The deacon writes from Paris that he has seen our furniture — here are his very words:

"I went to Duval's and admired his exhibition made up exclusively of your furniture. Never in my life have I seen anything like it, especially the drawing room and the bedroom. All of Paris admires it and there are crowds in front of the display, many asking for whom? and Duval would answer: It is for an Austrian princess. They are constantly making drawings of the bed, and Duval says even he did not think it could be so magnificent and produce such an effect in the execution. Yes, beautiful furnishings!"

Maman read this aloud before the family and Lubimoff — that poor man quite undone since his wife's death, gone a little mad.

Going up to her I said in an undertone, there is no jewel case fine enough for a diamond, and I burst out laughing.

It is [Crossed out: a little] less cold and until four o'clock I walked in my white dress, without an overcoat.

Furstenberg, the man with the hat, has arrived — his aunt or his sister, I cannot tell which, saw me at the moment of entering the glover's, stopped and halting her brother or her husband, whichever he may be, gestured to him, and both of them stared at me with their wicked, impudent eyes.

Yesterday I spent an hour at old Madame de Mouzay's; the young one showed me her grooming splendors [sic] which I praised with rapture, which I believe gave her pleasure.

I feel discontented — not a single suitor, it is wretched!

Now I am vexed at having said that d'Audiffret is pretty, and he pays me no mind. And I have such a nature that I want them all at my feet — not only those I take notice of.

At dinner I fell silent and spun myself a story: I was seeing the Duke again, I told him of my love in terms of heaven and hell, and concluded in a dying voice: I can die now, I have seen you again.

But if only people knew how much I love him!!! No — I no longer love him, I adore him, even though a woman who values her reputation, when she says she loves, may be sure of being loved in return — even granting those fine lines, fine and true as they are, I say that I love him. But to whom? To myself alone, to no one else in the world — and so I am not departing from my principle, on the contrary, I am upholding it.

Am I quite certain I would say that I love even if I were a hundred times sure of being adored in return?

Galula came to the Promenade des Anglais to say something or other about the notary Desforges and certain papers being in order. When I asked what it was about he said:

— "Oh, Mademoiselle, could you possibly know about such things — what have you to worry yourself over notaries and papers, you need know nothing about it." He said this with the most amiable air, smiling all the while.

In the evening I learned it was the deed of gift by which I become the owner of the villa, situated in Nice, at 55, Promenade des Anglais — the two houses and three thousand metres of grounds, stabling, and coach house, with gas and water from the company, all duly signed and in order. Well! Here I am a property owner — how amusing!

Not to mention that my aunt bequeaths me all her property worth upwards of a million and a half francs, her silverware and her jewels; and Maman a property near Tcherniakovka that may be worth a little over a hundred thousand francs, together with her silverware and diamonds.

Am I not rich? Rich as an unmarried girl, yes; as a married woman, no.

Ah! but I forget the lawsuit — that charming little lawsuit which, quite apart from the question of defamation, may strip me of the whole fortune.

Have mercy, Almighty God! I have many sins — forgive them.

Let this lawsuit end in our favour and I promise You... I was about to promise not to pursue and punish our enemies — but can I? No doubt the solicitor will pursue it to increase his fees. And yet if I could, I would do what I intended. I know nothing, I am sure of nothing, and I fear that if I were to prevent the prosecution in the event of a victory, I would draw everyone's reproaches upon myself. Forgive me, my God!

I promise You — I beseech You — to do everything in my power to prevent it.

Great God, in the name of the Holy Virgin Mary, our Saviour, Your Son, deign to hear and protect me!