Saturday, 24 February 1877

Dina tried skating this morning. There is a cocotte here who dresses in white.
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.
I have telegraphed Caroline to send me something gray. I am beside myself with despair at having fallen into despair over so disgusting a cause!
It is a most wounding vexation. And my imagination running on, running on, running on.
The beautiful Princess Muliterno — she who did not marry Prince Odescalchi because he went mad — is wearing white. This reassures me a little, but not enough to prevent me from confessing to my family that people take us for...
Instead of laughing, they reassure me! That is simply to make me believe my fears are justified!
Altamura brought me a superb basket of artificial flowers — they could deceive anyone.
It seems to me that every coachman, every servant, looks at me with contempt.

Notes

Cocotte: a kept woman, courtesan.