Wednesday, 5 June 1878

Filippini received my letter too late — he writes to tell me. I dash to de Daillens, then a thousand errands, then Fio arrives; I embrace her, give her photographs, and do not go to the Exhibition with her.
But I go to the Salon with de Daillens — she overdoes her witticisms, but is otherwise quite amusing.
Then to Laferrière's — or rather, before that: Fio is going to procure tickets for me via Mme de Lesseps for Saturday at Versailles. Dr Michel has been charged with the same errand. Moreover I shall ask Multedo, and Yorke, who will ask de Tanlay, Lindemann, the devil himself.
On Saturday Cassagnac's election is to be debated, and he is to speak. Here is the brief notice from Le Figaro:
— M. Paul de Cassagnac takes the floor and requests the Chamber to be so good as to [Ibid. p. 329]
fix Saturday for the debate on the report concerning his election. The young deputy has barely three days to prepare his defence, for he knows he is condemned, and he does not believe the Chamber will deny him — him! — the modest delay granted to common men condemned to death
With genuine good grace, the Chamber accedes to this supreme wish and fixes the debate for Saturday.
I want to go to Versailles just as I wanted to go to the Foreign Ministry ball.
Tomorrow!.. But this evening I am going to the ball — tomorrow, we shall see tomorrow.