Our Own Set

acoeli, where she had bought two wonderful shields from designs, she was assured, of Benvenuto Cellini's and a fragment of tapestry said to have been designed by Raphael,

arried him, and now for twelve years she had lived in Rome, loving it well, though she never ceased railing at it for sundry inconveniences, was always singing the praise

he gentlemen threw themselves on all-fours to examine the arras and the shields, and pronounced their verdict with conscientious frankness. No one, it seemed, was thoroughly convinced of the authenticity of the treasures but the Countess Marie Schalingen, a lady who had been for some f

oes round, but for work-a-day company he was certainly pleasanter than Schwarz, Columbus or Galileo. He had been attached to the embassy with no hope of his finding a career, but simply to get h

ncess at length, "though I know that you have not t

al instincts. I always used to think that the genuineness of antiquities was in proportion to their d

ere on the intimate terms of "just ourselves," a mixture of courteous deference and hearty friendliness. The conversation was not precisely learned; on the contrary, there was a certain frivolity in its tone; very bad jokes were perpetrated and some anecdotes rela

claimed the hostess. "But I have a presentiment that it will not be of long

servant announc

ce on the French countess. He bowed to the princess, shook hands with the men and was instantly seized upon by the master of the house to listen to a tirade on the latest misdemeanors of the government. Vulpini was the blackest of the Black, a strong adherent of the pope, though from politi

splendid salon in which the princess received formally, and the boudoir to which none but her most intimate friends were admitted. The conversation had lost much of its l

was looked upon as one of those giddy creatures who love to sport on the edge of an abyss. Mrs. Ferguson, the daughter of a hotel-keeper at San Francisco and wife of a man whose wealth increased daily, was the exact opposite to Madame de Gandry--white and pink, with large eyes and sharp little teeth, very slender and flat-figured like many Americans. She dyed her hair, rouged, dress

t, the son of a butcher and son-in-law to a duke, etc., etc. The latest bankruptcy, the climate of Rome, the excavations, were all discussed. Madame de Gandry and Mrs. Ferguson submitted at first to the tedium of a general convers

ink I came across to-day, Marie?--That Lenz girl from Vienna; now she is a duchess or a Countess Montidor--Heaven knows which; once, years ago, I had something to do with a char

ious laugh. "But there is a greater treat in store for you. T

t is pleasan

owing herself into the conversatio

in the world, but--it is a bore to be constantly meeting people here whom one could not po

my good friend, beware of taking your mother and sister out

rom her flippant interlocutor, tapping her fan impati

d the princess in an underto

y, "though I shall be grieved to annoy Sterzl. It will be

iend, "but you know I am very fond of St

ed Madame de Gandry, who had only

s icily; she did not intend to allow that little French woman to

ncess with the simple heartiness that was so peculiarly her

rd on earth," said her brot

very room, Sterzl picked him up, and you should have see

of the fact that his woman-kind a

ry, "just that I may understand what I am about--the

," said Truyn with unusual sharpness, for he could not endure Madame

d scorns proselytes." And the leather-seller's daughter, who had not understood--or not chosen to un

ind her, glanced at Sempaly a

not leave Sterzl in the lurch," she said, "and

u about his sister?"

s with a smile, "and to you to

ith a very singular smile. Hm, Hm! he seems to set great store by the young lady and will no doubt look out for a fine match for

o a prince's crown!" exclaimed Madame de

his sister go for les

nse," said Truyn, to ch

k of an old letter; presently he handed the half sheet to the

er in one hand and a fashionably-dressed doll in the other, with all the Princes in Rome crow

ss Ilsenbergh went away, and as the company were not in the best of humors the two friends

indiscreet group had departed; "she wants me to entrench myself in dignifi

myself--that will set matters straight" Siegburg was fond of talking of the money that his wife must bring him,

ed the princess, who was apt to express herself strongly; but nothing that she said ever sounded badly,

hbeck countess was prepared to tre

bout the chimney-shelf and the tables

king for, Erich?"

ture was capital, I have nothing to say against it, if it had only been among ourselves; but you really

w?" asked Sempaly withou

young girl as an adventuress o

ken in earnest!" said Sempaly. They searche

er pocket!" cried the princess indignantly. Tha

worth his while to offer to any woman that flattery--often impertinent enough in reality--that gratifies some of the sex, and he had never learnt the A B C of modern gallantry; but in his intercourse with those whom he spoke of as "true women" there was a touch of chi

him all her little indignation at this or that grievance in Rome, and allowed him to take a variety of small

uty and had early lost her youthful freshness and the slim figure that had been almost proverbial. Nevertheless her charm was undiminished; her chief ornament, a wonderful abundance of bright brown hair, was as fine as ever and she wore it still, as when a girl of sixteen, simply combed back and gathered into a knot low down at the back. In spite of her faded complexion there was a childlike sweetness in her small round face, with its kind little eyes, its delicate turned-up nose, and soft lips that had no beauty till they smiled. All her movements were simple and graceful and her whole appearance conveyed the impression of exquisite refinement and the loftiest womanliness. Her dress was apt to be a little out of fashion, the latest chic never sui

d with the pedantic chivalry, which always provoked his colleague's oppo