people. He is as delightful as he is
unpretentious, which is rare in a man so celebrated as he is, and she
has lost none of her fascinations, although she is a grandmother. They
brought the last news from Rome, and the conversation was on politics
and war; they talked so rapidly that neither my brain nor my Italian
could keep pace with them. I might have told you something of interest
if I had been able to understand what they said.

At seven o'clock there was a military dinner. As there were about sixty
people present, the dinner was served in the large dining room. The
King and the gentlemen of the household were, as usual, in _redingotes_
and black ties, but the generals and the officers were in all their
war-paint, most gorgeous to behold. I sat on the left of the King
(Madame Minghetti was on his right), and next to the dearest old
general in the world, who was politeness itself, and, though I suppose
we shall never see each other again, he gave himself much trouble to
entertain me. He told me that he had been with the King when he fought
in the battle of Custozza (in the Austrian war), where the King had
shown so much bravery and courage. The King, hearing what my neighbor
was saying (he probably raised his voice a trifle), leaned across me,
and, laughingly holding up a warning finger, said:

"If you go on like that I shall leave the table."

"Oh, your Majesty! that would never do," said my general. "Now,
madame," turning to me, "shall we talk of the weather?"

After dinner there was _le cercle_. Their Majesties went about and
talked to everybody. The King seemed in the best of spirits, laughing
continually, and familiarly clapping the officer to whom he was talking
on the back. Every one stayed in the _salon_ until it was time for the
military guests to take their leave.

_November 5, 1884._

Dear ----,--This morning I received a little word from the Marquise
Villamarina: "Please put on a warm dress, as her Majesty intends taking
a long drive after luncheon, and it will be chilly and damp before we
get back."

We came into the _salon_ just in time not to be too late, for their
Majesties entered almost immediately.

The Prince of Naples (they call him the _Principino_) sat next to me at
luncheon. He is very clever--unusually clever--and has a memory that
some day ought to stand him in good stead. Mine by the side of it felt
like a babe in arms. The questions he asked, _a brule-point_, would
have startl