Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of December 23, 1881

Overview

The gray weather drove Richard indoors to Madame de Remusat, whose portrait of Napoleon delighted him so much that he kept trying its epigrams and tempers on for size. A short drive ended quickly, and the day narrowed into reading, amusement, and growing physical discomfort. By evening he was unwell enough to retreat early to bed, carrying Napoleon and Talleyrand with him as his chosen companions of the hour.

Content

Friday, December 23:

“I shall write to Rub.’s father at once.” With this joke R. rises. He is much enchanted with Frau von Rémusat’s memoirs, and concerning an outburst of Napoleon’s against convenances [propriety] and bon goût [good taste] he says, “That could be me.” The weather is gray; we go out for a drive but soon turn back, and R. settles down again to his reading, which is giving him much enjoyment. Very drolly he applies to himself the joke Napoleon made about Berthier, of whom he said he really had no idea what he was supposed to do with him. In the evening he is unwell, and he goes to bed early.