Show t w f w w t J I Secrets of the Courts of Europe Europ EuropeAn e eAn I I i An Old Ambassadors Ambassador's Revelations Revelations-of Of the i t I Inner History of Famous J Episodes J. J t t Heretofore Cloaked in Mystery f i i Chronicled by ALLEN UPWARD J 1 i t lit MADAME THE AMBASSADRESS s eta e r J r q 4 I had called to take leave of the ambassador k on my approaching de do- doty der r ty- ty l' l from Paris I 1 am going to insist that you shall 1 st st. stay y here and L dine he demanded I If If you promise to excuse my frock frock- a 4 co coat t to Madame I accept with pleasure pleas pleas- ure tire I I answered But on one condi tion before tion-before before I leave you must relate to me that story of your experiences I in the Quirinal which you have some t. t times hinted had a more than romantic usually I ending I The ambassador smiled at me in In- in- in In the first place he began it ft itis is necessary that you should under stand that that I I am speaking of the time when I was in Rome as ambassador P to the kingdom of Italy I 1 had v ceased to be the friend of or the p pope pe but owing to the strained character of our relations with Italy I had not 4 been admitted t to the 4 intimacy of Um Urn 1 berto y The affair of which I have promised to speak occurred some years ago not r long after my arrival in Rome in fact A state ball was being held one night at the palace a function to which my position of course made it necessary that I should be Invited The scene was a brilliant one In the center of the principal saloon l stood King Umberto his bluff mien rv of a country gentleman f contrasting strangely with his elaborate military i r y costume Round him were grouped I. I the officers of his household r sparr sparkling spar- spar kling with uniforms and orders and of the government with Signor C Crisp Crispi at their head J a I approached approached to p pay my shy respects respect's I to his Majesty prepared for the formal form form- u. u al 1 greeting with which he usually ret re reo received t f me To my surprise his man manner 4 ne ner exhibited a striking tion He assumed a cordial smile as ast l. l t soon eoon as he caught sight of me stepped M i forward two paces an honor bonor usually I reserved for the princes of reigning f houses houses and and extended both hands ina in ina a Ii hearty arty clasp of welcome Amazed at this reception reception I let t my eye rove round mechanically noting noi noar no no- l i ar ting the impression produced by this condescension upon tl the e other members mem mem- fl f bers hers of the th iI e gr group up The result was yak curious Most of these witnesses were were evidently surprised at what they 1 sa saw but Signor Crispi Crisps and one or two others were ere looking on with smiling fac faces sUke like the approving ing spectators of some comedy j Not satisfied with this display display of cordiality Uri Umberto berto insisted on detaining detaining detain detain- t ing me by his side from some minutes S' S chatting familiarly about a hunt boar ri t. t which had just taken place at nis 1 Y y r castle in the the- mountains You must positively join us next t 1 time he said it is a sport which sport which you U ought not to miss And besides I it L cherish the hope of seeing more of oft t you than has yet been possible in this wr wretched Rome where one has not a O minute that is ones one's own You are too good sire I 1 re re- reI I r 1 The honor w which you propose propose pro pro- J pose for me would be of all things I I that which I should most desire c As I said these words I again glanced round me My previous impression fm- fm was confirmed Before I had parted from the royal group I had become convinced that there was some intrigue on foot which could not be viewed with indifference by France and that an attempt was being made I to overcome my watchfulness I 1 1 passed on to tender my t. t dI homage to Queen l Her Majesty who on other occasions had treated me with almost mortifying coldness confirmed my suspicions by I altering alterIng her manner almost as much muchas as King Umberto had done At the same time 1 I detected a certain embarrassment emI embarrassment em em- I beneath this assumed friendliness which told me that this queen queen queen-a a r really ally superior woman was noman was not altogether satisfied with tha part she had b been en instructed to play Filled with apprehension and vain vain- vain vain-I 1 ly Jy trying to form some some g guess ess as to the I I nature of the mystery 1 was moving distractedly through the crowded crowde ballrooms ballrooms ballrooms ball ball- rooms rooms when 1 suddenly caught sight of one of my few friends in the Italian court This was Madame la Ia Contessa Contessa Contessa Con- Con tessa DUrbino one one of the ladies ladles in waiting to Queen This distinguished lady who was believed to stand high in her ber Majesty's Majesty's Maj Maj- esty's confidence was at this this' time a widow having lost JOst her husband General General Gen Gen- eral O about a year before She was besides a woman of extraordinary extraordinary extra extra- ordinary fascination possessed of beauty which would have commanded homage in any station When I t tell tr you that 1 I who am as you snow Know K OW indifferent ferent terent to women was not prepared