Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Monday, 19 November 1877

As our competition head we have a fellow of twenty-two — pink and white, short nose, fair moustache. Amélie finds him fine because all the heads she paints, whatever they are, look like this.
At one o'clock my aunt and I set off for Versailles; I am wearing an otter-fur toque and a long otter-fur overcoat that comes nearly to the ground, covering my immaculate dress. We travel with a Countess de Fayet, née Svristounoff, whom my aunt met at the Mergejewskys' and the Baron d'Alt's. A gentleman who was in Nice three or four years ago among the Esterhazy, Festetics crowd, and so forth. We talk; I am in good spirits and do my Cassagnac impersonation. I entertain the deputy in the corner of the carriage — a Marcuard type, but dark.
Gallery seats, above the Bonapartists. Popaul enters, swaggering, takes his seat; several people come to greet him. He turns and salutes us. We return the salute, and I blush, overwhelmed by such honour. I am very silly sometimes — every time he turned and looked at us I did not know where to put my eyes. It is true that he looks at one as if one were an object of curiosity.
Popaul made a good speech — calm, moderate, full of good sense, supported by evidence he had laid out.
A few witty remarks here and there, but no storms. I truly believe he is mellowing.
At home we find Blanc, who tells me I must have made a tremendous impression. I know nothing of it — I was half asleep, and in general I have been paying little attention to my effects lately.
Why does Blanc dislike one talking about Cassagnac? I used to think it was because they were no longer on good terms, but now I no longer know.
I find that this double brute of a stuffed Creole ought to have seen us back to Paris — instead, this creature turned into heaven knows what and showed himself neither at the station nor at the exit where all the deputies were gathered.
I joked this evening with a sleepy air — it was funny, I believe — and in my room I gave a performance of Popaul; we laughed a great deal, not Blanc, of course.
The session was interesting; I scarcely slept at all. Only they are infuriating — at moments one wants to shout at them how it ought to be done and what ought to be said.