5–11 February 1855

Again played cards, and lost another 200 rubles. Cannot undertake to stop playing ; I want to recover my losses, though I risk involving myself terribly. I want to win back the whole 2000 rubles — which is im- possible, though nothing is easier than to lose another 400. And then what ? Terribly bad — not to mention the loss of health and time ! To-morrow will ask Odakhovski to give me my revenge, and that will be the last time I shall play. Have translated a ballad of Heine’s and read The Mischief of Being Clever .l To-morrow will write without fail, and write much.