The Press., 1912-08-28
6he EniSSary A Historical Story of Italian Unity
By F. A. MITCHEL

Half a century ago the principal ac- tors on the European diplomatic stage were the Emperor Napoleon III. of France, the emperor of Austria, the czar 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. It 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 card bearing the name of the Countess Lita RicciOli 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 erentiaIly and handed her a chair. She was an Italian about twenty eight years of age and of rare beauty, hay ing the jet black hair and eyes of the Italian people. complexion of min gled dark and red and. unlike many women of that country, melOdiOus voice. The count. following a habit that had become a part of his nature. cast gIances all over the room to as- sure himself that they were alone. then said:
 "I have received your offer. countess, to work for united Italy in the field of secret service. Do I understand that you propose to do this for pay or for patriotismY
 "For patriotism alone"
 "YOu speak FrenchY'
 "As we'll as my native tongue"
 "I have examined your credentials and have found them satisfactory. l shall therefore trust you, and if you succeed in a work have for you to do 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 may win; without him shall surely fail. stand alone before the powers without even an admission to their conferences. There is to be one of these conferences at Paris with in a short time to take action on cer- tain matters involving the interests of Europe and involving Italian unity. It is a matter of success or failure with us that l become a representative of Italy in that conference. My only chance is with Napoleon. Our arch enemy of Austria will endeavor to keep me out. If he succeeds see no hope for us."
 The count paused. then proceeded in a lower tone. almost in a whisper:
 "Go to Paris and watch for an op- portunity to possess some diplomatic secret that I can hold over the En- peror Napoleon to force him to use his ! influence or if possible to compel him tive of the king of Sardinia at the com ing conference of the powers"
 Il will do my best" ...... ..a "I am told that no man to whose heart you lay siege can stand against you"
 "That is Aattery.''
 "I will detain you no longer. Though I have placed my most important move in your hands. l can say no more. | Go, and heaven help you"
 A few weeks after this brief inter, view the Emperor Napoleon In the palace of the Tuileries was dictating l to his confidential secretary. Jules NoaiIles. The emperor was making notes. through his secretary, in little blank book in which he was accus- toned to iot down memoranda of those ! things which pertained to the events occurring in the diplomatic game play ed by the European powers. After a pause. during which he was lost in deep thought his majesty proceeded: | Russia, as in the time of my uncle. must 1 today remain the enemy of France. ' shall thwart him if possible, though l shall in comparatively unimportant mat l ters accede to his wishes. In my plans 1 of coalition I Ahall ally myself with other | powers, hoping for an opportunity to | strike him. l am obliged to favor Sar- dinia since the Italian cause is popular | and I came into power by the votes of | the French people. But as the eldest son of the church I must stand by the tenn l poral power of the pope. Austria. too. re- | mains my enemy, as he was the enemy of | France in my uncleS time; and l hope to | 1 France in 1914.
 There were many other notes jOtted down during the sitting. but they are unimportant to the story. Indeed. what has been given was not continuous. but mingled with matter the gist of the whole having been extracted. When the emperor had finished he said
 'By the bye. NOailles. who is this Countess Riccioli. who has recently come to Paris and whom saw hang ing on your arm last evening at the state ball!''
 "She brought credentials from the king of Naples. whose views she is sup posed to represent"
 Napoleon thought for moment, then
 said:
 ''In that case her presence may be
 serviceable as blind to our real lean
 ings. 1t may be well to have it appear
 that representative of Bourbon sOv-
 ereign is not unwelcome at our court.
 Favor her socially, but in nowise com-
 init me-
 ''l shall endeavor to carry out your
 ma aiestys wishes. I have invited the
 countess to my chateau as my mothers
 guest. She is there now.''
 The next scene in this drama so i'm
 portant to the cause of united Italy
 took place at Noailles' chateau. He had
 not returned his masters confidence
 by telling him that in a few short
 weeks the Italian countess had com , eletely subjugated him. He had faller
 under the thrall of q woman of very
 dangerous age, too young to be old, yet
 old enough to be mistress of herself : NOailles was sufficiently prudent not to give away state secrets. but the countess seemed to love to talk about the emperor, and at one of their con versatiOns NOa!lles told about the note book and the secrets it contained. One