Tuesday, 26 November 1878

I go to the Gavinis’ and there make the acquaintance of the young Duc de Feltre — one of the youngest members of the Chamber.

Then... we go with the old one to Doucet’s, and while I am trying things on they come to say that Mme de Cassagnac has come to collect her otter coat — adding that Mme de Cassagnac is downstairs.

She had her trousseau made at Doucet’s and it cost her eleven thousand francs. She must be wealthy, all the same, to shop at that establishment.

You cannot imagine what a disagreeable impression those words make on me: Mme de Cassagnac. Luckily I was with Mme Gavini, and in the evening they took me to see Le Sphynx¹ at the Français; otherwise that odious impression would still be with me.

The three times I saw her at the Chamber she did not look in the least as though she were dressed by Caroline or by Doucet — but there, not in the least.

Otter coats being all much of a muchness, it will give her some chic whether she likes it or not.