Sunday, 4 May 1879

Collignon helps me sort through a work on costumes; I need it now for my compositions.
And then — oh horror! — instead of making a sketch or going to the Louvre, we have Madame Gerbel and her daughters and yet another Russian lady for lunch, until four o'clock!! After which we go for a walk with Madame Gavini, and my mother keeps me in a state of alarm the whole time with her conversations and her veiled hints, which draw from Mother Gavini the observation that she had been to the Rothschilds' and that several of her friends had asked to be included and the Rothschilds had declined.
There is also that habit of peering at the carriage door to see if there is a coronet, and then whether the gentleman is paying attention to me. And then a whole heap of other things that are tedious and make one uncomfortable. Well — what is one to do.
De Daillens dines with us.
Several people came not knowing we had changed our day. Among others, Multedo, who is trying to please my aunt because he believes she influences me... Horrible creature!
He has a nose that is atrocious as a revelation — most people see only a nose like any other nose, but the observant will read instincts in it...