"In the hope of receiving these orders, I am,
"Your Majesty's respectful servant,
"Dr. F. J.,
"Rue de la Liberté,
"Nîmes."
These few specimens of correspondence will suffice to give an idea of the harmless and sometimes comical literature that found its way every morning into the royal letter-bag. I must not, however, omit to mention, among the humorous incidents that marked the sovereign's journey, an amusing mistake which occurred on the day of their arrival in Paris.
It was about half-past six in the evening. Our royal guests had that moment left the Foreign Office, to pay their first official visit to the President of the Republic, when a cab stopped outside the strictly-guarded gate. An old gentleman, very tall, with a long white beard and very simply dressed, alighted and was about to walk in with a confident step.
Three policemen rushed to prevent him:
"Stop!" they cried. "No one is allowed in here."
"Oh," said the stranger, "but I want to see the King of Italy!"