in Rome, one married to the eldest son of Prince Altieri, one to the Duca Riario, and one, the youngest, to Marchese Massimo; but as each had, like herself, been absorbed into the husband's family and taken up with his interests, Gondina depended almost entirely on the Patrizi circle for sociability and cheer. Any friends whom she introduced there were, however, cordially received, and one, the sculptor Canova, taken into the little ring of intimates who constantly met in Marchesa Porzia's drawing-room. For Gondina he executed a charming marble head of the Madonna, which is still a treasured possession of her descendants.

Her first boy was born in June 1797, and named, after his great-grandfather, Xavier; the second, Constantine, came in the following year, and the last, Filippo, who seems to have been a most quaint and vivacious child, five years later, in 1803. He and Xavier were born Romans, but Constantine's birth took place in Siena, which was the original cradle of the Patrizis, and where they owned-and still own -a large palace. In this connection it should be said that there have been three acknowledged saints in the family, the last of which, he of Siena, had a rather curious history. Some five hundred years ago the gilded youth of the city had entered into a league to see who could ruin himself first in the race for pleasure. Terrible scandals ensued, but neither threats nor prayers availed to bring them to better ways. Among these young profligates

THE "BEATO TARLATO "

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the Patrizi boy was distinguished for the wildest misdeeds, the maddest course of dissipation, until something-what, precisely, is unknown to this day-arrested, terrified, and converted him all in a moment. He embraced a life of constant prayer and severe penance, and, at the end of no more than a single year, died in the odour of sanctity. His body is preserved incorrupt, but much mummified, at Siena, where he is greatly venerated, though not by his baptismal name. Strangers are naturally puzzled when the good "Sanesi" refer casually to their "Beato Tarlato," the "Blessed Moth-eaten One"; but the poor saint is never called anything else, because his face is all pitted with tiny indentations' such as one sees in worm-eaten wood. When a small "Sanese" is born into the world he is carried to the Duomo to be baptized, and before returning home is always taken to pay his respects to the "Beato Tarlato." It happened that one of the present generation of Patrizi children was born in Siena, but the heads of the family had forgotten all about the expected visit to the "saint," and the baby, who was rather delicate, was brought straight back from the Duomo to the palace. Then there broke forth a storm of shocked protest-the town fairly hummed with indignation. What, a child of the Patrizi, born in Siena, had not been taken to salute the holy ancestor and receive his blessing? What an affront to the good patron! What was the world coming to when such things could happen?

All of which, being faithfully reported to the child's mother, she hastened to allay the tempest by causing it to be proclaimed that she wished to take the infant herself, and that as soon as she was sufficiently recovered to go out her first visit should be made in state to the "Beato." The townspeople, good souls, saw in this an unusual zeal for their protector's honour, and declared themselves satisfied; but insisted on receiving due notice beforehand of the day and hour arranged for the expedition. This was of course conceded, and when at last the Marchesa drove out, with the baby in her arms, the whole city was en fête. All the church bells were ringing together, garlands and tapestries decorated the streets, fireworks blazed, and the shrine of the "Beato Tarlato" was more gorgeously illuminated with fine wax candles than it had ever been before. He seems to have smiled on the delicate baby, for it grew up as strong and vigorous as all its brothers and sisters!

It is a responsibility, as well as a benediction, to have saints in the family. One of the Gonzagas was heard to say that he hoped their own list of holy ones was by this time complete, since one more canonisation would bankrupt his line! Where there are wealthy descendants, they are naturally expected to contribute to the many expenses connected with the long anterior examination of facts and the great ceremonies of the crowning function itself when this is decided upon.

THREE PATRIZI SAINTS

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In another town in Tuscany there is a Patrizi saint whose tomb is opened once every hundred years. Then from all over Italy the devout gather to honour and invoke him, bringing many rich offerings to the church where his body reposes. In the palace in Rome there is a painting showing the portraits of the three holy ancestors on the same canvas, but without distinguishing them by name. The central head in the picture had always passed for that of this collateral ancestor until a short time since, when, his centenary recurring, the young Marchese (who succeeded his father some eight years ago) was deputed by his mother to represent the family at the celebrations. It sounds like a trying ordeal for youthful nerves to preside at the opening of a coffin five or six hundred years old, but on each preceding occasion the body had been found absolutely incorrupt, and there was no reason to expect that any change should have taken place in the last intervening century. Nor had it. The saint lay as if just fallen asleep, so bland and lifelike that it seemed as if he must open his eyes when the unaccustomed daylight struck them. His limbs and joints were supple as those of a slumbering child, and so little had five hundred years changed his features that the young Marchese, on returning home, pointed out his real portrait, saying: "We have been quite mistaken. This is he—not the one we have always called by his name! "

CHAPTER II

In order to make clear the condition of things in Rome during the closing years of the Napoleonic supremacy it is necessary to touch briefly on facts some of which have been alluded to in a preceding work of the translator, "Italian Yesterdays." The First Consul, from a variety of motives, some doubtless sincere, some purely political, had undertaken the re-establishment of religion in France, and had won great applause for his pious intentions; but the high hopes founded on his proclamations and promises soon faded away. The illusions which Pius VII had nourished were rudely dispelled, and the detailed account of the Concordat of 1801 is the record of a veritable Via Crucis of sorrow and pain. Nevertheless, officially, the First Consul figured as the benefactor and protector of the Church, and, once seated on the Imperial Throne, traded very largely on what he considered a valuable asset to his credit.

When he insisted on the Pope's presence at his coronation, Pius consented to attend, in the hope that by personal intercourse it would be possible to do much for the reorganisation and improvement of