Mme Sapogenikoff and Yourkoff spend the day with us, go to the theatre with Maman, et cetera; and Mme Angel, who dined with us, and they all spend the night here.

Mme Angel is a Russian lady of thirty-five, with magnificent hair, and beautiful. To make a Mme Angel one would need to blend Mlle Collignon and Douglas, last year's dramatic actress; she has several things of the one and others of the other. In sum, she is pretty, elegant, and witty; moreover, she has a liking for me. Papa was disappointed when, after hearing the panegyrics to Paul, she said she preferred me — that "I may become attached to her, with due regard."

She is a musician and a painter.

Monsieur Yourkoff discussed with her during dinner the different effects of love, the power of woman over man, the power of wit and beauty, and so forth. I listened attentively for two reasons: first, because their discussion might well be instructive; and second, because if it [Crossed out: is not instructive] is stupid and empty, one learns from the talk of fools what one ought not to say. It was rather the former than the latter, and this was owing to Mme Angel. When they left for the theatre, I went to find Georges, drunk after having slapped Prodgers at Monte Carlo. I alone know how to behave with this drunkard, and with me he is calm and proper. Maman, my aunt, Mme Sapogenikoff, and Yourkoff found us sitting opposite each other before a well-laid table and singing, which amused them greatly.

Instead of provoking him, I give him drink and speak to him as his condition requires. Refusing him drink makes him savage, and it sobers him not at all, for he then goes to a tavern and causes a scene. At midnight I manage to put him to bed. It is impossible to tolerate him — such a want of respect on his part! To come and drink himself senseless here instead of doing it where he should: at his mistress's.

All this irritates me and grieves me; I so love what is proper and right, and this man makes our house a tavern.

Five women as we are with Sapogenikoff, we all put on white dressing gowns, and Yourkoff declared that a simple white garment is the best thing for a woman. For he was there and Walitsky too; we are quite en famille, and besides, Yourkoff is a man one may regard as a woman, given his attachments and his friendship with both Monsieur and Madame Sapogenikoff.

The men withdraw and so do I, but the women in their shifts continue their chatter until three in the morning.

I dreamt that our house burned down, which means an unexpected inheritance, success, et cetera.