Great Opening: Monte Carlo Opera -- Jan. 25, 1879

Speranza

An ineffacable memory to the artistic world.

The concert was arranged for eight o'clock.

The aristocracy of Europe and elite of the arts and literature assembled there that evening.

Seated in the Prince's box were the Duchess of Urach-Wuerttemberg, Prince Charles's sister, accompanied by her lady-in-waiting and two aides-de-camp of the Prince.

The Prince was absent.

Rather, what we have here is an implicature alla Grice.

The "Journal de Monaco" (my source) does NOT mention the Prince as being present.

Now, this seems like an UNLIKELY omission had the prince been there.

Therefore I conclude that he had a headache -- or something.

(In fact, he had been blind since 1864, and by 1879 an invalid).