sts of Italy, she has so enmeshed herself with the
Great Powers of Europe that she seems for the moment to be impregnable to
a foe of our stature. There is but one hope for us--the uniting of the
Balkan forces to turn a masterly front to North and West as well as to
South and East. Is that a task for old hands to undertake? No; the
hands must be young and supple; and the brain subtle, as well as the
heart be strong, of whomsoever would dare such an accomplishment. Should
I accept the crown, it would only postpone the doing of that which must
ultimately be done. What avail would it be if, when the darkness closes
over me, my daughter should be Queen Consort to the first King of a new
dynasty? You know this man, and from your record I learn that you are
already willing to have him as King to follow me. Why not begin with
him? He comes of a great nation, wherein the principle of freedom is a
vital principle that quickens all things. That nation has more than once
shown to us its friendliness; and doubtless the very fact that an
Englishman would become our King, and could carry into our Government the
spirit and customs which have made his own country great, would do much
to restore the old friendship, and even to create a new one, which would
in times of trouble bring British fleets to our waters, and British
bayonets to support our own handjars. It is within my own knowledge,
though as yet unannounced to you, that Rupert Sent Leger has already
obtained a patent, signed by the King of England himself, allowing him to
be denaturalized in England, so that he can at once apply for
naturalization here. I know also that he has brought hither a vast
fortune, by aid of which he is beginning to strengthen our hands for war,
in case that sad eventuality should arise. Witness his late ordering to
be built nine other warships of the class that has already done such
effective service in overthrowing the Turk--or the pirate, whichever he
may have been. He has undertaken the defence of the Blue Mouth at his
own cost in a way which will make it stronger than Gibraltar, and secure
us against whatever use to which the Austrian may apply the vast forces
already gathered in the Bocche di Cattaro. He is already founding aerial
stations on our highest peaks for use of the war aeroplanes which are
being built for him. It is such a man as this who makes a nation great;
and right sure I am that in his hands this splendid land and our