These untamed horses are like those that used to run in the corsi dei Barberi during the carnival in Rome when Rome had carnivals.  The Duke was very sure that no one could tame them, much less put a saddle on them; the audience, no doubt, thought the same.  There was quite an excitement when the frightened things came rushing into the arena and stood looking about them with terrified eyes.  But the cowboys knew very well what to do.  They quickly lassoed them, and somehow, before we could see the whole process, they were forced to the ground, plunging about and making desperate efforts to get up.  Finally, after many attempts, a saddle was placed on them, and lo and behold! the ferocious wild horses were conquered and, as meek as Mary’s little lamb, were ridden around the arena to the accompaniment of great clapping, screaming, and applause.  Every one was as enthusiastic as the Duke Sermoneta over the stubborn and agile young Wild-Westers.  Then Buffalo Bill’s herald came forward and proposed that the Italian campagna boys, who had brought the Duke’s horses, should mount the American bucking horses.  The Duke gave his consent readily.  He was very willing that his men should show what they could do.  Well, they showed what they could not do; they could not keep on the horses a minute, even if they managed to get on; they turned somersaults in every direction, fell off, and rolled about on the ground.  The audience roared.

Buffalo Bill appeared on a beautiful horse, holding his gray sombrero in his hand, acknowledging the applause.  He looks very handsome with his long, fair hair falling on his shoulders and his Charles-the-Second fine face.

The Duke said, “How I should like to speak to that man!”

We said that we knew him and that perhaps we could get him to come to us.  I wrote on my card:  “It would give M. de Hegermann and myself much pleasure to speak with you.  We traveled in the same train with you to California some years ago, if you remember.”  I sent the card by a little page who was selling popcorn.  At the first opportunity Buffalo Bill came, preceded by the boy.  He said he “remembered us perfectly.”  I introduced him to the Duke, who, after having complimented him on his “show” and laughed over the awkward attempts of his boys, asked him if we might see the camp.

No gentleman from the court of Louis XV. could surpass Buffalo Bill’s refined and courteous manners.  He said if we would wait until the performance was over he would “show us about.”

We did wait, and went all over the camp with him, and saw everything that was to be seen, and smelled the different fried things which lurked in every corner.  Buffalo Bill beckoned to some of the cowboys to come forward and named them to us.  I think they were delighted.  They had such good, honest (and even handsome) faces.  My heart warmed to them.

One said to me, “Why, you talk English as good as an American!”