The Meeker herald., 1913-02-01
Ghe
Enissary
A Historical Story
Of Italian Unity
By =. A. MICHEL
oSo%o@o%o@o&o o@o%

Halt century ago the principal &C.
tors ou The European diplomatic stage
were the Emperor Napoleon Ill. Of
FRINGE. the emperor Of Austria. the
car OF Russia and Victor Emmanuel.
These were the crowned heads In the
play then going on: but. a. In the play
OF Hamlet" In which the king takes
an inferior part. these royal person.
ages we're second to the star. Count
Cnvour. prime minister OF Italy. 1t
was lie who held the diplomatic strings
TINT worked the puppet kings and who
worked them to effect the unity Of
Italy.
tine morning when the prime minis
ter was hard ut work In his cabinet
card benring the name Of the Countess
Lita Riccioii was handed him. Sus-
pending the matter ON which he was at
work. ne directed that the lady be ad-
mittpd. She entered. Cavour rose def
erentiaiIy md handed her chair. She
wHs mn Italian about twenty eight
years Of age and of rare beauty. hav-
ing the jet black hair and eyes of the
Italian people, complexion of min
gl4d dark and red and. unlike many
women Of that country. q melOdiOus
voice. The count. following a habit
that had become q part of bis nature.
cast chances all over the room to as
sure himself that they were alone. then
said:
~ nave received your offer. countess.
to work for united Italy In the neid Of
secret service. Do | understand that
you propose to do this for pay or for
pntriotism:"
"for patriotism alone"
"iOu speak Frenchy'
AS well MS my native tongue"
~ have examined your credentials
and have found them satisfactory. l
snail therefore trust you, and II you
succeed In work have for you to do
all Italy will bless you. Your neld will
BIZ the Imperial court at Paris. OF all
the sovereigns In Europe the emperor
Vt France In the most important to me
IN my efforts to stablish Italian unity.
With him ! may win: without him
sinai surely fail. stand alone before
tuN IohNtS WhuohI GvGh III aoGAo8AV0
to their conferences. There II to be
one oil these conferences at Paris with
IN n short time to take action on Ger.
tain matters involving the interests OF
Europe and Involving Italian unity. Il
II II matter Of success or failure with
us that ! become representative Of
itNiy ID that conference. My only
chance IL with Napoleon. Our arch
enemy OF Austria will endea vor to keep
me out. Ir he succeeds zee no hope
Tor u.s."
be connt paused. then proceeded In
.ow-i tone. almost 10 whisper:
"tio to Paris and watch for an OPP
INrtunity to possess some diplomatic
secret that I can hold over the En-
p-r0r Napoleon to force him to use his
influence or n possible to compel him
i've of the king of Sardinia at the com
ing conference Of the p0werA"
~ will do my best"
'.i nm told that no man to whose
hrurt you lay Siege can stand against
you
'.,rhnt Is battery"
~ will detain you no longer. Though
! have placed my most important move
In your hands. can say no more.
Go. ana heaven help you"
A few weeks after this brief inter
view the Emperor Napoleon in the
puiace OF the Tuileries was debating
to mis- confidential secretary. Jules
Nnailles. The emperor was making
notes. through his secretary. in little
blank book In which be was accus-
toned to al down memoranda Of those
Things which pertained to the events
occurring in the diplomatic game play
cd 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
today remain the enemy Of France.
shall thwart him II possible. though
shall In comparatively unimportant mat
tiers accede to his wishes. In my plans
of coalition ! shall ally myself with other
powers. hoping for an opportunity to
strike him. I am obliged to favor ear-
dina since the Italian cause 10 popular
and | came into power by the votes Of
the French people But as the eldest son
Of the church | must stand by the tenn
porai power of the pope Austria. too. re-
mains my enemy. as he was the enemy OF
France In my uncle's time. and hope TO
strike him for Joining the allies against
France in 1874
There were many other notes 5Otted
down during the sitting. but they are
untmIortaut 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 10 this
Countess Riccioli. who has recently
come TO Paris and whom ! saw hang
ing on your arm last evening at the
state bally''
''She brought credentials from the
king of Naples, whose views she u sup
posed to represent"
Napoleon thought for a moment. then