You will have the goodness to show this letter to Albert.
Louise was much alarmed when it arrived at such an unusual hour; it was ten o'clock.

At first we thought it might be something about poor little Paris, who is not yet so well as one could wish.
We have gloomy miserable weather, and I feel much disgusted with this part of the world.

Ever, my beloved Victoria, your devoted Uncle, LEOPOLD R.
[Footnote 50: The King was fired at as he was leaving the Tuileries, by Darmes, a Marseillais.

As Croker wrote to Lord Brougham on the 31st of October 1840:--"Poor Louis Philippe lives the life of a mad dog, and will soon, I fear, suffer the death of that general object of every man's shot."] [Footnote 51: Express messenger.] [Pageheading: FRANCE AND EGYPT] _The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._ LAEKEN, _20th October 1840._ MY MOST BELOVED VICTORIA,--I must write to you a few lines by M.
Drouet, who returns to-morrow morning to England.

_God bless you_ for the _great zeal_ you have _mis en action_ for our great work, the maintenance of peace; it is one of the greatest importance for everything worth caring for in Europe.