In a departure arranged so hurriedly, all the necessary comforts were forgotten, and the royal invalid was faint for want of nourishment, which was only attainable after hours of travelling. Amadeus was grateful indeed for the soup he was at last able to procure at a little railway-station on the line, and he boldly met the remarks and curious looks of the people who crowded to see the royal fugitive as he bore the cup from the restaurant to his wife.
Once in Portugal, Amadeus had nothing more to fear for the personal safety of the family, and it was from thence they soon sailed quietly for Italy.
CHAPTER XIV
SOME TRUTHS ABOUT THE REPUBLIC
1873–1874
We have an interregnum in the history of the Court of Spain during the republic which held rule from February 11, 1873, until the restoration of the monarchy on December 30, 1874; but those readers, who like to have some idea of what was passing in Spain whilst the palace was empty, may be interested in the following particulars, drawn from a book entitled “Contemporaneous Truths,” by His Excellency Vicente Lafuente. These truths were republished by Colonel Figuerola Ferretti[19] in 1898, with an able prologue from the officer’s pen, to show those malcontents who wished to return to this form of government how baneful it was for the welfare of the land.
[19] This Spaniard is connected on his mother’s side with Pope Pius IX. (Mastai-Ferretti), whilst his father was Figuerola, the patriot of Cuba.
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL LUIS DE FIGUEROLA FERRETTI
From a Painting by Miss A. J. Challice, exhibited at the Royal Academy, London