e and Cook's. We were never tired of
watching their wonderful tricks. One afternoon we went to their theatre,
the Hall of Mysteries, with two young nephews of mine who had just come
from Spain and did not know English. One of the feats we saw was that of
a man standing on a platform leading from the stage to the back of the
audience, and then rising when the lights were lowered towards the roof
of the building. The audience were warned to keep quiet and still while
this wonderful act took place. One of my young nephews, who had not
understood the warning given, happened to be next the platform. When the
lights were lowered and the man started on his aerial flight, my young
nephew took my walking stick and struck the uprising figure. The lights
went up and we were requested to leave the theatre. Alfonso protested,
but Mirasol assured him that discretion was the best part of valour.

On the evening of December 30, I think, I was invited to dinner by
Mirasol at Brown's Hotel, Dover Street. I was surprised that the
dinner-hour had been fixed at a quarter-past six p.m. I wondered where we
were going afterwards. Was it a theatre, or was it one of those quiet but
most enjoyable little dinners and dances which Alfonso's friends arranged
for him? In addition to the large number of wealthy Spaniards then living
in London, many families whose sympathies had bound them to the
monarchical cause had left Spain during the Republican _regime_ and made
London their home. I noticed when I arrived that Alfonso and Mirasol were
in ordinary day dress. I again wondered how we were to finish up the
evening.

It was at dinner that Mirasol said to me, "Jose Maria, you are in the
presence of the King of Spain." I rose and bowed to His Majesty. He stood
up and, taking both my hands in his, said, "At last I have attained my
throne. To-night I leave for Paris. My country wants me for its king.
You, Jose Maria, my friend, are the first in England to be told the good
news. I want you, my friend, to wish me 'todas felicidades' (all
happiness). We leave to-night. To-morrow my Army will proclaim me King of
Spain. Welcomed by the Army and the Civil Government, I will be received
at Barcelona with the acclamations of my subjects, and thence to my
capital, Madrid. To the members of your mother's family who, during the
sad years of my exile have so zealously devoted themselves to my cause, I
owe a deep debt of gratitude which I shall never forget."

I the