29 August–4 September 1853

50 kopdks for wine, 20 to Nikita, 5 for hay, total 85 kopeks. Gave 3-50 and 1-35. Wrote The Fugitive in the morning, slept after dinner, and will write in the evening. Have rubles left.

From Valeryan have received 24 rubles 80, making 33 rubles 21 now in hand. Worked all day, but still found no time for the novel. On Saturdays will correct what I have written during the week. Nikolenka leaves to-morrow, and I still do not know my fate.

I rode to Pyatigorsk and wrote hardly anything. I don’t seem to get on with The Meeting , and there was no time left for Youth.

Accompanied Nikolenka and D . . . ov, and again did nothing and wanted . . . and to play cards.

Did absolutely nothing and am unwell. To-morrow I shall go to Kislovodsk. To Ogdlin 5 rubles, for a telescope 3, to the laundress 3, to Zakhar 2, to the hotel ij, for sundries 4, leaves 14-60. To-day I wrote home that they should send me money.

Have been to Kislovodsk. Teodorlna is too simple. I am sorry for her. I did nothing these two days, but read all morning. Yesterday I had news that the harvest is bad. Fedurkin wants another 300 rubles, and I can neither obtain leave of absence nor retire. I have decided to wait here till the money comes, and to go and live in Staroglddovsk like a hermit until it is all settled one way or the other.