There, at least, the women play a real part--very often a great one: here, when they have got command of a drawing-room full of fops, they do not know where to lead them; they change their minds twenty times a-day; they have an access of religious enthusiasm in Advent, followed by an attack of Liberal fever in Carnival, and their season is brought to a fitting termination by the prostration which overtakes them in Lent.

By that time all their principles are upset, and they go to Paris for the month of May--_pour se retremper dans les idees idealistes_, as they express it.

Do you think one could construct a party out of such elements, especially when you reflect that this mass of uncertainty is certain always to yield to the ultimate consideration of self-interest?
Half of them keep an Italian flag with the Papal one, ready to thrust either of them out of the window as occasion may require.

Good night, Giovanni.

I have talked enough, and all Rome will set upon you to find out what secrets of State I have been confiding.