Monday, 31 December 1877

We encountered Cassagnac on the Champs-Élysées. He greeted Maman but I did not see him.
I went to the Christmas tree at the Swiss girls' rooms. It was gay and pleasant, but I wanted to sleep — I had worked until ten in the evening.
I am sad — the holidays in our house are not celebrated, and that makes one sad. It was among the artists that I heard midnight strike. We told our fortunes. Breslau will receive crowns; I, the Prix de Rome; the others, flops and slaps in the face — while I again get a kiss from Robert-Fleury. It is funny all the same. Why not Zeller and Schaeppi getting the crowns, and Breslau and me the flops? Blanc sent me a charming bonbonnière.