Wednesday, 20 October 1880

Little Mademoiselle Juvisy came to see me play the guitar; she is going to take lessons.
While playing I began to hum, and she remained amazed at the sweetness of my voice... I have only the sweetness left. But it is all the more remarkable since in speaking I have a [blacked-out word: deep] and strong voice, unless I am trying to be pleasing — then I speak a little as I sing.
A very pretty thing is happening in Bonapartist politics.
A few hundred men gathered at the Cirque Fernando, gave each other blows with their fists, and decided that twelve delegates would go ask Plon-Plon to submit or resign in favor of Victor.
Cassagnac and Amigues shamefully announced that they were absolutely unconnected with the meeting, after which they celebrated in their newspapers "the great act of the people of Paris," etc.
Read Cassagnac's article in L'Album, 20 October 1880, with the note in my handwriting. [missing]
It is quite comical. You see that I am fair, and that despite my weakness for Cassagnac I find his politics absurd and ridiculous. If Plon-Plon dies and if Victor allows himself to be swayed by that great idiot of an imperialist despite everything — Cassagnac — well, he may perhaps have a few more good days... But it is very chancy, and besides, the Prince is only fifty-eight.
I sometimes think that this great Cassagnac will not be my great passion — he has so diminished himself that I am humiliated through him, and for me to adore, one must always maintain oneself or else fall as a great man; the misfortune of an illustrious one is glorious, but this shriveling in the manner of Cassagnac... no... and yet he has occupied me for so long that I am quite obliged to grant him the place he has taken... Well, we shall see. I dreamed that he was showing my letters and that his wife was so thin and so ugly.

Notes

Nickname for Prince Napoleon (Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte), the unpopular Bonapartist pretender.