We went to the Pincio, there were a great many people. The Duc de
L----, son of the Grand Duchess M----, the emperor's sister, was
there with Mme. A----, the wife of a Russian prefect. The Duc de
L---- saw her and was captivated. Since then she is always with him.
It is said that they are secretly married and live abroad. That is
what people call having happiness. She had liveried servants and
magnificent horses--suitable, I should think, for the niece of the
Emperor of Russia.


January 19th, 1876.

At the church of St. John we met Baronne d'I----, the ambassadress's
cousin, who came up to Mamma and talked with her a long time,
apologising for not having yet called, on account of her husband's
illness. Mamma went to her house last Sunday, three days ago.

From there to the Pincio, then to the Corso, crowds everywhere, I
like this animation.

My aunt wrote that the Marvel, but she doesn't call him that,
everybody at Nice in our house calls him nothing but the "shaved
magpie," so my aunt wrote that the "shaved magpie" was at the opera,
and did nothing all the evening but weep, actually weep.

There is news from Russia, nothing good, I think of nothing but
praying to God, and am in fear.

I pity myself _now_, what would it be if we should lose our fortune!