Stépann

Overview

A peasant valet in the household of Marie's father, Constantin Bashkirtseff, at Gavronzi in the autumn of 1876. The Mon Journal t.9 index has «Stépann (valet)» (pp. 66–67, 100, 105, 107). Marie: «Stépann, le valet coupable, un brave paysan tout carré et tout bête» (066.0129, 066/1876-09-09). Stépann is Marie's French spelling of the Russian first name Stepan; his surname is not given.

Relevance to Marie

• 9 September 1876: after a row with Paul over the servants, he bows to the ground before Marie to ask her pardon, as if she were the power in the house; her father sends him out (066.0129, 066.0131). Later that night he kneels again, «faisant des saluts terrains [sic] comme au Bon Dieu»; his fault was only «une supercherie de poste», he is forgiven and kept on (066.0139).
• 29 September 1876: named, with Kousma, in the burglar alarm Marie stages at night («Ai ! Stépann, Kousma ! Ici, au secours !», 066.0548).
• 4 October 1876: rides on the box when Marie drives out with Paul (066.0625), and is sent to her uncle Alexandre (066.0628).
• 6 October 1876: met at Iskrowka coming back without the letters she had asked for (066.0657).

References in Diary

• First mentioned: 1876-09-09 (066.0129)
• 1876-09-09 (066.0131, 066.0139); 1876-09-29 (066.0548); 1876-10-04 (066.0625, 066.0628); 1876-10-06 (066.0657)

See also #Kousma, #Papa.