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11 October 1908 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Sunday. 11th [October 1908]. There was a thick fog in the morning but it lifted in time for me to go to church at 10.15. I had hardly got home at 12 when I was rung up by Myles from Hotel Danieli & he said he was coming to lunch with me & might he bring Miss Pelly (the Duchess’ lady) & Capt. Bulkeley (the other ADC) & the officer of the launch also that the Connaughts finding the Aboukir is lying at Alberone 7 miles off, in what is a kind of desert, were very unhappy & would like to come & stay with me from tomorrow if I would have them. I of course, answered “Yes” & very soon Myles appeared with Miss Pelly. They told me that the Connaughts were at that moment lunching with Lady Radnor. During lunch Myles & I discussed the matter & I urged that they should all come to me at once & send for their servants & luggage. We sent a note & my gondola to bring the Connaughts from Lady Radnors & when they came we settled they should do this—so they wrote notes to their servants & sent the launch to bring them back. Baker & Regina began at once to prepare the rooms which was easily done—a more difficult matter was to provide food for such a large party—on a Sunday with all the shops shut. I hit on the plan of sending Giuseppe to Hotel Britannia to beg the proprietor Mr Walther to let me have some provisions & this he kindly did. We sent for a 2nd gondola & at 4 went out for a row. The Duke & Dss with me & the 2 ADC & Miss P. following in the other gondola. Took them to SS Giov & Paolo & round by the Fondta Nuove & the Canareggio home—a lovely row. On our return the rooms were all in order & before dinner the servants had arrived so that 11 souls more were added to numbers today. Sear was equal to the occasion & gave us an excellent dinner. They all went out for a row afterwards as it was a lovely moonlit night. Myles has the room next to mine & he came in & sat chatting by my bedside before he went to bed. He is very nice & affectionate & a great help to me. | |
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