Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Sunday, 1 February 1880

Tolmatcheff to lunch.
Filippini has not yet had his second sitting; I sent him away today to go for a walk. At the Gavinis' we are introduced to M. de Saint-Amant. The famous dilettante, artist, connoisseur, launcher of prima donnas and society women, the friend of all pretty women; he follows fashion or makes it.
They had spoken much of me to him, and I noticed that he was examining the subject closely.
[Words blacked out: At Mme Krishaber's, Mme Munkacsy, the wife of the famous painter. I saw Baron Arnaud in the Bois, on horseback with the Duke Guichard. I turned away from them without affectation but had time to see that the Baron is handsome... he has something after all.
Madame Adam did not come. This makes me take everything in horror. I am furious that Soutzo is dining at the same time as the Mouzays. The women would not bother me, but the young man bores me. Mme Gavini says I would do well to take him. If I had everyone else's ideas, yes, but...
At the moment I am saying aloud that I shall marry at twenty-four.
"When will you be twenty-four?" he asked me this evening.
"In four years."
"And it is only then that one may aspire..."
"Yes, to that honor."
"And if I presented myself?"
"We shall see about that in four years."
"I am in despair."
The Viscountess de Brimond, the political woman of our building, is very affable. She chatted with Maman the other day on the staircase, and this evening she greeted me.