“The departure will be arranged this evening.”
“But, my God, I fear delays will be fatal; I am afraid that some bad friend, some plotting courtier of the camarilla, will spoil this saving step——”
“Well, I must go upstairs now,” returned the lady. “The Señora, Don Francisco, and Roncali, are busy with manifestoes for the nation.”
“And Spain will say, ‘Manifestoes to me!’ Now is the time to show the country fine deeds, and not empty rhetoric.”
On the following morning, when Beramendi went to the hotel, he came upon Marfori; and although he had had little to do with this nephew of Narvaez since royal favouritism had raised him to such undue importance, he said, in a tone of assumed respect: “So Her Majesty is going direct to France? Something was said about her travelling to Logroño?”
Upon this Marfori frowned angrily, saying: “You don’t understand, my dear Marquis, that it would be very humiliating for the Queen of Spain to ask protection from a General, although he bear the name of Espartero. All concert with Progressists is dangerous. The Queen is leaving Spain under the conviction that she will soon be recalled by her people.”
“I knew it was useless to say more. Don Carlos Marfori was busy giving orders to the servants. I regarded him with resentment, because he was the personification of the evil influence which brought the Queen to her ruin.
“His Arab type of handsomeness, with his large mouth and heavy jaw, was eloquent of sensuality, and his obesity robbed him of the attraction which he had possessed in earlier days. He was impetuous, overbearing, and wanting in the courtesy common to a superior education.”
The Marquis was then taken into the presence of the Queen, and as he bent over her hand she whispered: “You know we have given up the idea of going to Logroño. No more humiliations! I am going away so as not to aggravate matters, and to prevent bloodshed; but I shall be recalled, shall I not?”
“I had to console Her Majesty with one of the usual Court lies, and the Royal Family soon took its departure, the Queen leaning on the arm of Don Francisco, the little Infantas with their Ladies-in-Waiting, and the Prince of Asturias, in a blue velvet suit, led by Señora de Tacon. The poor little fellow looked pale and sad; his great eyes seemed to express the royal and domestic sadness of the scene, and nothing was now wanting but the order for departure.”