222 THE AUSTRIAN YELLOW.
bishops,
cardinals, lady's maids, each in turn interfered with the object of
restoring harmony, and each in turn ignominiously failed. Here surely
was work for the diamond had it been possessed of its reputed power.
During
this time and for many years afterwards, the diamond about which we
write was known as the " Florentine " or " Grand Tuscan." It was the
chief jewel in the treasure-house of the Medici, and no doubt filled a
conspicuous place in the pageants of the grand-ducal court. The
Florentine sovereigns were not wealthy, but upon state occasions they
made extraordinary displays which sometimes deceived foreigners
visiting among them into a false idea of their affluence. A wedding was
always a favorite occasion upon which to show off their finery. For
example, at the marriage of Violante de Baviere with the son of Cosimo
in., a magnificence was displayed such as was never before seen even
in Florence. The bride sat on a car studded with gems. Her
father-in-law with his
