Thursday, 27 December 1883

The Karageorgevitch family and the Tchoumakoff family. Mother Tchoumakoff is insufferable. Every time she falls into raptures as though seeing you for the first time. What a pretty nose! What a ravishing ear! Oh! and that hair. And all of it is lies, vile flattery, made-to-order compliments... One is nauseated, and above all exhausted.

Father Géry comes in the evening, and once the others have gone I describe them to him in detail.

Ah! It is mould.