Saturday, 4 June 1881

As I was saying. I am struck from every side. Robert-Fleury may be dead at this very moment. Julian writes that he contracted pneumonia leaving his mother's house in an open carriage — immediately between life and death. He weeps, knowing himself lost.
Is it not atrocious enough. To say nothing of the father, who is eighty-five, and the mother — whom poor Tony so feared to lose. And M. Georges lives!!!! No — there are things... The physicians have given up hope and a fatal outcome is expected from moment to moment. The grief it causes me!
And then in my condition of deafness it is so frightful to approach new people... And I was accustomed to Tony, who was so kind to me. I shall never replace him. Oh, my God — make it not be true, for his poor parents' sake. Will you strike down two old people without ceasing to spoil me so greatly in life?