he has required of others? Will he, in fact, be sufficiently engaged? And what of others within his inner circle?

We look forward to a great burst of example-setting in the coming months.

Sincerely,

Hermione Angleterre, Social Secretary to Monique de Guerre

-- Edited by Chez de Guerre at 11:20, 2007-03-26