VICTOR PRESENTED WITH A CUSHION

tassel, ‘take it to her and say I hâve no need or use for such an article.’

As he was handing it to a servant, a note fastened to one of the tassels caught his eye ; he opened and looked at it, and then read it to the gentlemen présent. The petitioner prayed his majesty to deign to accept this humble offering from ‘ the poor mother of a family overcome by financial difficulties.’ ‘Ah, the usual moral,’ said the king, nodding his head with a smile. His good humour was restored.

Nextevening, his majesty being again at the theatre, he called Signor Fausto to his box.

• What has become of the famous lady of the cushion ? ’ he asked.

‘ The poor créature has been dismissed by the manager,’ was the reply.

‘ Ah, I am sorry for that. Go to him in my name, and ask him to pardon her,’ said the king. Then turning to one of his gentlemen he said — ‘Take her 250 francs, and tell her never to throw anything in my face again — at least not without warning me first.’

In this year took place the Spanish révolution, and Queen Isabella, the implacable enemy of civil and religions liberty, was chased from the throne and country. She was the last of European sovereigns to recc^nise the kingdom of Italy, and when pressed to do so had sent as her représentative one who had been a courtier of the King of Naples and a professed enemy of Italian unity. The downfall of another Bourbon coiild not be

Digilized by Gbogle

otherwise than pleasing to Victor Emmanuel, who very soon opened friendly relations with the provisional government established by the leaders of the révolution. Marshal Prim’s admiration of Victor Emmanuel suggested the idea of offering the throne of Spain to a prince of the House of Savoy. The subject was ventilated in Spain and Italy some time before the proposition was actually made. The king was not averse to it. To restore order to Spain was a dangerous and difficult enterprise, but if one of his family succeeded in the task, it would open up immense advantages to Italy and the Liberal cause ; and for the prince who accomplished the régénération of that unfortunate country it would win immortal honour.