and even the disaster which actually occurred would have killed many hundreds of Zouaves if these had chanced to be indoors at the time.  But it is impossible to calculate the damage and loss of life which would have been recorded had the castle of Sant’ Angelo and the adjacent fortifications been blown into the air.  A huge mine had been laid and arranged for firing in the vaults of one of the bastions, but the plot was betrayed at the very last moment by one of the conspirators.  I may add that these men, who were tried, and condemned only to penal servitude, were liberated in 1870, three years later, by the Italian Government, on the ground that they were merely political prisoners.  The attempt in which they had been engaged would, however, even in time of declared war, have been regarded as a crime against the law of nations.

Rome was immediately declared under a state of siege, and patrols of troops began to parade the streets, sending all stragglers whom they met to their homes, on the admirable principle that it is the duty of every man who finds himself in a riotous crowd to leave it instantly unless he can do something towards restoring order.  Persons who found themselves in other people’s houses, however, had some difficulty in at once returning to their own, and as it has been seen that the disturbance began precisely at the time selected by society for holding its confabulations, there were many who found themselves in that awkward situation.

As the sounds in the street subsided, the excitement in the drawing-room at the Palazzo Saracinesca diminished likewise.  Several of those present announced their intention of departing at once, but to this the old prince made serious objections.  The city was not safe, he said.  Carriages might be stopped at any moment, and even if that did not occur, all sorts of accidents might arise from the horses shying at the noises, or running over people in the crowds.  He had his own views, and as he was in his own house it was not easy to dispute them.

“The gates are shut,” he said, with a cheerful laugh, “and none of you can get out at present.  As it is nearly dinner-time you must all dine with me.  It will not be a banquet, but I can give you something to eat.  I hope nobody is gone already.”

Every one, at these words, looked at everybody else, as though to see whether any one were missing.

“I saw Monsieur Gouache go out,” said Flavia Montevarchi.

“Poor fellow!” exclaimed the princess, her mother.  “I hope nothing will happen to him!” She paused a moment and looked anxiously round the room.  “Good Heavens!” she cried suddenly, “where is Faustina?”

“She must have gone out of the room with my wife,” said Sant’ Ilario, quietly.  “I will go and see.”

The princess thought this explanation perfectly natural and waited till he should return.  He did not come back, however, so soon as might have been expected.  He found his wife just leaving the nursery.  Her first impulse had been to go to the child, and having satisfied herself that he had not been carried off by a band of Garibaldians but was sound asleep in his cradle, she was about to rejoin her guests.