We returned to the Rue Boulard and entered by long French windows into a room with deep blue chairs and pink cupids, woven on tapestry, on the walls. We rested till evening. The sun had gone down when we raised ourselves. The evening air was soft and beautiful. I made tea which was quite a luxury in those days. I had brought a 1lb packet undiscovered by the customs and we were enjoying some of it. Looking through the window we could see Ferdinand Von Havre and Edmund walking up and down the terraced garden - both in evening dress.

“But I have no evening clothes,”

I called from my room which was next to Stephani’s.

“It is not necessary,” she replied and running across the landing she passed to me a lovely silk blouse - green with pale pink roses embroidered on it, “please wear this and I will lend you a shawl.”

The shawl was immense with a black silk background and had little gold stars raised up all over it, and a golden half moon, which rested on the shoulders when draped. We emerged like golden and blue butterflies and drove through the Boulevards Paris with its electric signs in perpetual movement. The Boulevards with their leisured culture, the music and lovely women sitting at little tables outside the hotels.

We came first to a quiet part of the town met several artists. Karl and Edmund talked to a uniformed man who conducted us to an underground cave. Little tables were strewn about - blue lights gave them an uncanny appearance - and standing on the tables beautiful red goblets from which we drank sweet wine of the South.

There were other young men - painters and sculptors - who dressed in queer blouses and wore their hair long and ate delicacies which were handed round on green leaves.

Our spirits were somewhat heightened when we left and drove in a fiacre to the ‘Brassiere Universal’ where the maitre de hotel all smiles and bows hurried forward to meet us and direct us to a special table which was reserved. A crystal vase stood in the centre of this table filled with choice flowers.

Otto Hettner ordered the dinner. “Pommy, magnum and caviar.” he whispered to the waiter and champagne flowed over  

the ices. Otto walked over to the chef d’orchestra. “Such an evening can only be accompanied by Strauss waltzes.,” he said.

One moment I felt paralysed by shyness, the next full of intolerable poignancy and then lifted up to the transient joy of life. These cultivated men with ornate and eloquent conversation speaking in Italian and French and sometimes in broken English for me to hear. An atmosphere of charm surrounded them. I sat near Stefani. Then we left the ‘Brassiere Universal’ hear a singer who was then on stage.

The coachman who drove us noticed English being spoken. He smiled at us which seemed to be an oblivious welcome to the principality. The evening had nearly ended. We were late at the theatre but in time to hear the crystal voice of the singer. She sang songs in Italian from Lucretia Borgia and enthralled us all. We spent a lovely evening and night for we did not return home till the small hours.

In the morning I wondered where I was. I saw my suitcase. My holiday was ending and I had to return home. I longed to see my mother but I cried a little when I had to get ready to leave.

Otto said that it was a great tragedy that I had to go. He immediately ran out to buy flowers - returning with a magnificent bouquet of deep crimson roses with long trailing ferns and tied with a silken ribbon of a pale primrose shade. The short time which was left passed quickly.

Otto dined with us and he was preoccupied and quite dull.

“Well,” whispered Steffy, “It is the usual thing. At the end of six weeks his allowance from his grandmother in Dresden comes. For some inexplicable reason it has been spent - all gone - disappeared - all has vanished

But nevertheless he bought heaps of flowers and accompanied me to the railway station. Stefani put in a little pillow into my carriage and a bunch of grapes in my handbag. They crowded round the compartment throwing in flowers.

Karl shouted over their head, “Kommen Sie bold wieden” (Come again soon) Edmund put his arms around my shoulders bent down and kissed me. Otto kissed my hand as it hung from the window. Stefani stood back as the train moved blowing kisses, “Adieu - my dearest - come again quickly - Adieu - Adieu.”