Not only was it his first appearance as a deputy among his
constituents. That alone would have been an event. The avowed purpose
of his visit, to rescue a criminal from the properly constituted
authorities, gave it the character of a pro-Vatican demonstration--a
slap in the face of King and Constitution.
An intimate little dinner had been arranged by the parish priest in
order to give the principal clergy and a few favoured laymen of their
party an opportunity of paying their respects. No one knew what took
place at this repast save that the distinguished guest was in wonderful
humour; he joked and laughed and told funny stories; he was enchanted
with the wine and the excellent local crayfish and announced his
intention of buying a little villa wherein to spend the evening of his
days, after his public labours were over. An ideal spot! Lucky people,
he called them. It was most unfortunate that he would be obliged to
leave by to-morrow's midday boat, and so miss the greater part of the
festival of Saint Eulalia.
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