Diary of a Contessa, Venezia June 17th, Year of our Lord 1781

I was reading in the Salotto, when my maid Devi came to tell me that there was a man called Achille with a message from Melioria. I remembered that Achille was in the service of Sior Stern, and told Devi to show him up immediately.

Achille explained that he was bringing a Verbal message from my Father and Sior Stern. Verbal because neither of them trusted the written word, or the pigeons.

It would seem that my father had been sent a message which he had assumed was from me, asking him to come to Melioria, as I was in trouble. He arrived in all haste, and off course found I had left because of the message I received from him requesting me to return to Venice as soon as possible.

It would seem that both messages were false, and certainly explains why Father wasnt here when I arrived.......and now I am worried, Sior Gandt suggested there was something suspicious in my Father not being here, I thought he was being silly, seeing dangers everywhere, now I wonder.....

And I dont feel at all reassured when Achille points out that the house is being watched, and shows me the two men watching. By myself I would never have noticed. From now on I shall see them everywhere. My Fathers instructions,however, are to stay put and not to travel anywhere until I hear from him again.

I thank Achille and send him to the kitchens for refreshments.

So while I pretend to gaze across the Canal Grande, but actually observe the two men observing me, I wonder what is going on. Who is having me watched? And why? and what can I do? Father can't seriously expect me to do nothing and just sit here waiting?

(furnishings by Delos Helstein and SERENYA Burnstein)