Highly honored Baroness:
Your friendly lines of the twenty-sixth instant cause me some
embarrassment, as does any disproportionately great reward which one
yet neither can nor would decline. I am much surprised to find any
value attached to the fact when a politician who _as such_ plays so
unimportant a part joins himself to those who declare for an idea the
justification of which cannot be gainsaid by any one. I made my avowal
to the last Peace Congress held in London; what does that signify in
comparison with your brilliant literary propaganda?!!!
I am going to send your letter to an autograph collector, who is a
friend of mine, the Princess Pauline Metternich, if you will allow me.
It is my intention to go to Rome, if my parliamentary duties permit of
it, and I look forward to obtaining one great personal advantage
thereby—your acquaintance. If my genial colleagues Pirquet and Kübeck
also go to Rome, the days there are likely to be splendid. This
prospect is almost too fine to hope for realization.
For the present, allow me, honored Baroness, to express to you my
sincerest and warmest thanks for your letter, and to put myself with
the greatest pleasure at the service of that endeavor for which your
pen is proving to be such a valuable factor.
With especial esteem, respect, and devotion, most gracious Baroness,
Yours,
Exner
To this correspondence belong also the two following letters from the
Marquis Pandolfi in Rome.
I