Saturday, 2 November 1878

To the Exposition with the Gavinis. Mme Gavini finds that I have a charming character — the easiest in the world to live with — that I am perfectly well brought up, that I am neither stiff nor forward; in short, that I shall be a cheerful, virtuous woman.
This evening I made myself very pretty to hear Les amants de Vérone by the Marquis d'Ivry at the Italiens — at the Ventadour, at any rate.
With us (Gavinis and myself) was the Comtesse de Balincourt — a formerly ravishing woman who has enjoyed herself as much as she could. Daughter of Marshal de Castellane and married in her first marriage to M. de Contades.
My composure consisted in being tormented by the fear of not having tickets for Monday or Tuesday to the Cassagnac session.
That beast of a Gavini — if he doesn't get me tickets, I shall hold it against him for the rest of my life.
And besides — you cannot understand the happiness of seeing Paul de Cassagnac at the rostrum, defending his election once more!