years at the Quai d’Orsay as an agreeable episode in my life.  I had quite a talk too with the Portuguese minister, Mendes Leal.  He was an interesting man, a poet and a dreamer, saw more, I fancy, of the literary world of Paris than the political.  Blowitz was there, of course—­was always everywhere in moments of crisis, talking a great deal, and letting it be understood that he had pulled a great many wires all those last weeks.  He too regretted that W. had not taken the London Embassy, assured me that it would have been a very agreeable appointment in England—­was surprised that I hadn’t urged it.  I replied that I had not been consulted.  Many people asked when they could come and see me—­would I take up my reception day again?  That wasn’t worth while, as I was going away so soon, but I said I would be there every day at five o’clock, and always had visits.

[Illustration:  Mme. Sadi Carnot.  From a drawing by Mlle. Amelie Beaury-Saurel.]

One day Madame Sadi Carnot sat a long time with me.  Her husband had been named undersecretary at the Ministry of Public Works in the new cabinet, and she was very pleased.  She was a very charming, intelligent, cultivated woman—­read a great deal, was very keen about politics and very ambitious (as every clever woman should be) for her husband and sons.  I think she was a great help socially to her husband when he became President of the Republic.  He was a grave, reserved man, didn’t care very much for society.  I saw her very often and always found her most attractive.  At the Elysee she was amiable and courteous to everybody and her slight deafness didn’t seem to worry her nor make conversation difficult.  She did such a charming womanly thing just after her husband’s assassination.  He lay in state for some days at the Elysee, and M. Casimir Perier, his successor, went to make her a visit.  As he was leaving he said his wife would come the next day to see Madame Carnot.  She instantly answered, “Pray do not let her come; she is young, beginning her life here at the Elysee.  I wouldn’t for worlds that she should have the impression of sadness and gloom that must hang over the palace as long as the President is lying there.  I should like her to come to the Elysee only when all traces of this tragedy have gone—­and to have no sad associations—­on the contrary, with the prospect of a long happy future before her.”

[Illustration:  Photograph, copyright by Pierre Petit, Paris. President Sadi Carnot.]

W. went the two or three Fridays we were in Paris to the Institute, where he was most warmly received by his colleagues, who had much regretted his enforced absences the years he was at the Foreign Office.  He told them he was going to Rome, where he hoped still to find some treasures in the shape of inscriptions inedites, with the help of his friend Lanciani.  The days passed quickly enough until we started.  It was not altogether a rest, as there were always