Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1913-01-02
Ole
EniSSary
A Historical Story
Of Italian Unity
BY f. A. Mitchell


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 1T work In his cabinet a
card bearing the name Of the Countess
Lita Riccioi was handed him. Sus-
pending the matter on which he was at
work, be directed that the lady be adj
mitted She entered. Cayour rose def
erentially ana handed her 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, n melodious
voice The count following a habit
that had become a part of his nature.
cast glances all over the room to as
sure himself that they were alone, then
said
II have received your offer, countess,
to work for united Italy in the field of
secret service DO / understand that
you propose to do this for pay or for
Patriotism
For patriotism alone"
you speak French?'
AS well as my native tongue
II have examined your credentials
aud have found them satisfactory.
shall therefore trust you, and If you
succeed In work / have for you to do
all Italy will bless you. Your field will
be the imperial court at Paris. OF all
Of France Is the most important to me
IN ny efforts to establish Italian unity
with him may win; without him |
shall surely fail | stand alone before
the powers without even an admission
20 their conferences. There Is to be
one OF these conferences at Paris with
IN short time to take action on GER
tain matters involving the interests Of
Europe and involving Italian unity, 1t
is u matter Of success or failure with
US that become 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
lower tone, almost in whisper:
go 10 Paris and watch for an op-
portunity to possess some diplomatic
secret that | can hold over the EN-
perOr Napoleon to force him to use his
influence or If possible to compel him
to secure my admission as representa-
tive Of the king of Sardinia at the COM
Ing conference of the powers"
Il will do my best"
Il am told that no man to whose
heart you lay siege can stand against
you"
THAT is battery"
II viii detaiu you no longer. Though
| have placed my most important move
in your hands, l can say ne more.
Go, and heaven help you"
A few weeks after this brief inter
view the Emperor Napoleon in the
palace Of the Tuileries was debating
20 his confidential secretary, jules
Noailles The emperor was making
notes, through his secretary, In little
blank book In which he was accus-
toned to iot down memoranda ofuhose
things which pertained TO the events
occurring I'm the diplomatic game play
ed by the European powers, After Il
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. I
shall thwart him II possible. though
shall in comparatively unimportant mat
ters accade 20 his wishes In my plans
OF coalition shall ally myself with other
powers. hoping for an opportunity 70
strike him. ! am obliged 70 favor Sar-
dina 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 | must stand BY the tom
porai power of the pope Austria, too re
mains my enemy, as he was the enemy OF
France I'm my uncle's time, and hope 10
strike him for Joining the allies against
France I'm 1914
There were many other notes iotted
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, Noaiiles, who is this
Countess Riccioli VINO has recently
come TO Paris and whom | saw hang.
ing on your arm last evening at the
state bale"
she brought credentials from the
kirg Of Naples, whose views she Is sup
posed to represent"
Napoleon thought for a moment, then
said
In that case her presence may be
seryiceable rs blind 20 our real lean
ings II may be well to have II appear
that a representative Of a Bourbon SOW
ereigu is NOT unwelcome at our court.
Favor her socially, but IN nowise COM
mi, mo
II shall qnapnyor to carry ont your