Wednesday, 7 April 1880

The sale is livelier. I wear my green dress, which causes a real sensation by its simplicity and by my figure. Soutzo, Wodzinski, Lahovari, the Poitrineaus, Mme Gavini. I sell another voucher for a hundred and fifty francs to Mme Gaupillat; the other four to Mmes de Tredern, Reille, and two to Mme de Tanlay.
The painting is sold to Prince Soutzo for three hundred francs. Ours is the only lively booth; it looks as though we are selling an enormous amount, and we do sell more than anywhere else.
I enjoy myself and make them money, sometimes with a cigarette, sometimes with something else.
It is Mme Gavini who keeps me going; when she is there I hold up.
Let us not forget that Julian told me this morning that my painting has been accepted, and curiously, I feel no satisfaction. Maman’s joy annoys me. This success is not worthy of me.
Company for dinner this evening. Mmes Gavini (Denis is in Corsica), Pernety; M. de Miranda and his daughter; MM. de Morgan, de Rouzat, Soutzo, de Chaudordy, de Las Cases.
Mademoiselle de Villevieille comes in the evening.
Miranda promises to approach M. Turquet on my behalf so that my painting will be well hung.
The portraits I have to do are: the Vicomtesse de Tredern, a hundred francs; the Baroness Reille, a hundred francs; Mme de Tanlay’s two little girls, two hundred francs; Mme Renouard (daughter of Princess Lubominska), a hundred and fifty francs; and Mme Gaupillat, a hundred and fifty francs. Add to that the three hundred francs from the painting sold to Soutzo and that makes a thousand francs, and I think I collected a hundred francs or so here and there.