The conquest of Rome

all; students who still had ten lire in their pocket; Government clerks who had a taste for mild debauches; shop assistants whose establishments would be closed the follo

ws holding on to one another's white blouses, one behind the other-careered across the floor laughing and shrieking, like a rushing avalanche. In the middle of the place a number of feminine masks had collected in a large circle. They wore short white jackets, very much like babies' shirts, tied under the chin with large red and blue bows, and had infants' curls on their heads and tinkling rattles in their hands-the inexpensive, pretty, and saucy costume of Donna Juanita in the act laid in Jamaica. Having come in good company, these fair masqueraders scarcely quitted their escorts

, with a big hat shaped like a closed conch; another in black satin, with face concealed behind black Venetian lace; an opulent mask exhibiting under an open domino of red and gold brocade a suit of cream-coloured brocade; and many more besides, all followed by young men trying to guess at their faces. But in the main the gathering was composed of plain, middle-class families-father and mother, sons and daughters, who had come to this ball as to an evening outdoor performance, in dark cloth dress, w

-past eleven. A feminine shape, dressed in an embroidered Turkish costume, her head covered o

ar Sangiorgio! Wh

yet found out who

ill know me! I can tell why you are melancholy, Sangio

th you,

beg of you-your reputation is at stake! But listen-Ferrante is no longer a candidate fo

e mask edged away into

ialist, the politician who had lost his own party through the nebulosity of his views. And then there had been bows and introductions and handshakings. The Minister, in response, had rendered honour to his adversary, but had insisted o

n expectation of someone who came not. Here Sangiorgio met the Honourable Gulli-Pausania. The Sicilian deputy was leaning against the wall, waiting like some of the others, stylish and handsome in evening costume,

lli, with a strong Sicilian accen

me, and I am sure my honourable colleague,

replied Gulli, smiling. 'W

the same perso

be too desperate. A

league. Hope you w

Pausania, with his disti

entertainments, from cafés, from receptions, from balls; neither standing still nor fast walking was now any longer permitted. At first Sangiorgio saw nothing but the shoulders of a stalwart gentleman in front of him, at his right the red ear of a cocotte, whose mask was certainly fastened on too tight, to his left the sharp profile of a thin, elongated damsel, with melancholy eyes. The tall g

have no doubt been told that we people in the capital lead a wild life; instead of that, as you see, we walk very slowly round and round, pour le bon motif, looking for our wife, who must be in one of the boxes with her sister. Meanwhile, we mingle with the crowd, as you perceive, to listen and learn.

he Prince, since he liked neither to be talked to nor interrupte

r of Foreign Affairs with his two daughters, Grace and the other, whose name ought to be Justice, but w

ight, P

o the fountain now tinged violet by the electric light-a most delicate shade-and he went by the basin and the great mirror at the back over to the musicians' stand. Over his head, they suddenly burst into the opening notes of the postilion mazurka from the ballet 'Excelsior,' which was highly popular that winter. A momentary movement took place from the s

me,' said Schuffer, in his soft, Venetian accent. 'B

o, thank you, I will not tak

dug into me, how many times I have been shoved, and how many feet have trodden

een fit to get at odds with a guard, a porter, a station-master, and a waiter in a café, and while the same thing happened to a hundred other deputies without serious consequences, as if on pu

e colleague! I never had a lawsuit there with anyone, I assure you. Honourable, you are Ministeri

nourable Schuffer?' quic

t discuss it, do you not think-and come to some understanding? It i

nly we will talk about it again.

was dancing with a girl disguised as a Satanic imp. Both were as serious as could be, repulsing everyone who wanted to separate them. The boxes, too, were now filled with ladies and gentlemen come from receptions and balls. The first and second tiers were entirely taken up. In the box next to the 'barge,' in the first tier, were to be seen the delicate and graceful Flo

id the little Prince, leani

league?' said the oth

ell him I am here? Do you know who will be elected,

ble Ferrante

ot,' replied the Princ

remarks from the box like 'Clever

The Santa Marta pair was different. The wife, fair and curly-haired, had a childish face and a frank expression, and was very simply gowned; the husband was fair, with languid eyes and an indolent manner. The Countess Lapucci was laughing loudly; the Marchioness di Santa Marta was smiling. Count Lapucci was watching the crowd silently, his thumbs stuck in his waistcoat pockets; the Marquis di Santa Marta was chatting affably with the Honourable Melillo, the st

ois gloves up to her elbows. The Honourable Pasta, the Subalpine lawyer, with shaven chin and fair, grizzled whiskers, was saying something very witty to her, that made her laugh. The Honourable Cimbro, the Piedmontese journalist-deputy, staring through his glasses, his necktie having slipped up under his ears, was a man apparently embarrassed by his own presence,

co to himself, threading his way with dif

ng appointment, but the Honourable di San Demetrio, a self-possessed Abruzzan, with an already whitening black beard, who had strong aspirations towards the Cabinet, was well in front, under the full light. Besides, there was the Honourable di Campofranco, a frigid Sicilian, the son of Italy's most prominent female politician, the Princess di Campofranco. The Hono

' exclaimed

, as if fr

has registered to speak on the other si

as not re

itiv

itiv

excuse the

ur and Marchetti came up to him, arm-in-arm. They presented a marked contrast, these two apostles of social science: Seymour, dark and severe, with the upward curving chin of a man of energy and a brush of black hair beginning to st

, Sangiorgio?'

