The trial led to the Duke of Seville being condemned to eight years of imprisonment.
The Queen-Regent was always far more concerned about matters of the State than about those of her own comfort, and the Court was certainly wanting in good service at this time, and Her Majesty caught a severe chill one cold day, because the fur cloak she had asked for was not forthcoming, when she had to go out in an open carriage to attend an important function.
And it can be said with truth that the luxuries of a Court did not include the necessary one of having fresh eggs for breakfast. A Chamberlain having noted the sweet patience with which the Queen bore the daily vexation of finding the eggs musty, finally ventured to present her with a little egg-boiler and some fresh eggs. The gifts were accepted with the Queen’s usual grace, and with the assurance that she would now be able to enjoy an egg in her own apartment, like one of her subjects.
In the evening Maria Cristina played dominoes, listened to music, or conversed with the greatest affability with those present, whilst trying to forget for a time the cares of the State.
It was now that Catalonia began to show signs of insisting on a true suffrage, and Ferretti saw that it would be much better for the monarchy to satisfy this natural desire for a voice at the polls than for it to be enforced, as it subsequently was, to the misrepresentation of the Region in Madrid. So the Colonel wrote to press the matter on the consideration of Señor Canovas de Castillo. But the Prime Minister’s insight was not willing to read the signs of the times, for he wrote the following letter, which I translate from the original:
“February 4, 1887.
“To Colonel Señor Don Luis de Figuerola Ferretti.
“My dear and honoured Sir,
“In reply to your letter of the 1st instant, stating that I gladly note the regionalist tendencies of Catalonia are fortunately unauthorized by sensible people, and it seems that the effervescence of the first moments is passing off, I think it best not to publish anything that has reference to the matter.
“However, I thank you very much for your efforts in the cause of order, and I beg to remain,