Gedanoff

Stub entry — needs research.

Identity

A Poltava acquaintance of Marie's father, constantly at the Bashkirtseffs' in the autumn of 1876 (Mon Journal t.9 index: "Gedanoff (M.)"). Marie: "Gedanoff le plus utile, le plus aimable et le mieux élevé des parasites était là comme toujours" (067.0055). He amuses the company with Michel Eristoff's circus adventures (067.0020) and, with the Volkovitskys, offers her a seat on the train at Iskrowka (066/1876-10-06).

First meeting and portrait (September–October 1876)

Michel Eristoff brings «le fameux M. Gedanoff» to lunch at the Hôtel Européen in Poltava on 27 September 1876 (066.0501). This is his first appearance in the diary. Marie sums him up as «assez laid, assez brun, assez convenable, assez du monde, assez aventurier, assez joueur et assez honnête homme», regarded in Poltava as its most cultivated and correct gentleman, «ce qui est vrai... pour Poltava» (066.0510). He answers her father's boasting about his daughter with a compliment that recalls Olympus (066.0504–0509). At Paul's birthday party on 7 October he is the only addition to «la canaille des autres fois» (066.0698). On 8 October, during the mock trial at Gavronzi, he makes Marie a declaration on behalf of his friend Michel, and he keeps the iron tip of her heel in his purse (066.0729–0733).