Their conversation at dinner was lively and sustained; the travels of the last two days formed a natural part and were apposite to commence with, but they were soon engrossed in the great subject of their lives; and Colonna, who had left Rome only four-and-twenty hours, gave them interesting details of the critical condition of that capital. When the repast was concluded the princess rose, and, accompanied by Lothair, reentered the saloon, but Theodora and Colonna lingered behind, and, finally seating themselves at the farthest end of the apartment in which they had dined, became engaged in earnest conversation. “You have seen a great deal since we first met at Belmont,” said the princess to Lothair. “It seems to me now,” said Lothair, “that I knew as much of life then as I did of the stars above us, about whose purposes and fortunes I used to puzzle myself.” “And might have remained in that ignorance. The great majority of men exist but do not live—like Italy in the last century. The power of the passions, the force of the will, the creative energy of the imagination—these make life, and reveal to us a world of which the million are entirely ignorant You have been fortunate in your youth to have become acquainted with a great woman. It develops all a man’s powers, and gives him a thousand talents.” “I often think,” said Lothair, “that I have neither powers nor talents, but am drifting without an orbit.” “Into infinite space,” said the princess. “Well, one might do worse than that. But it is not so. In the long-run your nature will prevail, and you will fulfil your organic purpose; but you will accomplish your ends with a completeness which can only be secured by the culture and development you are now experiencing.” “And what is my nature?” said Lothair. “I wish you would tell me.” “Has not the divine Theodora told you?” “She has told me many things, but not that.” “How, then, could I know,” said the princess, “if she has not discovered it?” “But perhaps she has discovered it,” said Lothair. “Oh! then she would tell you,” said the princess, “for she is the soul of truth.” “But she is also the soul of kindness, and she might wish to spare my feelings.” “Well, that is very modest, and I dare say not affected. For there is no man, however gifted, even however conceited, who has any real confidence in himself until he has acted.” “Well, we shall soon act,” said Lothair, “and then I. suppose I shall know my nature.” “In time,” said the princess, “and with the continued inspiration of friendship.” “But you too are a great friend of Theodora?”