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5.
If I was going to stay longer I would have to strike a new model but as it is I shall hardly have time to finish what I have started.

This aft. [[afternoon]] a celibrated italian artist was in to look at Graves' big picture. G. was painting the building on the left, and I had just sketched in the head in color, I was not there when he came. He told G. that the buildings were bad but that the head was stunning. He also saw the study I made for it and thought that it was first rate, very like the model he said. Graves felt very sick over it. He said to me, The only thing he liked about the picture was what you did. It was rather rough wasn't it? Now don't tell anyone that I am working on it as I am doing it as a favor to him. Night before last we went

6.
to the grand opera to see Gioconda. It was stunning. The theater, the Fenice is one of the finest in Europe and is a stunner, all decorated in gold and grey and pink and light green and such colors.

The royal box is opposite the stage where the entrance to the centre of the balcony is and is something gorgeous being all gold scroll work and  plate glass mirrors with gold brackets for candles all round; it is as large as a good sized room.

There were a great many officers there the night we were there. After the act or rather between the acts every one gets up and looks around and if they see any one they know they go over and talked to them. The seats in the orchestra are so fixed that you can almost lay down. Very comfortable I assure you. I enjoyed the performance immensely; it was through at 12.15 + is only about 3 or 4 minutes from the