Gaillard gets us into the Chamber — today is the debate on the exile of the... princes. An enormous crowd; we had the greatest difficulty getting in, but Gaillard puts himself to such trouble that he manages it, and on leaving the session I send flowers to his wife, the former Mme de Quincey. There are no great orators.

Floquet is pretentious, speaks badly, but found an argument I needed in order to approve the expulsion. "One must not tolerate," he said, "men who openly set themselves up as custodians of a principle [Crossed out: who consider itself] superior to the national will, men who acknowledge and proclaim a right above the will of all."

I heard well enough on the whole and could see tolerably. Paul de Cassagnac in particular — who did not speak and kept quiet — seemed ugly to me at first, then beautiful as we were leaving; I believe he saw me; I looked at him as everyone does... Perhaps rather more — and he seemed to me to look at me through his lorgnette. I am afraid I showed signs of approval, but I am so pleased to be a republican and to know why I am one... The enthusiasm of a young man...

They should have put mourning crepe on the speaker's platform. Brisson was presiding — I have liked him since his speech on Gambetta. He was right: "that heroic song which was the poetry of [blacked-out words: our fighter] for fifteen years, we shall hear it no more..." Clemenceau did not speak... We leave at seven o'clock, escorted by Missak of the Turkish embassy...

The princess, Alexis, and Dusautoy dine this evening, and I am in an anxious and sad state of mind — it seems to me that I know not what misfortunes are going to occur...