On Monday the 27th I attended the general rehearsal of the student production of Yevgeny Onegin at the Conservatoire, to which I had been invited by my Georgian friend Elli Kornelievna [Akhvlediani]. I was delighted to go, as I always love the lively atmosphere at these rehearsals. The library porter told me that there was a full-blown battle going on at Liteiny Prospect near the Arsenal and the shooting there was terrible, because some soliders had gone over to the side of the workers. There was also shooting on many of the city's main streets. But inside the Conservatoire all attention was focused on the rehearsal, and the events in the town were soon forgotten. 

As the rehearsal threatened to go on interminably, I decided to leave at half-past five. In the foyer I heard more about the serious gun battle on the Liteiny. I said to our Librarian, Friebus: 'Why don't we go and have a look, Alexander Ivanovich?' but he categorically declined. I then said, jokingly: 'Well, I'm going. Goodbye, Alexander Ivanovich, we may never meet again!'