Monday, 18 September 1876 (6 September) — Legal Visits and Card Losses

All day long there have been official legal visits. First, a delegation came to inform my father of a committee he must chair, concerning a law about horses — which consists of legalizing the requisitioning of horses during wartime, the price to be reimbursed of course, but this law is necessary for speed of execution... Then a commissioner and a doctor, come here to investigate an attempted murder in the vicinity... at the very place from which the Crocodiles brought us watermelons the other day.
The melon field was attacked with gunfire and two watchmen were wounded. All that to steal watermelons! Incredible!
I lost nearly six hundred and fifty francs at cards. Paul and Michel have gone to Poltava.
Antonelli aside, Rome draws me as nothing else in the world does.
And Maman and my aunt and Dina and Grand-papa? For in the end, I love no one here... except Paul.
Well... yes, I would like to see them again, greatly even... but without passion...

Notes

Marie's contemptuous nickname for local workers or peasants.