steps and the pavement, blocking up the passage way in the chief street, and criticising all equipages and their occupants.
When the Lady Hilda's victoria, with the two blacks, and the white and black liveries, swept past the Club, there was a great stir in these philosophers of the stones. Most knew her by sight very well; two or three knew her personally, and these fortunate few, who had the privilege to raise their hats as that carriage went by, rose immediately in the esteem of their fellows.
"Je n'ai jamais rien connu de si épâtant," said the French Duc de St. Louis, who belongs to a past generation, but is much more charming and witty than anything to be found in the present one.
"Twelve hundred and fifty thousand francs a-year," murmured the Marchese Sampierdareno, with a sigh. He was married himself.
"Here is your 'affaire,' Paolo," said Don Carlo Maremma to a man next him.
The Duca della Rocca, to whom he spoke, stroked his moustache, and smiled a little.
"She is a very beautiful person," he answered;
