VOL. II. P

f\iscd ’ ‘ Enough, the incident is forgotten ; let us

talk of more important things,’ said the king.

King Victor was wont to quote the words of Henry of Navarre, ‘ A court without a queen is like spring-time without flowers ; ’ and certainly his court suffered a heavy loss in the early death of his queen, who is described by everyone who knew her as quite an idéal character. The deep attachment and respect which her husband felt for her could not hâve failed to hâve a powerful influence on his life had she been spared to him. Unhappily the removal of his guardian angel — for ais such he regarded Adelaide — released Victor Emmanuel, already too much disposed to disregard the convenances, from the wholesome restraints of family and court life ; for a court without a queen, presided over by a king who hated ceremony and étiquette, must hâve been wanting in some important éléments. The resuit of this excessive liberty on a tempérament such as his may be imagined. But when ail has been said in just condemnation of Victor Emmanuel’s irregularities, the undoubted fact remains that public duty was never neglected nor postponed for private interest or pleasure, and that no back-door influence was permitted to beat upon State affairs ; for no idéal prince, not even the British Arthur, could hâve a loftier sense of his kingly responsibility, or a more conscientious regard for the honour and welfare of his country.

Everyone has heard of King Victor’s inordinate love of horses, of which he had a rare supply, and spent on them much more than he could aflford. We hâve heard