Tuesday, 9 July 1878

The company consists of Madame Antonsky, her son (from a first marriage), Monsieur Rembelinsky, and his wife; a Madame Abaza; a Monsieur Dourassoff — a young cavalry guardsman; and another, Monsieur Vesselowsky, a councillor of state and member of I know not what. These people belong to the middle class striving after aristocracy.
[Written across the page: and of Doctor Tomachewsky and his wife.] They all bore me.
I had my throat examined. Pharyngitis, laryngitis, and catarrh. Nothing less.
I amuse myself reading Livy and taking notes in the evenings. I intend to do so every evening — I have need to read Roman history.