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Monday, 18 February 1878
This afternoon the model is bad — a poor excuse which I seize upon to give this week to Schaeppi, who will paint my portrait.Lundi 18 février 1878
Instead of working, we go with the Boyds to Alexis.1 What can I tell you but that it is astonishing. I gave him a letter from Cassagnac, took him by the hand and thought very hard about everything I wanted him to tell me. He told me that he is a tall, strongly built, dark man with a remarkable face. That he is in love with me, that I frighten him a little, but that he has no thought of marrying me. That I love him too.
Au lieu de travailler, nous allons avec les Boyd chez Alexis. Que voulez-vous que je vous dise si ce n’est que c’est étonnant. Je lui ai donné une lettre de Cassagnac, je l’ai pris par la main et j’ai pensé très fort à tout ce que je voulais qu’il me dise. Il m’a raconté que c’est un homme grand, fort, brun, une physionomie remarquable. Qu’il est amoureux de moi, que je lui fais un peu peur mais qu’il ne pense pas à m’épouser. Que moi je l’aime aussi.
— Like a brother?
- Comme un frère ?
— Oh! No, far more.
- Oh ! non, bien plus.
— Am I in love with him?
- J’en suis amoureuse ?
— No — or only moderately so. But you think extremely well of him.
- Non, ou médiocrement. Mais vous en pensez toutes sortes de bien.
Then he tells me that on Thursday at six o’clock I came to see him at his home, that there were two people with me and the third had separated from us at his door. That he was in undress and was expecting two men who were to come in evening dress. That recently there had been a sort of shock — that he was jealous, or hurt in his friendship. That he has for me a great affection and genuine friendship, and not much beyond. That on Saturday he did not go to the Opéra ball by deliberate choice, from fatigue — nothing definite. That the fair-haired woman who was at the front of the box meant nothing to him and that he had enough of his mistress, with whom he has nearly broken... that he thinks extremely well of me and will probably come this evening.
Ensuite il me raconte que jeudi à six heures je l’ai vu chez lui, qu’il y avait deux personnes avec moi et que la troisième s’était séparée de nous à la porte de sa maison. Qu’il était en déshabillé et qu’il attendait deux hommes qui devaient venir en habits noirs. Que dernièrement il y a eu une sorte de choc, qu’il a été jaloux ou froissé dans son amitié. Qu’il a pour moi une grande affection et une amitié véritable et pas grand chose en plus. Que samedi il n’a pas été au bal de l’Opéra par parti pris, par fatigue, rien au juste. Que la femme blonde qui était sur le devant de la loge ne lui était rien et qu’il avait assez de sa maîtresse avec laquelle il a presque rompu... qu’il pense toutes sortes de bien de moi et viendra probablement ce soir.
I asked him whether the woman in the box was in a magnetic sleep. No. Why did she not speak to me? Because she did not dare.
Je lui ai demandé si la femme dans la loge était endormie magnétiquement. Non. Pourquoi ne m’a-t-elle pas parlé ? Parce qu’elle n’a pas osé.
We also questioned him about my brother Paul, and Berthe about her arm, etc. etc., Mme Yorke about her husband. I would like a private session, and for the man not to be worn out and pestered with any number of questions.
Nous l’avons questionné aussi sur mon frère Paul et Berthe sur son bras, etc. etc. Mme Yorke sur son mari. Je voudrais une séance à part et que l’homme ne soit pas fatigué et tracassé par trente-six questions.
I asked whether the gentleman in question was involved in politics.
J’ai demandé si le monsieur en question s’occupait de politique.
— Yes — it is his profession.
- Oui, c’est son métier.
— And his name?
- Et son nom ?
— Is double.
- Est double.
— How double?
- Comment double?
— His name is never spoken alone; one always adds his given name, which consists of four letters.
- On ne dit jamais son nom seul mais on ajoute son petit nom qui est composé de quatre lettres.
— Come now — since you see him, say his name; you must know who it is, and the name as well.
- Voyons puisque vous le voyez, dites son nom, vous devez savoir qui c’est et le nom aussi.
— His name is Paul.
- Il se nomme Paul.
— Good.
- Bien
I gave him some of Grandpapa’s hair; he described his illness and the causes of his illness.
Je lui ai donné des cheveux de grand-papa, il a décrit sa maladie et les causes de sa maladie.
And now I feel that I helped him along with my questions. He said that Cassagnac was surprised and hurt on Thursday evening. I believe it.
Et maintenant il me semble que je l’ai aidé par mes questions. Il a dit que Cassagnac a été étonné et froissé jeudi soir. Je le crois.
Notes
Alexis: a celebrated Parisian clairvoyant (somnambule) who worked by psychometry — holding objects or touching the hands of his clients. ↩