Wednesday, 8 October 1873

Paul, Arson, and Khalkionoff are an inseparable trinity whose God is Walitsky. These little boys!
While I was undressing, Dina came to find me and told me, with a great many introductions and prologues and a hundred grimaces, that Khalkionoff wants to court me. Because before he used to wear much pomade and perfume, but this evening they were at Paul's -- Khalkionoff and Dina -- and Paul wanted to perfume Khalkionoff, whereupon the latter, almost in despair, took to flight, crying:
"No, no, I don't want to."
"I shall not paint myself and I shall not perfume myself" -- repeated.
A few days ago I expressed a very pronounced disgust for all manner of perfumes. I went downstairs to talk with everyone. In the morning I played croquet; Addy was passing through the garden with her son.
Having gone to bed at twelve, I rise at six only. It is raining (rain cloak, good); to Visconti's and Medecin's -- tomorrow I shall be able to see the hats.
I am mad, but one day in winter I saw a Black servant bring the carriage to the Duke when he was at her house; shortly after, he came out, and she -- or her carriage. Today I see this same servant and I imagine he is the Duke's man, and that he announces to Gioia the arrival of his master. I am mad, but all this presented itself to my imagination.