The sight of such women is to me like the approach of a red-hot iron. It is not without reason that I have always detested them.
Doenhoff came for a few minutes, paid me compliments on my person and kissed my hand. [Crossed out: after a (illegible)]. His Prussian-style...
After a visit from Doenhoff, who was very proper, we go to San Martino. It is an old convent. [Five lines cancelled]
— They always have a handkerchief in hand, but they only ever blow their noses in the Russian fashion... like so!
Yesterday Nasimoff spoke of a Mme Hamontoff, born Countess Projex, whose acquaintance would be most agreeable, and today that lady's husband paid us...
Maman told him we were not accustomed to making acquaintance without a formal introduction, and this redskin proceeded to argue against that practice.
— Listen, Rosalie said to me, I am very fond of Larderei but this one has more *chic.*
But let us say we were at Mme Fabbricatore's — I think they are all charming.
Always the same — "thank you, I am quite well" — but not a word about Maman's health, who I am told has been quite unwell of late — and Dina? What is...
Mme Hamontoff paid us a long visit with her daughter.
Absolutely nothing to read. Another whole day further toward old age — that is all.
With a society woman — how charming! And Larderei, who might have... debases himself with Madam the Hussy and bows before Monsieur the coachman.
I must not get carried away and allow myself a love affair before I have reached where I want to be — except as a means of getting there.
A young prince of seventeen or eighteen amuses me — he will be handsome as an angel, and his sulky lip gives him an *in-between* air that is...
At my request, Walitsky consulted a fortune-teller who has all of Nice running to him — he tells fortunes by melted wax poured into water. Here it is:
Mme Hamontoff and her daughter came; we kept Olga (the daughter) until evening. She is at the Conservatoire and is a true artist in the making — the...
— Well, how is Monsieur the Count?
My "Virginie" dress — antique, soft — proved singularly faded when I had to put it on; this, added to my cough, made me thoroughly uncomfortable,...
And Maman plunged me into despair for God knows how long. She conceived the idea of speaking to Nasimoff about a dancing party she would like to give...
Pascarola came, and I asked him who? — saying that remarks had been made in Italian. It is a lady of the aristocracy who began by turning Prince...
— ==*Chi è costui?*==
I remain at home painting caricatures of Melissano, who is kind enough to pose beneath my window, and of others, when Rosalie comes to kneel beside...
There is an exchange of notes with the Fabbricatores, after which Dina and I go to see them.
The mandolin teacher gives me new details. The Marquis Niccolini was also slightly wounded, but he is the finest sabre-fighter in Florence.
Mme and Mlle Hamontoff come, and the latter sets to singing as always, without being asked. She does not sing badly, but there are days when it can...
Pascarola's visit restores me somewhat from the despair of this morning and the mad laughter caused by Melissano.
I stayed long in bed trying to sleep, to be woken by a letter. But no — nothing arrives except a crate from Worth, then Nasimoff, and finally the Duc...
We invent a whole story about la Righi in a blue velvet outfit with mother-of-pearl buttons, a Henri III cap with white feather, dancing at fairs,...
The charming Fabbricatores spend an hour with us — Madame beside Maman's bed and the young women with Dina and me watching the passers-by. We laughed...
First: I dress all in black from head to toe and find myself superb.
My little *principino* has become a young man! If you could form an idea of Melissano's face you would have a fit of mad laughter like mine. All...
When Larderei entered the reading room where we were waiting for the table d'hôte, I was so seized by the surprise — and the beauty of the man — that...
From our first step into the Via Roma, Melito came to occupy the side opposite Caracciolo, and we found ourselves so neatly trapped between these two...
— There are at the Hôtel du Louvre two very pretty Russian young ladies — he said to M[aman], and then turning to Dina: — What a ravishing hat you...
I had also written to Larderei, then sent Rosalie to retrieve the letter in which I had not concealed that it was from Violette — the better to catch...
Back at nine from the racecourse, he sleeps — poor child.