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pistol at her, shouted: "Curse Mussolini and Hitler five times over or we'll shoot you." Now history will never relate whether the lady did or did not comply to this order. She escaped in spite of the brave stand she took (so she says), and the me on leaving threatened to return and kill all the "padroni" of Via S. Leonardo.
October 15. The Baroness came down from her hill to see us. She was even more disquieting than usual. As she reads all the German newspapers she is far more in the know of things than are we. Besides she terrorizes herself by reading certain nightmare books on the French Revolution. She kept repeating that never would she go to Switzerland and abandon all her possessions; and then, in flat contradiction, she spoke of her language as being ready for departure. Had she not that very morning repacked her valises with warm effects for the winter? She enumerated these in detail for our diversion, and they went into the valises two by twos with a Noah's Ark precision: two warm dresses, two warm vests, two warm combinations, two warm.... and so forth, and so no to mention only a few of this long list of articles. The Baronese takes good care of herself. 
October 19th. Today during the alarm we all met in the refuge. For the first time since the new Fascist Republic Government antiaircraft guns were in action. It was the noise of these that brought us downstairs. The Professor looking very much his seventy years, appeared in grey pyjamas, fur coat and motor cap, with ear-flaps.