Thursday, 8 January 1880

Madame Gavini comes to ask after me, for you know I have a dreadful cold, and finds Gabriel, whom I had telegraphed to charge with a role that he does not accept after all... he is the prompter.
"You are going to prompt the actresses to the actors."
"But I ask nothing better."
We rehearse every day since yesterday. It is delightful to see this archangel every day. Yes, but I have met Joseph, and that means that... I am very troubled by this abominable affair...