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. How the three roared! She continued, "He persisted in trying to balance a pile of prayer-books on the ledge of his chair-back; and every now and then they came down with a crash. At last I took him on my knee; and told him that the holy angels were looking at him, and that they would go and tell the Lord God what a wicked little ruffian he was. And then he said--he said, 'Dirty little sneaks!'" "Oh, oh, the exquisite boy!" Hadrian shouted with laughter. "Well, I'll go and fetch him;" said the Southern Emperor, running-out of the door, just as the Northern Emperor came-in by the other, prepared to play the part of peace-maker. That, now, was not necessary; and England, Germany, and Italy, chattered like children till the children came. Their father did not return. His men were having a bad time, trying to beat the record for getting a sovereign into his habit of ceremony. The fair Prince Filiberto solemnly approached the Pope. "Are You the White Father which formerly I have seen in somebody's forest?" "Yes," said Hadrian. "Are You quite good now?" the boy continued, with great black basilic eyes. "No," said Hadrian, feeling the horror of the end of youth confronted with the flower of innocence. "Are You truly contrite for having been a naughty boy--no, man I mean?" "Yes," said Hadrian. "Are You sitting on my father's sofa because he has forgiven You?" "Yes," said Hadrian, thinking what a frightful old fool He must appear.