And now look at that prelate coming in--" "Oh! I know him," Pierre interrupted.

"He's Monsignor Fornaro." "Exactly, Monsignor Fornaro, a personage of some importance.

You told me, I remember, that he is the reporter of the Congregation in that affair of your book.

A most delightful man! Did you see how he bowed to the Princess?
And what a noble and graceful bearing he has in his little mantle of violet silk!" Then Narcisse went on enumerating the princes and princesses, the dukes and duchesses, the politicians and functionaries, the diplomatists and ministers, and the officers and well-to-do middle-class people, who of themselves made up a most wonderful medley of guests, to say nothing of the representatives of the various foreign colonies, English people, Americans, Germans, Spaniards, and Russians, in a word, all ancient Europe, and both Americas.

And afterwards the young man reverted to the Saccos, to the little Signora Sacco in particular, in order to tell Pierre of the heroic efforts which she had made to open a _salon_ for the purpose of assisting her husband's ambition.