Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Monday, 16 September 1878

Monday, 16 September 1878

I take Mme de Mouzay and we go to M. Albert Gigot, Prefect of Police of the French Republic.1 I must say, to the credit of the French Republic, that access to these high officials is exceedingly easy, and their manners quite proper.

Je prends Mme de Mouzay et nous allons chez M. Albert Gigot, préfet de police de la République Française. Je dois dire à la louange de la République Française que l'accès de ces hauts fonctionnaires est on ne peut plus facile et leurs manières tout à fait convenables.

We set out the situation, and he promised action — on condition that Maman write him a confidential letter, naturally. For eighteen months the fine gentleman could have been expelled, but Maman had opposed it.

Nous avons exposé la situation et il a promis à condition que maman lui écrive une lettre confidentielle bien-entendu. Il y a dix-huit mois qu'on aurait expulsé le beau monsieur mais maman s'y était opposée.

Notes

Albert Gigot (1825–1900) served as Prefect of Police of Paris from 1876 to 1879 under the early Third Republic. The position was responsible for maintaining public order in the capital, including cases involving foreign nationals. ↩