An unusual and very interesting letter in which Fauré explains why he has rejected some verses for musical setting and modestly compares his abilities to those of his elder colleague, Charles Gounod. He writes that he has been battling for several days with the verses of the recipient's friend and finds them curious and appealing, but not sufficiently lyrical…perhaps these verses need to be spoken rather than sung and in that case one would need to find something like the almost too simple and naïve music which Gounod wrote for "La Glu" by Richepin. Fauré continues that Gounod has such a charm and diction that he is able to create an illusion of a whole world with the most mediocre production.

Fauré states that he does not possess this marvelous ability and is desolate that the verses are incompatible with his temperament. He begs the recipient to understand, and relays that he would have liked to write something, especially for Madam Ram-baudel. He concludes by asking whether his friend is really going to write a work for theater and predicts his success.