24th November

Got up at eight, read the Scriptures, then went to my duties. (By Osip Alexéevich’s advice Pierre had entered the service of the state and served on one of the committees.) Returned home for dinner and dined alone⁠—the countess had many visitors I do not like. I ate and drank moderately and after dinner copied out some passages for the Brothers. In the evening I went down to the countess and told a funny story about

B.

, and only remembered that I ought not to have done so when everybody laughed loudly at it.