d to resist this charming Italian you will perceive what she must have been It Jt Is true that I had bad a particular motive for cultivating her friendship In the isolated position in which 1 found round myself 1 foresaw that she might be able to render me the greatest greatest great great- est services A diplomatist bas has no noI I scruples and perhaps J 1 did not sum sum- sufficiently i reflect on the fatal fatal- conse consequences conse which my attentions might have for the susceptible n nature ture ot of the generals general's widow You will easily imagine that I 1 was not long in making my way to her side on this occasion She greeted me with tenderness and we found our way to a secluded corner where there was a bench under the shadow of an olive and sat down By this time I had resolved upon my course of action This was to enlist enlist en en- list Madame DUrbino on my side If it possible and through her to ascertain the truth as to the danger which I believed to France The situation situation situation situ situ- I as you realize was a delicate one In order to make an ally of the beautiful Italian it was first of all necessary to establish between us a relation of a more intimate kind than mere friendship In the interest of France I prepared to make this sacrIfice sacrifice fice and to assume for a time the tender character of a lover The opening which 1 I sought was furnished by Madame DUrbino herself herself herself her her- self who had perceived perceive that something was weighing on my mind You are silent this evening my friend she remarked Perhaps you you have had news which has distressed you You are too good to interest yourself yourself your your- your yourself self in me I responded assuming a melancholy tone Do not say that she cried with real feeling At least you do not believe believe believe be be- lieve that I t regard you In any other light than as a Po cherished friend I to took k her hand respectfully and railed raised it ft to my lips i 1 Your Your friendship will always re remain remain main my most prized possession I I I answered even it If the tr troubles which I foresee between our countries should forc force me to resign the hope of ever obtaining a warmer place In your regard re re- gard Madame DUrbino turned on me a alook alook alook look of conster consternation It was easy to see that she was Ignorant of whatever whatever whatever what what- ever was on foot But my friend what you say is Incredible she exclaimed What are these troubles which you apprehend l' l Ask sk Queen I retorted with bitterness Her Majesty is in the secret of this affair of which as yet 1 I h have ve been able bl t learn nothing definite ite I affected to hesitate for a moment moment moment mo mo- ment and then as if yielding to an impulse I cried out Ah if you could enable me to understand and perhaps to remove this peril what a service you would render to the cause o of peace peace to to our friendship The beautiful widow retained enough shrewdness to perceive the seriousness of my remark It would be difficult for you to ask me anything which I should b be capable of refusing she with some reluctance I pressed her elegant hand which I 1 had omitted to relinquish Ah 1 whispered what you say encourages me to look forward to the time when I shall ask ask something o oreal of real importance She wavered But nut are you not asking me i in effect to aid you against m my ow own country she slie said as if in doubt And If I were were I demanded taking g possession of her hand Do I not a athe at atthe atthe the same time ask If it you have have havea a regard regard regard re re- gard for me pie which is stronger than political c considerations ns And again I ventured upon a tender sa salute Jute The ambassador was so much overcome over over- overcome come by these touching reminiscences reminIscences' that it was some time before he could continue In a few minutes everything was arranged Lucia that Lucia that is to say Madame DUrbino undertook DUrbino undertook k to penetrate the secret of what was goIng going going go go- ing forward and to to assist me in the struggle I 1 foresaw We decided that It would be imprudent Im im- Imprudent prudent for her to communicate with me by letter Instead we ve arranged I that every afternoon at five o'clock when l she he was relieved from her attendance attendance attendance at at- on the queen she should drive up the Corso orso the most crowded str street et In Rome where a meeting meetIng meet- meet Ing between us would have the appearance appearance appearance ap ap- of chance and would thus provoke k no suspicion I passed the next few days In a state of the keenest anxiety Each afternoon at the hour bour agreed I took my way to the Corso and at last Jast one afternoon she signaled she had bad important news It was Impossible for us to stop our carriages in this narrow and crowded thoroughfare 1 I therefore a alighted from mine and walked along to to meet that of the countess as she shy sh turned In this thi wa way our en encounter ex ex 4 x cited cited no no attention from passers Passersby My fIend caused her carriage to halt baIt for rora a moment and invited me to enter and then as i 1 placed myself oy DY her side we drove slowly on exchanging bows with our acquaintances along the route