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5o4 IN SPAIN AND IN EXILE [chap. xxv.
whole nature and all her traditions, belongs to the
proud Imperial line which looked on the Hohenzollerns
as parvenus, as born foes who could not, and should not
be trusted. It was when these historic traditions
were abjured at Schoenbrunn, when Austria-Hungary
definitely gave herself into Berlin’s keeping, that the
death-warrant of her Empire was signed! But in
Austria herself and in the Imperial family many people
still adhered to the ancient traditions and had foreseen
the misfortunes inseparable from the new state of affairs.
I think I am right in numbering Marie Christina amongst
these.
When I returned home in the same coach and
surrounded by the same pomp, all the usual ceremonies
were not over. A few minutes later, accompanied by
the cordial and friendly M. de Iieredia, whose duty
it is to introduce ambassadors, I got into another coach,
rather less gilded and with no escort this time, and
drove to the palace of the Gobernacion (Government),
where the President of the Council, M. Dato, and the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Marquis de Lema,
awaited me. In the courtyard of the palace a company
of the famous Guardia Civil1 was drawn up to salute me.
In the great reception-room the two Ministers who,
like me, were still in Court dress, greeted me with the
customary civilities. As a rule during this ceremonious
visit only the merest commonplaces are exchanged.
On this occasion I thought it necessary to recapitulate
to the two Ministers the conversation I had just had
with the King, as although they were aware of the
subject of it they could only partially have followed it.
I explained quite frankly the position of the Russian
Government, as I understood it, and added that in the
interests of the unfortunate Royal captives it was
1 The Guardia Civil is undeniably the best organised gendarmerie of
Europe ; it has an unblemished reputation, and the Spanish people
appreciate and esteem it.
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