Wednesday, 22 April 1874

Oh, what an evening! My God! I do not know what is happening with Maman, but she is incomprehensibly irritated. I come to her room inadvertently in the evening; the princess was there and we were speaking quietly; she leaves, and I know neither how nor why dreadful, terrible, unbearable tensions and irritations begin -- without beginning, without continuation, and without end.
Exasperated, I go to my room, retreating backwards and launching a few words in my defence. The door to the balcony is open; I throw myself near this door, leaning against an armchair; there I say my daily prayer, and I lose myself for a few moments. A poet would say: She was on her knees; her garment, full and long, fell in broad folds and traced her form, leaving bare her neck and arms of dazzling whiteness. Her head between her arms, her eyes full of tears fixed upon the sky, and her hair floating upon her shoulders -- this figure, half kneeling, half seated, was illuminated by the moon, which made the tears glisten as they rolled upon her white and plump arms. I rise when I feel the coolness of the night. Then there begins, through the door, a fusillade -- rather calm and a little comical. Maman speaks to me [Crossed out: rather] quietly, always through the door, but I answer curtly. I am angry.
Now I am calmer -- calm enough to attend to what interests me: "The Duke of Hamilton left Cairo on the 6th of April for Alexandria, whence he embarks for Constantinople, with Lord Mandeville, son of the Duke of Manchester, his brother-in-law. These gentlemen were staying at Shepheard's Hotel." They say nothing of the Duchess of Hamilton. It is Le Derby that gives this news.
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I find it useless and stupid to say what I think and what I feel.
I am tired and disgusted.