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9 January 1903 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Friday. 9th [January 1903]. Nela got up early & left by the 8.40 train for Munich to pay a visit to Baroness Marion Franchetti who is now living there since her separation from her husband. Her sister married Lenbach the painter so she has returned to live near her relatives. Poor little woman she made a coup d’état when she an R.C. insisted upon marrying Bn Franchetti a Jew & he like most of his family being inclined to madness set to work to torment his wife & their 2 children—accusing her of being a liar & even going so far as to refuse even to speak to her for a stretch of two years. Poor thing she grew more & more unhappy & this autumn used often to come to see me & at last told me her troubles & even asked me to take her into my house should she find it impossible to remain with her husband till the legal separation was signed– It did not come quite to that, but the day of the separation she came from the tribunal to my house to luncheon & from there to the station accompanied by some Venetian friends. I had a quiet morning save a visit from Mrs Browning who bemoaned the veto on the Sailor’s Hospital in her house and confessed at the same time that the rooms on the ground floor are very damp & that all her servants are ill so that I consider my hospital scheme has really had a great escape—as the Dr wanted to make us have those rooms. I lunched at 12.45 & then went off to the station. The Prefect & his wife came to see me off & gave me a fine bouquet of flowers. Mr Harston also came & Mr Prinsep & his two sons, Anthony & Thoby went off also with me by the same train. The Prefect was fuming at Mr Algy Bourke who he said had sent off to the Times 2 alarming telegrams to say that the Piazza buildings are in an alarming state—& he (the P.) had stopped them at wh Mr Bourke had written him protesting “in the name of the Times”–! It is true that some cracks were found in the Procuratie vecchio where the plaister was removed & at the Edens yesterday I met Mr Bourke in a great state of excitement abt it. We tried to calm him and begged him not to send alarming telegrams but has refused to listen to us– I & the Prinseps reached Milan at 7.30. We had an agreeable Austrian woman with us in the train who spoke English perfectly & knew many of my friends at Venice. Her husband was taciturn & looked ill. They were probably on their way to the Riviera for his health. Stayed the night at the Hotel Cavour– Raining hard. | |
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