14 OCTOBER 1893, Page 11

The Princess's Private Secretary. Translated from the Italian of A..

G. Barilli, by his honour Judge Stephen. (Digby, Long, and Co.)—Lucio Gualandi, a native of Pisa, well-born but very poor, takes the office of private secretary to a Princess, a lady of middle age, who likes to think herself interested. in politics, and is, in fact, very much interested in intrigue. The Princess makes advances to Lucie, who is a man of honour, and is addi- tionally safeguarded by his love for the step-daughter of the house. In the end everything turns out well ; but we must own to a certain doubtfulness about the plot. It is not very clearly shown how Lucio made the fortune which made him acceptable in the sight of a mercenary mother ; but it is a clover story, with some very subtle descriptions of character and manners.