, 1874-10-11
HoTEL.INCIDEl:F III THE RIVIERA.
From Chambers journal.


No one who has ecjourued for whilo in the
Riviora is surprised at the crowds OF foreigners
that are collected from all parts of Europe int<
its various hooks and retreats. We English sc
there to escape mist and fog; the Russinns, tt
avoid extreme cold the invalid Germans, to pui
E barrier between themselves aud the witherinG
east wind Some again vizit it for other tha1
sanitary REASONS. Monaco. with its gambling at
fractions, entices and deisins some, and the mere
enjoyment Of climate luxurious even in winter
invites many more.
We-tbat is, my wife and myrelf-*ere enjoy
ing . few weeks at one of the large hotels thai
ere so numorously dotted along tlis coast. II
might have been at Hseres, Cannes, or Nice. al
Monaco or Mentone, Bordighera or San Reno,
Savona OF pegli or It might 1are been at nc
one Of atl these
We had been sIayinB.-it is sufficient to say
at the Hotel du Bon Vivant about week, when
there appeared st the table d'hote very striking
pcfsonage. As soon a, dinner Was over. my wife
found herself (by aaa1ent) near tho visitors
book, and discovered 1hat tho new arrival had
entorsd himself as the Baron Honteggiaua-1ay-
ernelle, We we're Chiefly English AZ The hotel,
there was no 1talian there, aud our acquaintance
with the national Burke was limited 30 we
easily accepted the thesry that this lengthy ap-
relation nes one Of the, most ancient titles in
the land. We we're Subsequently informed by
tue Baron that it was Saciliau, which m.do our
ignorance tho more oxcusahle.
I don't think it uaa his title. or. at least, it WEE
not only that, which m:a1e us all go charmed
With him. 1t must loye been IL his noble bear-
ing, his perfect manners. his evident de.ire to
please. lis modest evasion OF au topics bearing
1vTu
was apparently about 80 years Of age. his blacl;
hair WAS as glossy as ravens plumage, and i,ia
black flashing eyes betrayed passionate sonl !;
while his thick moustnche framed, rather than
concealed, smile that lrcaitiated his intellectual
countenancc with s:seetncs.s and light"
Such. at loast was the description given OF
him in one of my wfo's lt,tters to my motner-i1-
letter, as it has saved Tile Ron.e little trouble
in attempting to describe him in words Of my
own.
Tie Baron mixed verr little with his owu
countrymeu, and, Is vontured to suggest to
my wife, seemed rather shy OF them lie never
went to tho public amus sments, nnd declined
to subscribe to the Circolo. She explained to
me, in reply, that he was she only noblsman In
tho place, and wrs, perhaps little naughty to-
uatds his compatriots Of lower raalt- He had
our hotel for the express purpose Of mixing
with tho Englieh, az ht was expecting
shortly to receive Governmental appoint
mcnt, and, for the better discharge Of his pros-
poc.ive duties, 4 Little knowledge Of English Was
desirable.
should have mentioned before that / only
speak my own language; but my wife can con-
verse in Italian with cnee and tuency, and the
Baron very naturally ta!aea with her good deal,
and occasionally condescend'sd to speak to me by
her interpretation.
Shortly after the arrival OF tbs Baron Monteg-
giana-Tarernelle, We were further enlivened By
another. This time it Was Russian lady. at
tended by her maid. There wero no other Rus
SLAMS as the Hotel du Bon Vlyant, and she mp
peared to have come there rathor from necessity
than by choice, as there we're 40 rooms vacant in
the inn usually frequeuted by those OF her nation.
She declined to eutcr her name III the visitors
boo:, and for the first two three days dined in
her own room. and held aIoof from tho rest Of US,
This, added to the efect produced BY statel-
ness not to nay grandeur Of ddpo:tcaent: and
rich sobrlety OF dress, prepared us all Tor the
discovery which III q few days oozod out, that
she Was Russian Princess, wid,ow, who wished
to remain incognito, aud to hve quietly io tho
enjoyment Of Iii unconventional freedom from
tho obligations Of nobility-an enjoyment be-
yOnd her command at homo
Vic nevor fully understood how 3his oozcd out.
Her female attendant could undorstand nothing,
and therefore could diyulge nothing. The maztrs
d'hotol assured his guests that he knew 10 more
than the rest Of the world and, ty his myBseri-
GUS shruSginGs. his aeif-cont1adictions, and,
above all, by his manner. impressed as all with
the firm telies that there was secsot IN hih DOS
session This, OF course, confirmed tue truth CT
the reacrt. ard it became Al established fact
that tic lady waa nassian Princess
After few days Of 6eclns,ol she vonc!,safod
to make her appearance ut the table d'hotc, and
retired with the rest Of tic .dieB to The aile des
Dan:cs afterwards. Then it WAS thst the Baron
exhibited his Unborn Is we'll as inherited rol,ili-
ty. lie attended to her little wants, placed Icr
an armchair bv ti1c fragrant woud-fre, and, on
receiving her thanks in hts mo;ller-to15uc ,-his
parents pride !.:d no doubt prevented MIN fspm
1,,l and courtlT conversation with her There
we're plenty Of other men in the room who could
havo done it; but the Baron Was naturally the
ttte.s retsoa to begin and will give him c1e.l-
it for oo,ndless -possossion-not to call 1t
iEcudonce.
The acquaintance thus b7sun grew with trop-
ical rapidity. The cold northern temperament
softly but quickly thawed teucuth tho war1u
rays OF Italian aueetneze and light. Fsgments
Of their talk ccccoonnlly reached the eats Of
my Wits aud others rIlo could understand them,
from which it appeared that their ulein tonic
sns the opera.
'.Ah. Madame, ,"-he was interpreted to me rs
Eayins,--''if il could but be honored with yonr
p-cpcncc in mr boz at Florence! The music
would be nngeIc then
.Thc signo- docs me great favor in express
ing the wirh.''
Yes: it ras" cloar that ho MAS hard Lit, and
that .hc know 1t. and had no desire to dismiss
him. And get she was II DO eiDgio point
guilty Of int!iscretion fozwardne*s, or co1uet1y,
in my opinion.
..Tlst von,sn," tnid my wife. 81 is abo:rina-
bio! Look how she hunts that poor man down.
suppose sho f.ncics Sicily, nicer country than
siberia. or where. or it is eho comes lrosn."
..Well, my dear" I replied. ii: seen,s to NC
t1,nt the hunting is mutual. Really, don't zee
why he shouldn't marry her. if tho: Doth like it.
.'Sho may ben rners tuft-hunti1,s ad7enturcss,
for Al, We know, - said she. "1 don't bclfere In
her,
:. fell, but perhaps he knows mora than We
do"
~ dom. believe in her bit. She's bunting
him down for i1is wealth aud ttto, and is as much
a pr;acesB aB am"
Tie season was now at its height, and every
room was occupied; the very last attic in the
Hotel du Bon Fiyant being secured by German
Count, tho Count aisBmund Won Horokorelt.
He pu: down l,;s namc il the visitors book like
u man, aud his whole demeanor was frank. open,
aud r.,bust He was extraordinarily fluent In
Ensiiah. as well as in French and Italian. Ger
man. or courac. Vas his motlser-touyue, few
iialcc:ial pcctlla7itics noticeable in bis pTon'r
atoa arising. he explained from: tic circ:,atance