Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-12
The Argus Daily Story
The Emissary-By F. A. Mitchell.
Copyrighted. 1911 by Associated Literary Bureau

were the Emperor Napoleon III. of
France. the emperor of Austria, the
car of Russia and Victor Emmanuel.
These were the crowned heads in the
play then going on; but, as in the play
of Hamlet" in which the king takes
an inferior part, these royal person
ages were second TO the star, Count
Cavour. prime minister Of Italy. 1t
was he who held the diplomatic strings
that worked the puppet kings and who
worked them to effect the unity of
Italy.
One morning when the prime minis
ter was hard at work in his cabinet a
card bearing the name of the Countess
I.ita RicCioi was handed him. SuS-
pending the matter on which he was at
work, he directed that the lady be ad-
mitted. She entered. Cavour rose def
ereutially and handed her a chair. She
was an Italian about twenty eight
years of age and Of rare beauty, hav-
ing the jet black hair and eyes of the
Italian people, a complexion Of min
gled dark and red and. unlike many
women Of that country, q melodiouS
voice The count, following a habit
that had become a part of his nature,
cast glances all over the room 10 as
sure himself that they were alone, then
| said:
Il have received your Offer countess.
to work for united Italy in the field Of
/ secret service. Do l understand that
! you propose to do this for pay or for
/ patriOtism?'
For patriotism alone"
| You speak French?"
'As well as my native tongue"
81 have examined your credentials
and have found them satisfactory.
/ shall therefore trust you, and if you
| succeed in n work have for you to dc
all Italy will bless you. Your field will
be the imperial court at Paris. OF all
the sovereigns in Europe the emperor
of France Is the most important to me-
IN my efforts to establish Italian unity
With him I may win; without him
shall surely fail. l stand alone before
the powers without even an admission
TO their conferences. There is to bt
one of these conferences at Paris with
in a short time to take action on Ger
tain matters involving the interests OF
Europe and involving Italian unity.
is matter of success or failure witt
US that 1 become a representative o
Italy in that conference. My onl!
chance is with Napoleon. Our arcl
enemy of Austria will endeavor to keel
me out. If he succeeds l see no hop
for us"
The count paused, then proceeded II
q lower tone, almost in a whisper:
Go to Paris and watch for an OF
portunity TO possess some diplomat
secret that l can hold over the En-
peror Napoleon to force him to use hi
influence or if possible to compel hir
to secure my admission as represents
tive of the king of Sardinia at the con
. ing conference Of the powers"
Il Will do my best"
Il am told that no man to who's
heart you lay siege can stand agains
you"
THAT is flattery."
Il will detain you no longer. Thong
| have placed my most important NOV
in your hands, l can say no NOR,
Go, and heaven help you"
A few weeks after this brief int
view the Emperor Napoleon in III
palace Of the TuilerieS was dictatin
to his confidential secretary, Julc
Noailles. The emperor was maxim
notes. through his secretary, In Il lit
! blank book in which he was accu
toned to jot down memoranda of thos
e things which pertaincd to the event
occurring i'll the diplomatic game pla.
cd by the European powers After
a pause. during which he was lost
4 deep thought his majesty proceeded:
Russia as in the time Of my uncle, mus
today remain the enemy Of France.
q shall thwart him II possible, though
shall in comparatively un.mpCrtant ma
h tiers aCcede 10 his wishes. In my plan
of coalition | shall ally myself with Othc
4 powers. hoping for an opportunity
II strike him. I am obliged to favor Sal
dina since tho Italian cause is popula
and l came into power by the votes {
/ thc French people. But as the eldest 50
/ OF the church ! must stand by the ten
poraI power Of the pore. Austria, too, r
I mairs my enemy. as he was the enemy
/ France in ny uncle's time and l hope
strike him for joining the allies again!
| France in 1874.
There were many other notes jOttc
G down during the sitting. but they al
unimportaut TO the story. Indeed, wha
has been given was not contiuuou
+ but mingled with matter the gist (
e the whole having been eXtracte
When the emperor had finished he SAT-
BY the bye. Noailles, who is tn
Countess Riccioli, who has recent
II come to Paris and whom I saw han;
ing on your arm last evening at ii
state ballE'
z she brought credentials from Ii
king Of Naples. whose views she is SUI
posed TO represent"
Napoleon thought for d moment. the
said
o "In that case her presence may
u serviceable as blind to our real leal
4" ings. II may be well to have it appe;
that a representative Of a Bourbon So
ereign is not unweicOme AT our cour
L Favor her socially, but in nOwise con
nit me-"
Il shall endeavor to carry ont yOT
maiesty's wishes ! have invited Il
Countess 70 my chateau as my mother