Wednesday, 28 November 1877

We were supposed to go to Carolus-Duran's with young Zurlo, but I was delayed because of the studio and Marcuard, who was just about to enter when I was coming out.
In any case, the captain is always in the drawing room playing cards — that reassures me.
I went to bring tea to Schaeppi — she was out. Poor girl — she has a kind of listlessness now; she is discouraged and desperate about being ill; people try to distract her, but without a penny it is pitiable.
No matter — I am among the top six, I am.
Poor Schaeppi.
Until now Breslau was the most impertinent one in the studio — and I am outdo­ing her... people gather round to listen to us, which amuses me because I do Popaul at the tribune — and because I love Breslau, who is Aramis; Schaeppi — Porthos; Amélie — d'Artagnan. Athos is not I, as you well know, and I should not want to be — it is too solemn for me.