A New Hand of Cards 1982–1983 351
Fortunately, the election went off as Bianco had foreseen. In
many ways, this new post in the École des Hautes Études would be
a real liberation for Derrida. However, a few days later, bad news
from the United States reached him. Paul de Man’s illness had
considerably worsened. The two men were closer than ever: almost
every day they had long phone conversations together. Derrida was
shocked by the state of his friend:
Just now on the phone, I could feel such weariness in your
voice, I myself was so disappointed to learn that any improve-
ment had still not appeared and I felt so powerless that I was
lost for words. But you know, don’t you, that my heart is with
you and that my thoughts accompany you at every moment
of this ordeal. With you I wait and look for the signs, and I
would so much like to help you be patient until your strength
returns.^24On 21 December, de Man succumbed to his cancer. Cancelling a
scheduled trip to Poland, Derrida went to the United States shortly
afterwards. Little could he have imagined what consequences this
death would soon have for him and for deconstruction.