Rome, 7th March 1909

To Miss L.M. Platts, Hyndford House,Inglemere Road, Forest Hill, London S.E.

My Dear Lou, We are in Rome and just finishing a bottle of Chianti - a great round thing like they used to sell olive oil in. It was started at lunch & we are trying hard to finish it now for dinner. It holds about a gallon & costs three shillings & has a great effect on my Italian accent. We have been to St Peters, the Forum & a number of other sights. We look at nothing that dates later than the year one A.D. The building in this picture is quite old - built B.C. 57. Tilly is getting fatter - laughing at my Italian. No-one understands me & I may be using fearful swear words without knowing it. Theo.