only makes Robert wish for more power
of 'buying in,' causing the eyes of a Florentine Frescobaldi to open in
wonder at so much audacity. But Robert, generally so timid in such
things, has caught a flush of my rashness, and is alarmed by neither
sinking funds nor rising loans. We have a strong faith in Italy--_Italia
fatta_--particularly since that grand child, Garibaldi, has turned good
again. The troubles in the Neapolitan States are exaggerated, are
perilous even so, and I dare say Milsand thinks we are all going to
pieces, but _we shall not_; there are great men here, and there will be
a great nation presently. An Australian Englishman, very acute, and free
from the political faults (as I see them) of England, did all he could
to prepare me for failure in Italy, 'to save my heart from breaking,' as
he said. And we have had drawbacks since then, yet my hope remains as
strong.

The Duchesse de Grammont (French Embassy) sent us a card for
Penini--'matinee d'enfants'--and he went, and was rather proud of being
received under a full-length portrait of Napoleon, who is as dear as
ever to him. It was a very splendid affair, quite royal. Pen wore a
crimson velvet blouse, and was presented to various small Italian
princes, Colonnas, Dorias, Piombinos, and had the honor of talking
ponies and lessons and playing leap-frog with them. The ambassador's own
boy, the little Grammont, has a pony 'tale quale' like Pen's, only
superannuated rather, which gives us the advantage....

I wonder if he will confide to you his tender admiration for the young
queen of Naples, whom, between you and me, he pursues, and receives in
return ever so many smiles from that sad lovely face. When charged with
a love affair, Pen answered gravely, that he 'did feel a kind of
_interest_.' He told us that two days since she stood up in her carriage
three times to smile at him. Something, it may be for the pony's sake;
but also, Pen confessed, to an impression that his new jacket attracted!
Fancy little Pen! Robert says she is very pretty, and for Pen (who makes
it a point of conscience to consider the whole 'razza' of Bourbons and
Papalini as 'questi infami _birboni_') to be so drawn, there must be a
charm. After all, poor little creature, she acted heroically from her
point of sight, and if the king had minded her, he would have made
liberal concessions _in time_ perhaps. The wretched queen-mother and
herself were at daggers drawn from the beginning.