176 LIFE OF SIR JOHN LUBBOCK ch. 



Maurice, and the two girls, on January 27. They 

 had rooms at the Hotel du Palais, and arrived 

 just in time to have their share in the alarm of 

 the disastrous fire which practically destroyed 

 the original building. Lord Avebury records 

 their experience in his diary: "Feb. 1. — On 

 Sunday afternoon Eric went out into the passage 

 and met the Russian Archduchess who told him 

 at once to let us know that the other end of the 

 hotel was on fire. I ran out and found this 

 was the case, and a strong wind blowing our 

 way. We immediately began to pack as quick 

 as we could, first sending baby (Maurice) with 

 the nursery maid to the Martin Smiths' villa. 

 In less than 20 minutes we were driven out of 

 the rooms by the smoke and fire, but fortunately 

 got most of our things away. The courtyard 

 was a scene of great confusion, crowds of people, 

 rolls of smoke, flying sparks, a high wind and 

 heavy rain and almost dark. However, we all 

 got safely off with most of our luggage. Nigel 

 Smith most kind and a great help. Eventually 

 we got rooms at the Victoria for the night." 



The fire was not altogether quenched even the 

 following day, and a very large part of the re- 

 cently erected building was a total wreck. They 

 found pleasant quarters, however, at the Victoria 

 Hotel, and enjoyed their visit, returning home 

 on February 24. 



While at Biarritz he received a letter from 

 the Royal Society of Literature conferring on 

 him the Honorary Fellowship of the Society, 

 in recognition of his " distinguished services to 

 literature." 



