Sunday, September 25:
But R. did not have a good night. In the newspaper is a description of the Jouk. costumes, containing many mistakes; it is by F. Muncker, and for R. this is yet another proof of the hasty way in which things are always done nowadays. He works, complaining of lack of concentration.
At lunch we have the mayor’s family; it all goes quite well, and at half past four the strapontin arrives! R. and I ride in it together, everything amuses him, even the way the people stare, the coachman, the horses, and the weather is fine too. I had been offered the carriage just for inspection, but he wants to keep it, if only for the reason that a man here built it at his own risk, and who will otherwise support him?
In the evening we have a merry whist party (I, unfortunately, am never with him!); but he withdraws and just looks on, constantly exclaiming, “Forges is missing-something is missing!” To my father he exclaims, “If you had such a nice house, we should visit you much more often - or such a wife!”