In the meantime we conversed Intones in intones intones tones too low to oe De heard beard Like all women Madame DUrbino commenced by demanding flattery as the price of ofner ofner ofner ner services It is easy to see that it is not for the s sake ke of our our fr friendship that I you have made your way t to tome me so eagerly she said as I 1 fixed a questioning question question- ing look upon up upon n herI herI her ber 1 I 1 changed my look to one otten v And how do Io you ou know that this anxiety with which you reproach me meIs meis Is Js not assumed I retorted as an excuse excuse ex ex- cuse c cuse se to cu cultivate your friendship per friendship per perhaps haps t to test its strength She lowered her superb eyelashes There Is no necessity for that she murmured softly I 1 caught at her hand hanel but she withdrew withdrew with with- drew dr w It swiftly and at once gave the conversation a practical turn I have discovered two things my friend It is for your sagacity to detect the connection between them hem In the first place the Duc Due dUral is secretly in Rome as the envoy of the Comte de Chambord in the second a military expedition is preparing for fors for's some some me place abroad This was jas sufficiently alarming I knew the restless character of the late pretender to the French throne too well not to suspect at once that some serious conspiracy underlay these circumstances I must know more than this I answered frowning I 1 must ascertain the object of the dukes duke's mission and nd also the destination of this eX expedition Madame DUrbino regarded me gravely I anticipated that you would say so she answered and add I have thought of a way by which you may achieve your object But in the first place does the Duc Due DUral OUral know you I 1 believe not noti I I replied wondering what was was in her mind But in any case I should have no difficulty in sufficiently sufficiently altering my appearance to deceive de de- deceive i an ordinary observer That Is enough I will tell you what I propose propose The dukes duke's negotiation negotiation tion is being carried on through the medium of Queen l who has bas appointed me to receive him and Introduce him privately into her Majesty's Maj esty's apartments He will come there tonight at past half ten What I 1 propose propose pro pro- propose pose is this that you should come there beforehand and let me admit you into one of the anterooms Thenon Then Thenon on the dukes duke's arrival I will bring him himIn In n to 0 you He I will wUI b be made to think I I J. J pp h to I I I I yas t t s I 1 i t f And How Can I Do That Sh She Murmured that you have been deputed by the queen to draw up the heads of or an agreement nt and in this way you willbe will willbe willbe be able to extract from him everything everything everything every every- thing he knows Ah Ali my friend what brilliance what invention I exclaimed as she unfolded her admirable admirable plan D Depend pend upon my using this opportunity to the best advantage But in IIi the meantime meantime meantime mean mean- time Is there no way of discovering the truth about these military preparations preparations I I have thought of that t too o. o I have a nephew in the army a lieutenant lieutenant lieuten lieuten- ant in the Sardinian Cuirassiers rs I 1 I will a approach the queen with witha with a request that h he may be given a chance of or winning glory on this expedition and andI I 1 may be able to extract e some hint as to its destination I could do nothing but press the hand of or this admirable woman in silent gratitude She was indeed born for forthe forthe forthe the diplomatic Shortly afterwards we separated On returning home I 1 found waiting for fr me a cipher dispatch from Genoa reporting that a large number of transports were being equipped but that the use to which they they the were t to tobe tobe be put was being kept a profound s secret cret S Sa So far therefore the intelligence intelli g genie gence nc of or the count countess ss w was s confirmed A little before past half ten that night I presented myself at one of th the side entrances to the Quirinal which Madame DUrbino had Indicated to me A porter in plain clothes admitted admit admit ted me and brought me up a private staircase into my friends friend's presence After Arter a brief conversation of a character char char- niter acter which would not interest you she led Jed me Into another arother room and left me to wait walt for tor the arrival of at f the Comte de Chambord's emissary A few minutes passed In profound silence and then a curtain was lifted lifted- and a second personage came In No sooner had 1 caught sight of his face than 1 l gave a start which it was fortunate fortunate for tor- that he did not perceive The fact is that the countess had bad been frightfully Imposed d upon upon The maa man ma 1 w whom horn I saw before me Ile was Henri V V the Comte de Chambord in person It was indeed fortunate that I f had disguised d myself for I was perfectly well well known known to to the count with whom I 1 had once had an extraordinary ad ads venture Fortunately ne he was not In Ina Ina ina a suspicious mood He bowed slightly as I 1 rose rose at his entrance and placed himself in a chair giving me permission permission permission per per- mission by |