of my
dress and appearance, and I made a hurried dressing, bathing my
temples in cold water, and composing myself, so far as might be, into
a condition fit to meet the eyes of royalty,--two of my friends
accompanying me the while, and lending their assistance to my toilet.
They at length pronounced me perfect, and I drove off.

Although already past midnight, the King, with several members of the
royal family, were seated at tea: two of the ministers, a few general
officers, and a foreign ambassador being of the party.

Into this circle, in which there was nothing to inspire awe, save
the actual rank of the illustrious personages themselves, I was now
introduced by the Minister of War. "Le Comte de Creganne, please your
Majesty," said he, twice, ere the King heard him.

"Ah, very true," said the King, turning round, and, with a smile of most
cordial expression, adding, "My dear Count, it seems I had forgotten
to sign your appointment,--a mistake that might have caused you some
inconvenience and delay at Algiers. Pray let me amend this piece of
forgetfulness."

I bowed respectfully, and deposited before him the great square
envelope, with the huge official seal annexed, that contained my
nomination.

"The Princess de Verneuil will be happy to give you some tea, Count,"
said the King, motioning me to sit down; and I obeyed, while my heart,
beating violently at my side, almost overpowered me with emotion.
Only to think of it!--the son of an Irish peasant seated at the family
tea-table of a great sovereign, and the princess herself, the daughter
of a king, pouring out his tea!

If nothing short of the most consummate effrontery can maintain a cool,
unaffected indifference in presence of royalty, there is another frame
of mind, indicative of ease and self-possession, perfectly compatible
with a kingly presence; and this is altogether dependent on the manner
and tone of the sovereign himself. The King--I have heard it was his
usual manner--was as free from any assumption of superiority as would
be any private gentleman under his own roof; his conversation was
maintained in a tone of perfect familiarity with all around him, and
even when differing in opinion with any one, there was a degree of
almost deference in the way he insinuated his own views.

On this occasion he directed nearly all his attention to myself, and
made Ireland the subject, asking a vast variety of questions, chiefly
regarding the condition of the