Tombstone epitaph., 1915-07-11

1AE So-AAS AN 4EHAEL kA4-E abu S-iG-Ai stay here and dine. he demanded.
 'It you promi3s to excuse my frock- coat 10 Madame. l accept with pleas ure." [ answered But on one condi- uon-oefOre leave. you must relate to me that story of your experiences In the Quirinal which you have some tSr1es hinted hal more than usually romantic ending
 The ambassador smiled al me in 6alEently.
 ,u the first place he began. it iE necessary that you should under stand that sm speaking Of the time when 1 was in Rome as ambassador to the kingdom of Italy. had ceased to be tho friend o: the pope. but owing to the strained character of our relations with Italy. had not been adlsttea to the intimacy of Um- berto.
 The affair of which have promised 10 speak occurred some years ago. not long after my srl val in Rome, in fact A state bail was teiag held one night 2t the palace. function to which my position. Of course. made 1t necessary that should be .avited The scene was brilliant als
 In the center Of the principal saloon stood King Unberto. his blus mien of country gentleman contrasting strangely with his elaborate military costume Round Etn were grouped the officers of h:s household, spar king with uniforms and orders, and the members Of the government, with Signor Crispt at their head
 "I approached 10 pay my respects to his Majesty. prepared for the form al greeting with which he usually re ceived me. To my surprise. his man ner exhibited g .: liking transforma- ton. He assumG. : cordial smile as soon as he caught : ght of me, stepped forward two paces. an honor usually reserved for the vinces Of reignins kouses-and exteaTsd both hands in a hearty clasp of welcome.
 Amazed at this reception. let my eye rove round mechanically, no- ting the impression produced by this condescension upou the other mem bers of the group. The result was curious. Most of these witnesses were evidently surprised at what they saw. but Signor CF..3i and one or two others were looking on with smiling faces. like the approving spectators of some comedy.
 Not satisfied w.Sl this display of cordiaiity. Usberto insisted on detain' irg me by his side From some minutes, chatting familiarity -sout boar-hunt which had just tsSea place at his castle in the InCu>-slns.
 "'You must posi:S-ely join us next time he said: 1t is sport which you ought not to miss. And besides. cherish the hope of seeing more of you than has yet bosc possible in this aretched Roma. wt--e one has not 2 minute that is ones evn.
 You are too stcd. sire l re sponded. The homo; which you pro pose for me would De of all things that which I should most desire
 AS l said these words. l again glanced round me. My previous i'm pression was confirmed. Before had parted from the royal group hat become convinced that there was som' intrigue on foot which could not b' viewed with indifference by France and that an attempt was being nad' to overcome my wateafulness.
 -I passed on to tender my lorna homage to Queen Margharita- Hel Majesty, who on other occasions haC treated me with almost mcrtifyint coldness, confirmed ny suspicious bl altering her manneJ almost as mucf as King Umberto had done. At the same time 1 detected a certain em barrassment beneath this assumed friendIiness, which told me that thi! aueen-a really superior woman-wa' not altogether satisfied with the par she had been instructed to play.
 Filled with apprehension, and vain H trying to form some guess as to th' nature Of the mystery, I was movin, distractedly through 'se crowded ball rooms. when sudde2iy caught sigh of one of my few friends in the Italian .ourt This was Madame la Con tsssa D'Urbino. one of the ladies Il waiting to Queen Margharita-
 "Ts:s distinguished lady. who wa believed to stand high in her Mai esty's confidence. was t this time widow, having lost her husband. Gen erai DUrbino. about a year before She was besides } woman Of extra ordinary fascination, possessed beauty which would have commando homage in any statio-- When l tel you that l. who am as you know Indil ferent to women, wae not prepared | resist this charming S.alian, you vi perceive what she m at have been.
 Tt is true that I lad a particuia motive for cultivating her friendship fin the isolated position in which found myself. l fo-ssaw that sh might be able to render me the grea est services. A dipi,matist has n scrupIes. and perhaps l did not sufl eientiy reflect on tfe fatal cons
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