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4 September 1908 — Castel Savoia, Gressoney St. Jean | |
Friday. 4th [September 1908]. I did not get much sleep & was awake when Baker came to me soon after 4.30. Dressed, breakfasted & went down at 5.20 & there found Marchese del Grillo waiting to see me off. I started at 5.30 in the cigno the big motor bus. It was just beginning to dawn & the first rays of the sun were on Monte Rosa– Off we went down the valley reaching Pont St Martin abt 6.30 just time eno’ to register luggage & get out tickets for Venice. It was much warmer when we got there & it got quite hot by the time we reached Milan at 11.50. As we went along the Canavese I looked out for all the places we had seen on our late expeditions—but we soon got carried beyond them. At Chivasso we changed trains. At Milan we had an hour to wait & we lunched. After Milan I had a strange looking girl for a companion– Very handsome, dark, hard looking—evidently a Slav or a Russian. She was going to Fisione & did not quite know how to get there. She had been told to go via Venice. I gave her my train book & she offered me a peach & then she smiled & her face softened—but it soon resumed its stern look & remained so. On getting to Venice we went our different ways. Sister Chaffey & Hilda Montalba came to meet me at the station & I found Giuseppe & a gondola to take me home. Freddie & Amy Guest & Henry Guest are still here. On receiving my telegram they moved in to this house & are leaving tomorrow in their yacht. On getting to my door I found the old Genl de Horsey waiting in his gondola to greet me. The kind old man had come on purpose to welcome me & then rowed away. I was rather tired & bewildered but I got a cup of tea & a rest & the Guests came in by dinner time. They brought Lord Grimthorpe (who is of their party) to dine– I have no cook here but my servants managed to give us a decent dinner. After dinner I showed the party over the pictures in the house by electric light. Lord G. told me he has a house at Salerno. He is a connoisseur of pictures & greatly appreciated those here. To bed at 10.30 very tired. | |
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