At that moment Mme Sapogenikoff and Monsieur Yourkoff arrive. The latter has been here for some time and had been at our house several times since Maman's arrival, but Madame comes for the first time; consequently they are given a tour of the houses. I do not know whether I have spoken of the immense loss suffered by the Sapogenikoff firm through the treachery¹ of Monsieur Sapogenikoff's sister. Now they say they are doing better. I am pale; I went to bed at two o'clock yesterday. I am sad, and Maman and my aunt overwhelm me with affection. Our visitors spend the whole day with us until the eight o'clock train that carries them to Monaco, where they live, just as we used to spend our days at their house in Geneva. It is one of my greatest pleasures and greatest satisfactions to have people to dinner, in an intimate setting above all; and I am quite happy when people eat and enjoy themselves in our house. I especially like to offer hospitality to those who need it, like Monsieur Zibine, who is in very poor finances at present — yesterday he dined with us. It is above all towards those to whom one does a kindness that one must be delicate in the highest degree and attentive; one must make them forget their situation and treat them as if it were they who were doing you the favour. But rarely should one expect gratitude; many [Crossed out: foolish obliged] people do not forgive a kindness. I do not understand this: if you are proud and obliged to accept a favour, try with all your might to repay what you owe, but do not hate your [Crossed out: benefac] benefactor. If you repay kindness with malice, you are not proud — you are a coward! Maman and everyone leave for Monaco with Mme Sapogenikoff and Yourkoff. I burn some sugar and listen to Makaroff's speeches about the letter. [Crossed out: ab] It grieves him greatly and he cannot understand how a man like Ogarev could have committed an act of such gross violence! Mme Sapogenikoff and Yourkoff know all about his correspondence with Ogarev and it greatly amuses them. I should think so — he takes everything seriously and tells us all about it. In a little while he will receive from London a song or invocation from Bakunin, that celebrated Russian Red. Tomorrow I shall organise my room until the furniture arrives, and I shall set up my study somewhere and look for my tutors. For since my arrival I feel remorse at having done nothing for so long, and I shall not be easy until I have re-established the course of my interrupted studies. I have not spoken of my dogs — of the divine Prater and the good Bagatelle. They recognised me and follow me everywhere; I was so happy to see them again, especially Prater, my good, old, faithful, beautiful, intelligent, and incomparable dog. I protect and caress Bagatelle because no one caresses her; she must have been very unhappy during my absence, poor dear! I am all at sixes and sevens, and I pray God to help me and to grant that I may settle myself, that my life may become regular, that all my things may be put in place, and above all that my studies may be established.