PARIS, 1897-1902
PARIS, May, 1897.
Dear L.,—I can hardly believe that we have been here a month. The time has slipped by, as it has a way of doing when one is frightfully busy; in my case it was particularly exasperating.
Johan's secretary took rooms for us at the Hôtel Chatham, which was not a very good choice, as you will see.
The day for Johan to present his lettres de créance was fixed for the 20th of April. M. Crozier, the gentleman who introduces Ambassadors and Ministers to the President, appeared with two landaus, escorted by a detachment of the Garde Nationale.
The little courtyard of the hotel could not contain more than the carriages; the horsemen were obliged to stay in the very narrow rue Daunou, which they filled from one end to the other.
While the two gentlemen were exchanging their greetings I slipped out and walked down the rue de la Paix, which I found barred from the rue Daunou as far as the rue de Rivoli.
I felt very proud when I thought from whom it was barred.
I went into a shop while the brilliant cortège was passing and, feigning ignorance, asked the woman at the counter:
"What is this procession?"