Monday, 29 March 1880

Last night the most unexpected and astonishing scene, although I have seen quite a few. For four or five days I have been asking for the five hundred francs I must pay Julian, and five hundred more to take out a year's subscription instead of continuing by the month, which makes twelve hundred francs instead of five hundred. They tell me it will be Saturday.
Saturday passes; finally yesterday, Sunday, I come and say to them: tomorrow morning I go to the atelier, I must pay, I owe for five months, give it to me this evening. After dinner -- after dinner Mouzay was there -- in short, at midnight, before going to bed, I ask again and am told there is no money. Very well; I follow my dear aunt, who flees and shuts the door in my face. Then, knowing my people, I tell them quite calmly that if the door is not opened, I shall break it down.
And then the door opens, but eager to take part in the little celebration, Maman and Dina come running. Maman makes a drama of it, clasps her hands, and swears on the eternal salvation of her soul that there is not a sou in the house, but since I am a barbarian, tomorrow at dawn they will go pawn jewelry at the Mont de Piete. I had sat down and repeated like a parrot: I shall not go to bed without money.
My dear aunt [Crossed out: then] says she has a thousand francs but I can have only five hundred. Very well, I shall subscribe later. Then they cannot let me take the thousand francs because they may need them precisely between eight o'clock and noon, and it is only at noon that I would bring them back.
In short, real filth. And my dear mother continues to swear on the salvation of her soul and on God that there is no money. I need not tell you it is disgusting, need I? I do not remember ever having obtained two hundred francs without scenes of this kind. Finally, around one in the morning, they give me the money and I go to bed.
No, is this an existence, is this a family! This woman who blasphemes and cries that I ruin myself by "these scandals" and that she has already borne bruises made by me. Fie! The horror.
Today after the atelier we go to the Queen's, who says that the Infanta Eulalie, her daughter, resembles me very much in character and appearance.
Yesterday we gave Mme Gavini an Easter egg in white satin with a brooch and enameled earrings.