23 February–1 March 1857

The Italian master. Late at Rigauld’s. H6tel de Cluny is interesting. Have come to believe in chivalry. Dined with Turgenev upstairs at Durand’s. Went to the Klyustins — spiteful people. Gadded about. Accosteuse. Spoilt the evening ; I suffered morally and was upset.

Turgenev called in the morn- ing and I drove out with him. He is kind and terribly weak. Le Chateau de Fontainebleau. The forest. In the evening wrote too boldly. With him I look after myself. It is useful though a little bit harmful to feel another’s, and a sharp, gaze always directed on one; one’s own introspection is still more active.

Slept splendidly. In the morning wrote Chapter X capitally. Went to see churches with Turgenev. Dined. Played chess at a cafe. Tur- genev’s vanity, as the habit of an intellectual man, is nice. At dinner I told him, a thing he did not suspect, that I S01A words of the Diary are here indecipherable. consider him to be my superior. Theatre fi.toile du Nord, Sakinkers. In the evening wrote a chapter pretty well.

Slept well. In the morning wrote badly. Turgenev read the draft of his Hamlettand Don Quixote : good material, not without its use, and very clever. Dined capitally. In the evening wrott with pleasure. Turgenev is nice but he is simply tired, and has no beliefs.

Got up late, cold and out of spirits. I had misunderstood Turgenev ; he is what I supposed, but not bad. Finished the draft of The Lost One , what will come of it I don’t know. Don’t like it. Walked and am not well. Read a most stupid book The Tsar. As usual it suggested many thoughts.

Got up late. Turgenev is dull. I want to go to Paris, but he can't remain alone. Alas ! he has never loved anyone. Read The Lost One to him ; it left him cold : while walking we quarrelled. Did nothing all day.