The exquisite Empress Elena appeared. She started slightly at first: but bravely came on, imperially mysteriously pale and radiant as 'the chorus of nightly stars and the bright powers which bring summer and winter to mortals, conspicuous in the firmament.'
Hadrian at once won her with "And the lovely children."
"Oh yes, the kiddies!" Victor Emanuel said.
"Do you know that We owe one immense emotion to your boy?" and Hadrian narrated the incident in Prince Attendolo's garden.
Mother and father proudly laughed. "Yes, we heard about that, of course; and I wondered what would happen if ever we ourselves should meet Your Holiness by accident, as the children did:" the Empress said.
"Well, we have met, and now Your Augustitudes know:" laughed Hadrian.
"Filiberto is a queer little chap," Victor Emanuel continued: "he says the most extraordinary things;—came running into the stables the other morning crying because some dog had barked and startled him. 'Stamp at 'em,' I said; 'and after all, you can run faster than a dog,' said I to hearten him. 'Yes' says he 'but you see, father, when I do run, I'm always putting out one leg at the back for the dog to bite!'"
"But I can tell you something better than that," the Empress put in. "He was a bad boy in the chapel at benediction on Sunday. I'm afraid, Holiness, that this is rather a naughty story——"
"Tell it instantly and relieve your sinful soul, daughter;" the haughty pontiff commanded.