[Paris—Tuesday, 27 December 1859]
Tuesday 27th Lovely day. Boulevards gay beyond description with New Year’s trifles. The booths add immensely to the distracting nature of the whole. Met Mr Thackeray just like himself and charmed with Paris. Father Prout (Mr Mahoney) held him by the arm. At night we dined at the “Trois Frères”. Who should we see there but Thackeray again. He came and sat with us talking in the easiest loveliest manner imaginable from the beginning until he shouted “Good bye neighbours” in the arcades. He said Father Prout was good but dirty. He Mahoney first made a place for Miss Mulock in Bentley’s magazine. She received 5 pounds for this article.