"As we lost one another, I could think of nothing better than of offering madame my arm to bring her here." "It was, in fact, a good idea," said Lisbeth with her pretty laugh, "for I was feeling very thirsty." They had ordered some iced coffee, which they were slowly sipping out of little silver-gilt spoons.
"I have a terrible thirst, too," declared the Count, "and I can't quench it.

You will allow us to join you, will you not, my dear sir?
Some of that coffee will perhaps calm me." And then to Lisbeth he added, "Ah! my dear, allow me to introduce to you Monsieur l'Abbe Froment, a young French priest of great distinction." Then for a long time they all four remained seated at that table, chatting and making merry over certain of the guests who went by.

Prada, however, in spite of his usual gallantry towards Lisbeth, frequently became absent-minded; at times he quite forgot her, being again mastered by his anguish, and, in spite of all his efforts, his eyes ever turned towards the neighbouring gallery whence the sound of music and dancing reached him.
"Why, what are you thinking of, _caro mio_ ?" Lisbeth asked in her pretty way, on seeing him at one moment so pale and lost.

"Are you indisposed ?" He did not reply, however, but suddenly exclaimed, "Ah! look there, that's the real pair, there's real love and happiness for you!" With a jerk of the hand he designated Dario's mother, the Marchioness Montefiori and her second husband, Jules Laporte--that ex-sergeant of the papal Swiss Guard, her junior by fifteen years, whom she had one day hooked at the Corso with her eyes of fire, which yet had remained superb, and whom she had afterwards triumphantly transformed into a Marquis Montefiori in order to have him entirely to herself.

Such was her passion that she never relaxed her hold on him whether at ball or reception, but, despite all usages, kept him beside her, and even made him escort her to the buffet, so much did she delight in being able to exhibit him and say that this handsome man was her own exclusive property.