CHAPTER XI BY ROYAL COMMAND
Public announcement was made next day that the King would arrive within the week at his summer palace in Monza—a peaceful town reposing at the end of two rows of stately poplars ten miles long, with a level white road between, that stretch in direct lines from the Venetian Gate. Toward evening a courier in scarlet dashed into the Barbiondi court bearing a message from the King. It concerned the reception and dinner to follow at which their Majesties would honour the subject who had done so much to build up the industries of the realm. The message was a command that Signor Tarsis render at his earliest convenience a list of the persons to be bidden. This was done at once, and in two days the list came back with a line drawn through some of the names and othe
