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28 September 1912 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Saturday. 28th [September 1912]. We breakfasted at 8.30 & directly after Lord Kitchener & Nela walked out to look in the bronze workers shop close by for door handles for Broome Hall front door. When they returned Nela walked off Capt FitzGerald to the Piazza & I took Lord K. in gondola to Foa’s shop close by to see if there was anything to buy. He saw there a nice old Venetian lacquer frame for which Foa asked him 800 lire. Lord K. offered him 500 in a joking way to Foa’s horror. Well said Lord K. you had better let me have it for that it will bring you luck to sell it to me & I will not give you more but not to let me have it will bring you bad luck. Foa was unmoveable & we got into the gondola. As we were leaving Lord K. called out “well I will give you 50 lire more.” Done shouted Foa—I am afraid of the bad luck with which you threaten me & I will send it to you.” We put back to the door & carried it off in the gondola as we were going home to meet the Commissioners of the R. Academy who had arranged to come to inspect the things & give permission for their exportation. Two old gentlemen came, examined the things tapped them & turned them over & no wiser than before put the necessary stamps on & departed– When they were gone we went off again in gondola to Cav. S. Arbibs to see some pewter plates he is giving to Lord Kitchener & went thro’ his little museum of odds & ends & got back to Della Torre’s shop in the Pal. but did not find anything there to buy– Home to lunch to wh came also Marchese Ferinola, Mr Montalba & Sigra Presbitero wife of the Admiral—she was American. After that Lord Kitchener went out to pay visits with Capt. FitzGerald in the launch lent by Adl Gorelli & returned to tea. He had seen Lady Helen Vincent & heard from her that Lady Cunard is giving tonight a fancy dress dinner & dance & our Prime Minister Asquith who is staying with her is dressing up as a dog. Theodora Guest & Mr & Mrs Dacre Du Cane arrived at 5 to stay with us– After tea Theo rested & I went out in gondola with Lord Kitchener & the rest of the party walked. We went to the Piazza & took a walk round & went to the Greek shop near by & Lord K. looked at an interesting Icon he saw when he was here in July & is tempted to buy. Coming home in the gondola the conversation fell on home politics. I asked him whether he thought Asquith’s Govt would last—he said he gave it another 2 years but that the Unionist party was not ready to take office there being no big man to lead. That Bonar Law was not a big eno’ man. I said that if the Unionists came in we hoped that he (Lord K.) would hold office but he did not think he would accept. In fact he had been already written to by the party in that sense but had given no answer. I said “surely you would accept if it were for the good of the country & you are much wanted.” He said it wd be difficult to do so– I suppose the War office wd be against you I said he answered “oh the War office would have to obey, it always does in such cases.” Lord K. says that there is no immediate prospect of peace between Turkey & Italy & that Turkey is not anxious for it having nothing to gain thereby—but he does not admire the way Italy carries on the war & says they have proclaimed the sovereignty of the country before they have conquered it. Countess Olga Mocenigo née Windischgrätz came to call when we got in & wants to bring the Gd Duchess Waldemar to see this house—but as she is a great friend of all the fast English set, Lady Cunard, Asquiths, Antony Drexel &c I put her off as I dont want to know them. Lord Kitchener & Capt. Fitz in order to avoid them accepted a dinner with Admiral Gorelli & we saw no more of them. Farinola dined here. | |
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