You see that I am writing on royal paper, which is a sign that we are here. Now I will tell you about things as far as we have got. At the station in Milan, Count Gianotti met us and put us safely in the carriage, which bore a kingly crown; Princess Brancaccio accompanied us. On arriving at Monza station we found Signor Peruzzi waiting for us, and an open barouche drawn by four horses mounted by postilions from the royal stables. We drove through the town and through the long avenue leading to the _château_ at a tremendous pace, people all taking off their hats as we passed. [Illustration: THE PALACE, MONZA (FRONT) Occupied in the summer by the King and Queen of Italy.] [Illustration: PALACE AND GARDENS Here the King and Queen entertained their friends. Apartments in the second story, the entire right half as seen in the picture, were occupied by the De Hegermann-Lindencrones.] In the courtyard (which is immense) the carriage stopped at the entrance of the left wing, and we entered the _château_, where the Marquise Villamarina met us and led the way to our apartment, telling me, as we walked along, that her Majesty was looking forward with much pleasure to seeing us, and said that we were expected at five o'clock for tea in the _salon_ and that I was to come dressed as I was, adding that she would come for us to show the way. I had time to admire our gorgeous set of rooms, which is finer than anything I had ever seen before--finer than Compiègne, and certainly finer than our apartment at Fredensborg. We passed through an antechamber which led to my _salon_, the walls of which are covered with red damask, the curtains and furniture of the same; many beautiful modern pictures hang on the walls, and there are pretty vitrines filled with _bric-à-brac_. My dressing-room is entirely _capitonné_ in blue satin from top to bottom--even the ceiling. It has long mirrors set in the walls, in which I am reflected and re-reflected _ad infinitum_. My bath-room is a dream with its tiled walls and marble bath. (My maid's room is next this.) My bedroom is as large as a ballroom; the curtains, _portières_, divans, and comfortable arm-chairs are of white satin, and in the middle is a glass chandelier fit for a Doge's palace. A hundred candles can light me when I go to bed. My bed stands on a rather high platform and has white-satin curtains hanging from a _baldaquin_ with fringe and tassels, and a huge Aubusson carpet covers the whole floor. Next to my bedroom is J.'s bedroom, which is also very large, with two windows, furnished in red brocade; great gilt consols support the elaborate-framed Italian mirrors. Then comes his dressing-room, which connects with his bath-room and his valet's room. Then another antechamber giving on to a corridor which leads to the great gallery.