CHAPTER XLIII.

TRAVELS, MISSIONS (ANECDOTES).

Two days later I took leave of His Royal Highness Henry of France, and Monsignor Bovieri, and started (by the latter's command) for Baden-Baden, where I was to meet Cardinal Grassellini, who was coming from Rome on a mission to the Queen of Naples. Just as I was stepping into the railway carriage, the young fellow from Lyons came up with tears in his eyes, saying

"Oh, are you going, sir? And what will become of me, who am so fond of you!"

"You will come to me at Munich as soon as you get your papers, my boy," said I, holding out my hand to him. He seized it and covered it with kisses.

The illustrious orator Berryer, who was also starting for Baden-Baden, seeing the young fellow, asked me

"Is that young man deploring his past life?"

"On the contrary," said I, "he is rejoicing; he wants to come with me and earn his living in a situation which I am to procure for him."

The whistle of the locomotive put an end to the conversation, and the express brought us in the evening to the land of roulette.

We stopped at the Hotel de la Reine d'Angleterre, where Cardinal Grassellini had kindly engaged rooms for me.

That evening, at table d'hôte, my surprise may be imagined when I found myself seated between Count Bacciochi, the Emperor's Chamberlain, and de Saint Albin, librarian to the Empress.

Bacciochi's astonishment was as great as mine had been, particularly when he saw the Roman Prince take my arm after dinner, requesting me to act as his cicerone in the salon. After losing a few napoleons, Monsieur Berryer left Germany; the Cardinal and I proceeded to Augsburg to visit Her Majesty the Queen of Sicily, to whom His Eminence had been sent by the Sovereign Pontiff, to persuade her to return to Rome to her husband, and thus put a stop to the calumnies which the enemies of the dynasty were endeavouring to spread throughout Europe.

The Bishop of the city had engaged rooms for us at the Hotel des Trois Rois. The day following

our arrival we were presented to the heroine of Gaeta in the Ursuline Convent.

The ecclesiastic authorities of the city accompanied us. When we entered the convent the almoner and all the sisters of the establishment advanced with great ceremony to the door to welcome the Prince of the Church, and offer him holy water. Then we reached the convent chapel, to the glorious strains of the Veni Creator and the Te Deum.

At the end of the ceremony we were ushered into a richly-furnished salon. We had only barely seated ourselves before "The Queen was announced. Maria Sophia came forward, escorted by her brother, a Colonel in the 4th Light Cavalry, Prince de Taxis, aide-de-camp to the King, Prince Saint Ignazio, Chamberlain to the Queen, accompanied by several ladies attached to her person.

She was too much surrounded for a recluse. She thanked the Cardinal for his visit, and bowed to all those who were present at the audience, saying a few kind words to each with charming grace.

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Oh, you here?" said the Queen, when my turn came to be presented.

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'Yes, your Majesty," said I; " presented at Portici and Naples by your uncle, His Highness de

Trapani, I vowed fidelity to you; here at Augsburg,

S

presented by His Eminence, I renew my oath, regretting that I was not killed at Gaeta in the act of opposing such cowardice and treachery."

"I thank you," replied the Queen, giving me her hand to kiss.

When the audience was over the Queen's brother took me to his house, with Prince de Taxis, where he introduced me to his wife, a young woman possessing rare beauty, but who, by the side of her husband, looked almost too small. She was quite During the week

the wittiest woman in Bavaria. we spent at Augsburg she exacted with infinite grace a daily visit from me.

On the evening of our arrival the Queen invited us all to dine at the Town Hall.

She had on her right the Cardinal, and on her left the Bishop of the Diocese, Monsignor Pancrace. Opposite her sat her sister-in-law, on whose right sat Baron de Rimini, the Cardinal's secretary on her left. The conversation was in French, as the Italians did not speak German, and the Germans were unacquainted with the language of Dante.

The next day I was invited to spend the day with His Royal Highness the brother of the Queen of Sicily at his country-seat near the Danube, where I heard from the lips of the heroine the following story, which I think worth publishing, to show the confidence reposed in me by the lofty

personages who admitted me to their circles, and the way in which many German Princes marry as their hearts alone dictate. The Queen had just reminded the assembled company that I had advised her husband to fire on Naples rather than give up the city.

The Queen had scarcely finished before a woman's beautiful hand stretched out under the table and shook mine. I heard a voice say

"You are Baron de Rimini, of whom my

husband

and I have so often spoken to Her Majesty."

"Yes, madame," I replied; "and to the honour I feel in being allowed to touch your hand, pray join that of informing me to whom I have the pleasure of speaking?"

"To Her Highness the wife of Max of Bavaria, Colonel in the 4th Light Cavalry, Her Majesty's sister-in-law, née Muller, and who wishes to talk a little with you about Italian affairs."

"Your Highness's invitation is an order to your very humble servant," said I, bowing again.

Dinner was scarcely over before Max of Bavaria's wife rose from table with the intention of approaching me. I, too, rose as quickly as possible, and went to meet her. She again held out her hand to I touched it with very visible respect, but she took my arm without further formality, and led me into the salon, near the window.

me.

There we seated