Last night there was a very pleasant dinner at the German Legation, at which I presided. I wore my black satin Spitzer dress, with the white-and-silver hanging sleeves, which was much admired. Everybody’s clothes are known here and people are thankful to see something new. The Belgian minister was on one side of me, and the Japanese on the other. Von Hintze was opposite, with Lady C. on his right, and Señora de Rul, wearing magnificent pearls and a high-necked dress, on his left. Three of the officers of the _Hertha_ were there, giving rise to uncomplicated jokes about “Hertha” and “Huerta.” Of course conversation about _la situación_ twisted through the various courses. The opinion is that there are enough warring elements in town to provide a sort of spontaneous combustion, without the aid of any outside happenings. Moheno had evidently got word of the Cabinet meeting in Washington, when he came to see N., yesterday. He was most profuse in protestations of friendship, personal and political. They are all a bit worried and perhaps will be amenable to negotiations. _October 31st._ Yesterday there was a luncheon at May’s in honor of the Belgians who have come to get the much-talked-of railroad concession--a little matter of five thousand kilometers. Everything is beautifully done at his house, and he has many lovely works of art. The table was a mass of small, yellow chrysanthemums in a beautiful, old English porcelain _surtout de table_, having a yellow _fond_; the food was the triumph of a French _chef_ over Mexican material. But, like all houses facing north, the May’s house seemed desperately chilly when one came in out of the bright, fresh autumn day. Simon, the clever French _Inspecteur des Finances_, came in only when lunch was nearly over. His wife had been in tears most of the time, and we were all a bit jumpy--as there were rumors of a raid on the bank, and we feared that he and the other directors might have been asked for their money or their lives. I invited them all for tea on Monday. Graux, the chief engineer, has a handsome English wife. When I see the fully furnished _salons_ of others, I long for my Lares and Penates, so safe in Vienna; though, I must say, the drawing-room has begun to look very homelike and comfortable, with its deep chairs, broad writing-desk, small tables, reading-lamps, palms, photographs, books, and bibelots.