THE REMINISCENCES OF CARL SCHURZ
selves. But the more or less loyal subjects of her most gracious majesty, so far as we could observe them, seemed to be highly amused by the humor of the situation. They discussed it in the cafes and on the promenades, with a cynical grin if not with outright laughter. Some of the generals attending the Court enjoyed it hugely. Even the cautious courtier could not altogether resist the droll effect of that singular combination of elements in the farce—the gloomy and solemn Escorial, the gay Queen doing penance at the tombs of her ancestors, and the dismissal of the sentimental favorite for a handsomer swain. By many the discarded lover, taking the matter tragically, was considered the most ludicrous figure of all. But not a word was heard of righteous wrath at the scandal which disgraced the throne of Spain, and, if unresented, also the Spanish nation. Such a feeling may have existed deep down somewhere, but, so far as could be observed, it did not rise to the surface at the time. Nor was the poor King thought of in connection with this affair, although it might be supposed that he had, in a certain sense, some interest in it.
Poor Don Francisco with the chicken voice! A little later
I saw him again at the state function, the “besa mañnos,” in
the royal palace at Madrid, where the Spanish grandees kissed
the unlovely hand of the Queen. She then passed along the
line of the diplomats, addressing a few pleasant commonplaces
to each; and then came his miserable majesty the “King,” with
the royal children, passing along the same line, pointing out
those little “infantes” and “infantas” to the representatives
of the foreign powers, as if the royal family relations had been
in the best of order. And while this grotesque performance
went on, the diplomats exchanged glances among themselves,
which, if they had been translated into words, would have ex-
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