Saturday, 28 February 1880

We sent flowers from Nice to the Queen, and today we receive her card:
"Queen Isabella II of Spain to Mme and Mlle de Bashkirtseff with her thanks for the lovely bouquets."
A quantity of people: Mme de Bailleul introduces MM. d'Astafard and de Bouteiller. Wodzinski introduces a Turkish embassy secretary. Mmes Gavini, Poitrineau, Tchoumakoff, Berthe, Cerny, Balagny, Mlle de Villevieille, MM. de Rouzat, Soutzo, Lahovari, Turquan, etc., etc. Saint-Amand too. We chat a little, and he leaves kissing my hand: "Farewell, exceptional nature."
Then Courtes, and then I no longer know who else; in short, masses came.
Five people are kept for dinner.
Julian did not come, and I cannot begin to paint without advice from him, or from Tony, to whom I have not dared say anything.
They say that Cassagnac had relations with his wife before the marriage and felt himself obliged to marry her. It is Soutzo who tells this. Their families have been linked for a very long time; since old Cassagnac died (six weeks ago), the family is very unhappy, especially his sisters-in-law. Therefore, it is a question for the Mlles Soutzo to leave their sister Mme de Werbranck and go live with Mlle de Beauvallon (Paul's aunt), who is without resources.
Soutzo gave me a Renaissance shovel and tongs and a subscription to Clemenceau's La Justice.
[A line and a half cancelled]