Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Thursday, 4 July 1878

Monsieur Tholozan, [words blacked out: physician to the Shah for twenty-five years] and a friend of Monsieur Anitchkoff, came to make our acquaintance having received a letter from Anitchkoff. Monsieur Anet, the oculist who operated on grandfather — or rather who assisted Ivanoff in operating on him — also called. We announced to him the widowhood of Madame Kondareff; poor grandfather laughed heartily at it.
As arranged, I go to the Gavinis' and we go to the Exposition. No one could be more charming than Madame Gavini — when she introduces me to the ladies I meet at her house (today it was Madame Pereira), she lists my qualities: elegance, wit — and "above all," she says, "she is a good girl and we are very fond of her."
We walk in the Bois, the two Gavinis and I. They are adored in Paris — they are very agreeable and love society. I tell them what is being said about the Acards, while saying how dreadful it is and that I do not wish it repeated.
— I did tell you, my dear, what the Cassagnacs amount to in terms of respectability... says Madame Gavini.
— Do you believe, Madame, that Madame de Cassagnac will be received in society? I asked.
— Nowhere.
— Oh! Truly!
— But besides, they will keep quiet; the Cassagnacs never went into society — only Paul, and perhaps if he presents his wife... but I do not think he will.
That would be something — but I fear the Deceased will outmanoeuvre them all. He will lie low, receive the men of his party, and the rest will follow of itself; the grandest ladies will go to visit the cardinal's daughter once she has a political salon.
The daughter of a hussy... and to think that I could have preserved the poor man from such a misfortune. To think that by my own fault the man who could have occupied a brilliant position by now has become some kind of calculating schemer...
They would never have given him a girl from a good French family; I should have been perfect — but I saw him as too fine a creature, and I committed not only a foolishness but a fault, a sin.