econd story of the Hotel de Londres,
with a balcony looking out upon the Piazza di Spagna, a handsome
drawing-room, several bedrooms, and a study. We went to B----'s
studio. He has very fair talent.

Tuesday, January 11th, 1876.

We did not go out, but the artist Kalorbinski came, and to-morrow
the lessons will begin. Monseigneur de Faloux, being unable to go
out himself, sent the Chevalier Rossy to bring us a number of
pleasant messages. I received him. I have learned a great deal about
affairs in the city.

I am very proud of receiving some one myself. It seems like a
sovereign's first decree. The Russian priest has come to call on us
too. I like the cowled monks in Rome. They are new to me, and that
pleases me.

At last I have a teacher of painting; that is something. This
evening I see everything in rose-colour, and I am already thinking
of a letter in which it will be said of A----: _Et eum dicat super
malitiosum, improbum, inhonestum, cupidum, luxuriosum, ebriosum!_
Exactly what Septimus Severus said of Albinus.

If only the winter would pass more quickly. With all my misfortunes,
I feel better in Nice, I can give myself up to despair as much as I
please. Only last Spring, there was nobody there. The best people
gathered around us. P---- was deserted, so were the others. While
this Spring there will again be nobody, but P---- will have Miss
R----. These ladies, under the leadership of T----, will form a sort
of court, like that of the young Princess G---- and Mme. T---- three
months since. Both died three months ago.

We shall see. Meanwhile let us study, and try to go into society.
Let us pray to God, and amuse ourselves by writing letters.

Wednesday, January 12th, 1876.

B---- and his cousin have called to see us. When these Russians go,
I put on my dressing gown again, and say a lot of things, and rank
myself among the goddesses, then descend to calling myself a little
bundle of dirty linen.

I like to indulge in extravagant speeches, and make Mamma laugh. I
received a letter from B----, this charming friend gives me the news
of Nice. P----has had a reception, and everybody went. It seems that
we were mentioned in the presence of quite a large number of persons
in the consul's house, and the consul and his wife said nothing but
good about us.

"I was glad," B---- wrote, "to see that they were your friends, too,
though you no longer went there so often."

After all, I am very happy, very cal