Everywhere mother entered, she brought a light with her. Her eyes shone with kindness and gentleness. She dressed with elegance and austerity. She did not like jewelry, though she had the best jewelry in the world, and wore it only on special occasions.

Most of all I was impressed by the feast in my honor at Yusupov Princes’. The Princess was incredibly beautiful, the kind of beauty that is a symbol of an era. She lived among paintings and sculptures in a splendid setting in the Byzantine style. In the windows of the palace gloomy city and bell towers. Showy luxury in the Russian style was combined with pure French elegance at the Yusupovs’. At dinner the hostess wore a dress embroidered with diamonds and wonderful oriental pearls. She was stately and supple, and wore a kokoshnik, a diadem in our words, also with pearls and diamonds, which cost a fortune. Amazing jewels, the treasures of the West and the East, completed the attire. In pearl lace, heavy gold bracelets with Byzantine pattern, earrings with turquoise and pearls and rings shining with all the colors of the rainbow, the princess was like an ancient empress…