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6 February 1884 — Paris | |
Wednesday. 6th February [1884]. The morning papers gave us the sad news of Baker Pasha’s defeat in Egypt & happily he escaped with his life. We were dreadfully upset. It is said the Arab troups were untrained & some without arms & that they ran away at the sight of the enemy. Henry is very anxious about the safety of Genl. Gordon– I went out at 10 & stopped at the Hotel France et Bath & left a message begging Mr Bruce to go & see Henry & talk it over. I went on to the Hurtados at 184 Bd Houssemann & found Idita & Mme d’H. Idita went out shopping with me. I went to try on dresses & bonnets & accompanied Idita to try on a jacket & then we went to Hotel St Romain to lunch. Dacre was there & we lunched together at 1. At 2 I went off leaving Idita to be fetched by her mother, to call on the Serranos 50 Rue St Dominique. I had never seen them since we left Madrid. I was shown up to a room where were several ladies, the Marquis Ahumada & the Marshal Serrano who was asleep in a chair. They woke him up & he was very cordial & nice. Venturita also was there grown into a tall girl but looked ill. She had just recovered from pleurisy. After a few minutes Serrano went to try & hasten his wife and she soon appeared—looking exactly the same as she used as though 7 years had not elapsed since we met—but she was as painted as ever & very handsome. She was dressed to go out. She kissed me on both cheeks & stood saying a few words & at first forgot to offer me a chair. At last she did so & sitting at a table took a pen & began to write as she talked. This was not encouraging & conversation became so strained that at last the Duke came & sat by me– I soon made a motion to go. The Duchess asked me to go to lunch as we had not accepted to dine with them today or tomorrow. I promised her to let her know & myself that I would not go. Henry had gone to see the D. & Dss yesterday & in the evening I got a note from an old governess of theirs who was staying with them, asking us to dine today—she said the Dss wd be out but the Duke & Venturita wd be there—or else she asked us to dine tomorrow– We preferred to decline & we resolved not to accept any of their invitations. The Duke took me down to the door when I left & was very civil but I was glad to get away. I went to Rue d’Anjou & left a card on Mme C. Mallet & then back to our hotel. I found Mr Bruce sitting with Henry. I went out again for a little stroll to buy a few things & came in abt 5. Conchita Serrano (Css de Santovenia) came to call & I was much struck with her nice affecte cordial manner & we talked of Madrid old times, & old friends. At 8 we dined at the Embassy. Met the Tom Bruces, the Walshams, Mr Atlee, Mr O’Connor, Mr Sheffield & Ld Fife. Home early. Henry had a pain in his foot & remained in all day & could not stay out late. | |
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