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commanding gesture, she lines her enemies against some imaginary wall. On all occasions the Baroness gives most depressing advice. Each time that we were summoned to appear before the authorities she never failed to advise us to take with us a small valise containing such necessities as a piece of soap, a comb, a tooth-brush and bed-bug powder for, she said, we should probably be sent to prison, and prisons in Italy are always infested with lice and bed-bugs. Out of precaution, we did each carry a small valise on such occasions. Now I may add, that though we were looked upon with suspicion, never were the Italian authorities other than most courteous towards us.

This afternoon we were particularly depressed after our guest had left us to climb her hill. Evidently she apprehends the Germans leaving Florence and fears the advent of the Communists. Night and day she keeps watch over trunks filled with linen and silver. "But they will never take me alive; I'll kill myself!" declares this frightened lady. "But with your Swiss passport you can go to Switzerland," said we, by way of placating her. "Go to Switzerland and leave all I possess in the world? Never!"

She bewailed the fact that to seek refuge with her aristocratic friends still remaining in Florence was impossible, for their homes were being watched and they suspected of sympathizing with the runaway King.

Perhaps it is just as well that Villa Sant' Agnese contains