Monday, 17 November 1879

Revival of The Marriage of Figaro at the Comédie-Française. A full house — the whole government, from M. Grévy and his daughter down to Gambetta, in a latticed box with a little woman. Mme Adam in her usual box, Jules Ferry and Lepère in a ground-floor box, etc., etc. — all the smart republicans (?!) except Joseph, who drove about the Champs-Élysées this afternoon with the blinds of his coupé lowered. As we passed each other he leaned forward and showed his devil’s beard, which it is impossible to mistake for any other. I am with Dina, the Gavinis and Nervo.
Next to us we have the little Miranda girl, with whom I chat. Her father, without holding any clearly defined position at the Spanish Embassy, wields an extraordinary influence there, and people say a good many unkind things about him, but they are useful people.