The unpretending affability of the royal couple was bound to win the affections of the French people. The daily more enthusiastic cheers that greeted them in their drives through Paris proved that they had conquered all hearts. "It is astonishing," said an Italian official to me, "but they are even more popular here than at home!" "That must be because they show themselves more," I replied. At the risk of disappointing the reader, I am bound to confess that no tragic or even unpleasant incident came to spoil their pleasure or their peace of mind. It appeared that the anarchist gentry were allowing themselves a little holiday. In the absence of the traditional plot, we had, it is true, the inevitable shower of anonymous letters and even some that were signed. The Queen, alas, had done much to encourage epistolary mendicants by announcing her wish that replies should be sent to all letters asking for assistance and that, in every possible case, satisfaction should be given to the writers. The result was that all the poverty-stricken Italians with whom Paris teems gave themselves free scope to their hearts' delight; and the usual fraternity of French begging-letter-writers--those who had formerly so artlessly striven to excite the compassion of the Shah of Persia--also tried what they could do. But what reply was it possible to send to such letters as the following (I have kept a few specimens)? "_To Her Majesty the Queen of Italy._ "_Madame_,-- "We are a young married couple, honest, but poor. We were unable to have a honeymoon, for lack of money. It would be our dream to go to Italy, which is said to be the land of lovers. We thought that Your Majesty, loving your husband as you do and, therefore, knowing what love means, might consent to help us to make this little journey. We should want 500 francs; we entreat Your Majesty to lend it to us. When my husband has a better situation--he is at present an assistant in a curiosity-shop--he will not fail to repay Your Majesty the money. "Pray accept the thanks, Madame, of "Your Majesty's respectful and grateful servant, "MARIE G--, "_Poste Restante 370_, "PARIS." "_To His Majesty the King of Italy._ "_Sir_,-- "I am a young painter full of ambition and said to be not devoid of talent. I am very anxious to see Rome and to study its artistic masterpieces. Not possessing the necessary means, I am writing to ask if you would not give me an employment of any kind, even in the service of the royal motor-cars (for I know how to drive a motor), so that I may be enabled in my spare time, to visit the monuments and picture-galleries and to perfect myself in my art. "Pray accept, etc.