Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Wednesday, 3 April 1878

The fête was very amusing, but I did not amuse myself, despite a sensational costume. It was a piece of dark oriental fabric that I had admirably draped so as to disguise myself completely. A very long black train trimmed with old-gold braid in harmony with the upper part; black shoes embroidered with gold at the toes; black hair and a black-and-gold gauze veil; then the loup.
[Written across the page: I forget a cascade of yellow, red, and dark blue ribbons that matched the thousand colours of the drapery and fell the whole length of the train from the top of the back]
I trailed in my wake Mouzay and his daughter, my mother and Dina.
It is thanks to Mouzay that we obtained the tickets. I shall keep for you the account in Le Figaro, which is very accurate.
To my misfortune I spoke to the Boyds, and they could do nothing better than betray us to everyone. I am quite annoyed, for once that I was truly unrecognisable. Everyone told me so, besides, and but for those idiots whom I detest, all would have been charming. When one goes in a party it never amounts to anything. I was not in good form, but I was courted; in any case, whether I am witty or not, there are few things I love as much as being masked. This freedom to speak enchants me — as for the liberties that anyone might wish to take with me, I put such immediate good order to that that it is a delight.
I had had two letters written by Marie (my aunt), the first being this one:
Dear Multedo, if you are going to M. d'Osmond's I shall ask you to give me your arm. If I am not there at midnight exactly, you are free:
Corse and Vico.
And here is the second:
Dear friend,
Five women will await you at midnight at M. d'Osmond's.
You will choose, or pass on — in which latter case we shall try to console ourselves.
I sent it at random, for this one is not in Paris, though he was cited among the invited guests.
The finest youth of Paris was there; wit was expended in abundance, but beauty was little in evidence. As for the women, the majority are very beautiful, and there is nothing surprising about men abandoning society women, respectable women, to go to those.
I did not go to the atelier yesterday — the whole day — nor today.
Alexandre has left for Russia. My aunt has left for Nice with Etienne, who is to go to Russia and then come back here, having fetched my aunt from Nice. His wife remains with us.
The competition does not trouble me — I am only too certain, alas, of the result. Tomorrow from eight o'clock I shall draw.
I regret not having been in better spirits yesterday; there were so many celebrities.