The earlier diary, in one place only, namely his account of his adventure during his night with Nikitin, is of the full descriptive order.

That one occasion I have already quoted in its entirety.

With that exception the early diary is brief and concerned only with the dryest recital of events.

After the death of Marie Ivanovna, however, its character entirely changes for reasons which he himself shows.

I would have expected perhaps a certain solemnity or even pomposity in the style of it; he had never a strong sense of humour.