I am writing on royal paper, which is a sign that we are
here. Now I will tell you about things as far as we have got. At the
station in Milan, Count Gianotti met us and put us safely in the
carriage, which bore a kingly crown; Princess Brancaccio accompanied
us. On arriving at Monza station we found Signor Peruzzi waiting for
us, and an open barouche drawn by four horses mounted by postilions
from the royal stables. We drove through the town and through the long
avenue leading to the _chateau_ at a tremendous pace, people all taking
off their hats as we passed.

[Illustration:
THE PALACE, MONZA (FRONT)
Occupied in the summer by the King and Queen of Italy.]

[Illustration:
PALACE AND GARDENS
Here the King and Queen entertained their friends. Apartments in the
second story, the entire right half as seen in the picture, were
occupied by the De Hegermann-Lindencrones.]

In the courtyard (which is immense) the carriage stopped at the
entrance of the left wing, and we entered the _chateau_, where the
Marquise Villamarina met us and led the way to our apartment, telling
me, as we walked along, that her Majesty was looking forward with much
pleasure to seeing us, and said that we were expected at five o'clock
for tea in the _salon_ and that I was to come dressed as I was, adding
that she would come for us to show the way.

I had time to admire our gorgeous set of rooms, which is finer than
anything I had ever seen before--finer than Compiegne, and certainly
finer than our apartment at Fredensborg.

We passed through an antechamber which led to my _salon_, the walls of
which are covered with red damask, the curtains and furniture of the
same; many beautiful modern pictures hang on the walls, and there are
pretty vitrines filled with _bric-a-brac_. My dressing-room is entirely
_capitonne_ in blue satin from top to bottom--even the ceiling. It has
long mirrors set in the walls, in which I am reflected and re-reflected
_ad infinitum_. My bath-room is a dream with its tiled walls and marble
bath. (My maid's room is next this.) My bedroom is as large as a
ballroom; the curtains, _portieres_, divans, and comfortable arm-chairs
are of white satin, and in the middle is a glass chandelier fit for a
Doge's palace. A hundred candles can light me when I go to bed. My bed
stands on a rather high platform and has white-satin curtains hanging
from a _baldaquin_ with fringe and tassels, and a huge Aubusson carpet
covers the whole floo