Wednesday, 20 December 1876

[Three lines crossed out]
The two Lubimoffs, having lunched with us, have left for Switzerland.
Ah! What an atrocious life — only those condemned to solitary confinement can have any idea of it.
Very quietly I work myself into a fury, and I carry my monstrousness... as far as smashing glasses and chairs, with great coolness.
Then... I walk about my rooms, which I have lit up, and talk aloud, complaining about my vulgar behaviour and marvelling at it.
Why do Rome and all that goes with it make me shiver?
And it is my own fault that I cannot go there! If I had not pushed Maman... Ah! no matter, there is always something! always some fault!