Diary of Marie Bashkirtseff
CZENUKFR

Friday, 4 August 1882

Prunier sends me tickets to the prize-giving at the Conservatoire; we attend. It is very interesting.
And then to the Bois, but here is the thing.
Next door to Gavronzi there are neighbours called the Princes Kotchoubey — two of them; young, orphaned, Chevalier Guards and immensely rich. They come, it seems, to be bored in the country in summer; Princess Eristoff has spoken and written of them, Paul has written, and I, having laughed at the idea, find myself thinking on it. Who knows? The proximity, the countryside, my charms... It would be a dream from the Arabian Nights. I should like to go for three weeks instead of Dieppe or Trouville.
To go husband-hunting, à la Lise Troubetskoy — if it works, all the better; if it doesn't, no great harm done. I shall have spent a month travelling. My studio is being handed over to the painters and decorators just now... Why not? I speak of it laughingly to my family... It would be amusing... Oh! if it comes about, I vow to give a hundred thousand francs to the poor, incognito.