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18 November 1897 — Trent | |
Thursday. 18th [November 1897]. The weather being overcast there was no making a long expedition. H.M., Count Wedel, the Baroness Verschür & I took a walk in the town. Count Seckendorff did not make his appearance today & I believe even kept his bed being knocked up by the great climb of the day before yesterday. Fraulein von Faber told me today that what makes them all anxious about them is that his brother has an illness which began in the same way with nervous depression—& that now he is mad—& shut up fancying himself to be Jesus Christ. I had told H.M. I thought Ct Seckendorff ought to consult Sir Henry Thompson’s friend & Dr as he Sir Henry was also liable to giddy fits &c & I would offer to lend him my rooms at Savile Row but when I heard abt the brother’s illness I began to think it is no use. We lunched at 12.30 & then went off driving to see Margone the Salvadori’s villa near here. I drove with H.M. in a small open carriage & a 2nd brought the Baroness & Ct Wedel. When we got a good way up the hill we came to a place where the Austrians are building a large fort not far fm Margone—much to the annoyance of the Salvadoris. We walked up the rest of the way & came on a lovely old villa on a little plateau on the hill side. There is a nice little chapel close to it rather spoilt by injudicious restoration. The Chateau has a loggia in front of it—the rooms which were opened for us are painted in fresco & the house is beautifully kept & has fine things in it. Delightful pine & larch woods cover the hill & through it are nice winding walks. We went up some way by these & H.M. picked a cyclamen in flower which she picked & told me to keep. We also found some trees covered with mistletoe in fruit & in flower. We returned to our carriages near the fort & drove back to Trent. The officer at the fort had found out who we were & on our return turned out a guard for H.M. Had tea & then wrote letters. Had a visit from the Salvadoris. Supper at 8 & a band played under the windows in honor of the Empress of Austria whose birthday it is. When we came in from our morning’s walk H.M. painted flowers & I sat with her & worked & we talked. H.M. told us today the true story of the Prince Rudolph of Austria’s death. She said that it was more simple than people imagined. That the Vetsera girl tormented him so much that she said she would commit suicide & made him swear to do the same. He took to drinking cognac in such a way that he was almost mad—he went to his parents—told them all—begged their pardon & before any one could prevent him he went off with the girl & they both committed suicide– When the band began to play at dinner time both H.M. & I were quite upset. She said she cannot now bear military music it so brings back her loss and was always unnerved by a band that I got quite cold & even shed a few tears at dinner. H.M. told me that this year during the Jubilee fêtes in England the P. of Wales said to her he wondered at her, who was so fond of England, not caring to see the review at Aldershot—& she said he could not understand how hard it would have been for her to have been there without her husband—who was such a good soldier & would have been so keen to see it all—& she added only such as you & I who have gone thro’ such losses can understand. When at 10 H.M. was to go to bed she said how she regretted it was the last evening we should spend at Trent. I return to Venice tomorrow & the Empress & party leave tomorrow eveng for Germany to stay at Rumpenheim with Pss Margaret. | |
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