26 October–1 November 1857

Did not find Minaev in. Dined at the Nekrasovs’. Well enough. Evening at Sh6vich’s with Kozldva. They are dull-witted. A. P. at night.

Have forgotten this day.

Forget.

Found the Minister. Did not manage to talk the business well over. Dined with Shostak. Per6v- ski’s story. Alexandrine is delightful ! Evening with them.

Had a talk with Kolbdsin, then started. The Death of Pazukhin — an incredible abomination. Yiishkov is a despot and a fool. Dolgorukov an ageing society man ; and poor Meshcherski — from Paris t^ Jie Caucasus ! The news of Orlov’s marriage with Trubet- skdya awakened in me sadness and envy. I arrived tired, and with a cruel cold and catarrh. Mashenka kept talking about herself and did not ask a word about me, but she was affectionate. All right. Slept in the daytime. Read N. S. Tolstdy’s book. Fine! and Ershov’s Sevastopol1 is also good. Mean to sit at home and write. Petersburg at first saddened me but afterwards quite restored me. My reputation has fallen, or hardly squeaks, and I felt greatly grieved ; but now I am calmer. I know that I have something to say and the strength to say it strongly ; then let the public say what it will. But it is necessary to work conscientiously and apply all one’s strength . . then “ Let them spit on the altar”.8

A nightmare of battles all night long. Began writing. It does not get on. Went to walk, read Le Nord. Dined well at home. Again tried to write The Cossack and wrote a very little. Went to the Club, fool that I am, and there read an essay by M6rim£e on Art in England. Should have done better to go to the Sdshkovs’.