Page:Passages from the Life of a Philosopher.djvu/321

Rh and, looking inquiringly into his countenance, said, "Now, General, just before this very agreeable party met you went to invite the Queen, and you returned and then told me the officil. Now pray do tell me the real."

The surprise of the General was certainly great, but, with a most agreeable smile, he immediately consented.

It appears that its history was thus. The General went to the Queen's apartments and asked, through her lord-in-waiting, to be permitted to see her Majesty. This request was immediately granted. The General then informed the Queen that amongst the things her sons were going to see were several which might, perhaps, interest her Majesty. The Queen said she would accompany her sons, and then directed her own lord-in-waiting to go and ask the King's permission.

Accordingly the Queen's lord-in-waiting went to the King's apartments, and found that he was sitting in Council. He proceeded to the ante-room of the Council-chamber, and there found the King's lord-in-waiting, to whom he communicated his mission.

The King's lord-in-waiting then informed the Queen's lord-in-waiting that important news had just arrived, and that a special council had been called; that of course he was ready to convey the Queen's message immediately, but he suggested whether, under these circumstances, the Queen would wish it.

The Queen's lord-in-waiting now returned to her Majesty for further instructions.

Of course the Queen, like a good wife, at once gave up the intention of accompanying her sons in their interview with the philosopher. I felt much regret at this disappointment. The Queen of Sardinia was the sister of the Grand Duke of Tuscany (Leopold II.), from whom I had, many years before,

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