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2 November 1892 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Wednesday. 2nd November [1892]. The weather was by no means settled when we woke at 7 but I got a message at 8 to say Her Majesty adhered to her plan of going to see the Castle of Collalto today. So we had our luncheon packed & Ola, Sir Domenic & I went off to the station where we met H.M.—the fiancés, Count Seckendorff & Baron Knesebeck & we went by 10.45 train to Susegana– There Mr Malcolm’s carriage & one lent him by a Signor Fabbre were awaiting us & we drove to the little church at the foot of the ascent to the Castle. The rain fortunately stopped just as we reached Susegana so that we were able to have open carriages. I drove with the Empress & fiancés. We walked up the hill into the Castle & in the precincts we found a man who looked like an agent. Ct Seckendorff asked of him permission to go over the Castle—& he asking what name he might give to the young Count Collalto who was at home was told “Graf Seckendorff.” He returned with Count Collalto who kindly showed our party round himself & tho’ it was evident that he knew who his guests were he was courteous eno’ to respect their incognito. He took us into his young wife’s room & she received us kindly & simply. She is rather a pretty woman—straight & tall & young. The Collalto is now an Austrian family. They are doing up the castle. I fancy one of the reasons the Empress did not wish to be known by the Collaltos is that they claim to be a branch of the Hohenzollern family & so related to the Prussian Royal family. It was abt 2 when we left the castle & joined the carriages. We drove to the little village in Il Moro and in the little parlour there unpacked our baskets & had luncheon for which we were quite ready & hungry. We found friendly people kept the inn & it was clean– We spent abt an hour there & it was then too late to go on to Conegliano so we drove quietly towards the station & got out & walked part of the way & took the 4.15 train back to Venice wh we reached a little after 6 & then had tea & rested. Mr & Mrs Hulton, Mr Woods & Passini dined with us & we discussed our tableaux, tried the frames and arranged abt the curtains. The carpenters had been working all the afternoon preparing for putting them up. | |
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