which was of very beautiful workmanship. She nodded assent, but to her great consternation it was no longer on her finger. Search was made everywhere for it. It was never found.
‘The ball which followed was one of the most brilliant I have ever witnessed. The dresses were magnificent, but the bride excelled all in her dress and her display of diamonds, all but one, for the father of the bride and every one else was struck with the utmost astonishment on discovering that jewels of the very same fashion and lustre were worn by another lady, a masked stranger. He confessed to me that he was weak enough to feel his pride hurt at this, but he consoled himself by reflecting that, however rich the stranger’s jewels might be, they would be surpassed out of all measure by a wreath of diamonds and rubies which was to be worn by Camilla at the supper table.
‘When the party was assembled and the old gentleman looked around him, to his utter consternation the strange lady made her appearance with a wreath precisely like that of his daughter’s.
‘“Fair lady,” said he, “might I venture so great a liberty as to ask your name.”
‘The incognita shook her head with a mournful air, and did not answer him a word.
‘Universal admiration was excited by the extraordinary luxury displayed at this final banquet. In the variety and excellence of his wines our host surpassed all that had hitherto been known in Venice, and yet he was not satisfied. He lamented especially that a misfortune had happened to his red champagne, so that he could not produce a single glass of that liquor. At this time the party seemed well disposed to make up for that want of joviality and