. I am ti

fice this evening?'

was being

ked Seymour, adjusting his glasses on his nose. 'Wh

I shall return to the charge in a different way when the Agr

were obliged to sit still, up there, while the music and the sight of the rest on the floor made them itch to join in the dancing. Three or four, who had come low-necked from a ball at the Huffer House, were exhibiting themselves in all the splendours of their dress. Little Prince Nerola was now in his cousin's box, the Countess di Genzano, the fasci

earing a large bunch of pinks, was sitting in a front chair; beside her was the Honourable Valitutti, a rich, olive-hued Calabrian, with a black beard and the face of a taciturn Arab; in the background sat the Hono

ondered Sangiorgio, on his

ope to get to bed. The five black dominos, who had been sitting the whole evening in a box without either moving or speaking, like so many conspirators, now came down on the arms of five youths; silent, lugubrious couples they were; they might have been bound for a funeral banquet.

must pardon me-I am in great trouble. A relative of mine, from the provinces, who is visiting here, made me come to this affa

d Sangiorgio, smiling. 'It is on

dear colleague? Is your

find out

ave relieved me from a great anxiety. If the Prime Minister were to become se

aid Sangiorgio,

. You may count upon me at any time, I assure you; do not spare me. You could not ha

sleep well. The Prime Minis

u again,

5. Fraccareta's voice said 'Come in!' S

leagues: I am looking for

am-her

the black domino with the pinks

e, wants you, Hono

not have done me a greater service! I was at a loss

tier now, with the

et there

r his evening coat, bowed to the woman and his two

e lady was getting tired of it-probably wante

not kn

r a feminine figure strangely attired in a Turkish cos

urmured with her soft

ck, colleague,' whispered Sa

n repeated, bearing on h

heir overcoats listlessly, wrapping up their heads in scarfs, like so many acrobats, who

ized with impatience, while Sangi

er carriage, and got in eagerly,

said to th

t. She disencumbered herself of the Oriental garb, jerking out the pins and tearing at the embroidery. A cloak with a hood lay

on!' she murmured wi

ediately the carriage stopped, in the Piazza Barberini. She go

coachman. 'Tell Carolina she m

ni. The stream of the fountain, tall and t

' she said. 'It was suff

retended to be small and wanted his protection. Nevertheless, she was strong and tall in her black cloak, and under the hood where her eyes were sparkling. And that person and those eyes had the peculiar quality of magnetism-the violent fascination

a voice slightly a-tremble, which sh

ing else,'

d, leaning again

hing-I like you

all of the church. The rising road, leading to the Villa Medici and the Pincio, was quite lustrous. They bent over the high parapet of the square, whence so many melancholy visitors have gazed upon Rome in t

in front of the Trinità-not the stair with two balusters to the church, but the steps going up to the convent, where the monks and the childr

him, as if trying the iron chain. 'We are

e teeth that made her smile so irresistible

ight in front were discernible the few lights, which still remained unextinguished at three o'clock in the morning, in the Via Condotti. Belo

way from her

. This was a real romance, and this fine lady, wrapped in her fur cloak, scented, wearing magnificent diamonds that glistened in the moonlight, who had sent her carriage away so as to walk with him here, at night, through the streets of Rome-this splendid creature seduced him by everything

ead in her hands and her elbows on her knees, as she gazed at the lovely Bernini fountain, with its bowl overbrimming. Sangiorgio had not seated himself; he was standing upright by her side, eyeing her with a sense of masculine fatuity, which filtere

' she asked in her melodio

ather ha

eed with a nod. 'Why

g to the purling waters, which for ever fell back into

ars? Will you no

have no cigare

e!' He lighted a cigar, a

brand

ingh

streak as it vanished into the air. A closed carriage emerged from the Via Due Macelli,

ing from the

that ball was!' whisp

ous voice by whose caress he felt his ne

to her feet, as if p

d; let us be off!' s

his cigar down, and all at once was conscious that this woman's mind was changing, and that he could not count on her at all. But he proudly kept his peace. Probably his vanity had been

ared at the ground, without turning to her companion. Sangiorgio did not ask her whither they were bound in this fashion; he was resolved to stay with her t

served, for the sake

stopping still fo

50-ove

u live

d

a motion to cross the street. '

is no

ll warm myself p

he replied, determi

re!' was al

*

ngiorgio was elected a memb