Marquis Bottini, staunch friend of the Prince of Monte Nevoso (Gabriele d'Annunzio), went to London town to sell Gabriele's manuscripts. It was asserted that Gabriele intends to build with the proceeds a great memorial to the late Signora Eleanora Duse, famed Italian actress. Once an American offered the poet $200,000 for the manuscripts, but Gabriele did not then need the money.
From the terraces of the Villa Savoia, on the outskirts of Rome, King Vittorio Emanuele, Queen Elena, Crown Prince Umberto, Princesses Malfalda and Maria watched a big fire, took many photographs....