We had a wretched night apart, the night-lamps were out of order, and moreover R. had the evil dream that I, having gone mad, wished to part from him! I spend the morning and afternoon in letter-writing; in the evening finished reading the tale of Almansor.[1]
[1] Caliph Abu Jafar I (712-775) amassed enormous treasures, promoted art and science, and founded Baghdad; in the fairy tales of Wilhelm Hauff (1802-1827), German storyteller.
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins.