6–12 August 1855

Have been to Inkermann and Sevastopol. Won ioo rubles from Odakhdvski and am quits with every- one in the Crimea. Have sold Mashtdk. Was in good spirits. Decided from to-day to live entirely on my pay. Play with the money I receive from home, and if I lose, ne plus ultra 960 rubles. All that is owed to me and that I receive I will add to the capital I am accumulating. All that remains from the detachment-funds and also all that I may win. So far there is only 200 rubles from R6sen. Have conducted myself well.

Was at Bakhchisaray, but did not succeed in getting to Simferopol with a large company that invited me. The Stol^pins bore me. Wrote letters to Paniev, Serezha, and Valerian. My health is good. I wrote a report on the gun-carriage, and other papers. Did not get time to work at Youth. To-morrow. I might have done something in the evening. Rules for play. (Three lines omitted.)

Did nothing. Sensuality torments me. Met Sergey Tolstdy and visited the new Commander, Timashev. Laziness.

Went to Bakhchisaray, bought a horse, fornicated, and generally behaved badly, not to mention my laziness, which I have still not mastered. My health is not good. . . . To-morrow must absolutely work on Youth from the morning. Idleness, idleness, lack of character.

Rose early, wrote the last part of the first chapter of Youths but very little. Went on playing patience. At ten o’clock decided that my chief aim and work on myself must be to exercise my strength of will. Must keep that thought constantly before me. To-day (1) drank vodka, (2) told my fortune during the day, and (3) was lazy.