VOL. II. O

pageantry, and lîved almost as plainly as a private gentleman. When he was conducted over the magnificent apartments of the palace, and heard that he, the queen, and the little prince were ail expected to hâve separate households, he said simply, ‘ I live with my family ; ’ which must hâve shocked the nerves of the Spanish courtiers not a little.

The young king and queen went their own way — he given up to state affairs, she to charitable works, and improving the condition of the poor of Madrid — examples of dévotion to duty and domestic virtues to which their subjects were unaccustomed, and which they did not know how to appreciate.

The war of parties went on raging throughout the country. There were the moderate Libérais who had put Amadeo on the throne ; the Reactionists or friends of the fallen dynasty, to which belonged the clei^ and many of the old nobility ; the Carlists, the Republicans, and still another important section of society which the existence of ail these generated — the brigands.

General Prim had already fallen a victim to the vengeance of some of these malcontents, and now an attempt was made upon the life of the sovereign while he wéis driving through the streets of Madrid with his wife. It was midsummer, and Victor Emmanuel was in the mountains of Savoy when he received the announcement.

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