30 July–5 August 1855

Rode on horseback, dined at Stotypin’s, but did absolutely nothing. My health is bad. Fever and headache. Prepared for departure. Idleness.

Health seems bad, feverishness and terrible weakness. Because of this I have done nothing. I gave many orders in the detachment, and wrote to Fil. Lost 75 rubles again in two ventures. Idleness, idleness, idleness !

Lost 75 rubles in big stakes. The sum for the month is 80 rubles, so that the stakes may be equal. (One line omitted.) Did nothing all day, wrote a report and made some notes. Laziness, laziness, laziness. Had a conversation to-day with Stol^pin about slavery in Russia. The plan occurred to me yet more clearly than before of making four periods of The Story of a Russian Landowner , and I will myself be that hero in Khabarovka. The chief idea of the story must be the impossibility, in our times, of a decent life for an educated landowner with slavery. All its wretchedness should be shown and the means of correcting it indicated.

In the evenings played with R6sen, did not observe my rules, but nevertheless won 580 rubles, of which he owes me 550. The essential thing is to play for cash. On the 3rd and 4th I went on an expedition and was in a terrible and disastrous action. Sent a letter to my aunt by the courier. (1) Irritability.