"Certainly," Regina had answered, "genius can buy even money; or, at any rate, can despise it!" "I think we'd better dress, too," said Antonio thoughtfully, and added hastily, "not, of course, for her sake--for our own." They descended the stair again, and Regina put on her prettiest silk, her lace scarf, her jewelled brooch, her rings. She powdered herself, and, following Antonio's suggestion, puffed her hair a little at the temples. "That's it," he said approvingly, "you look another girl." He changed his own attire, and curled his moustache. "A perfect fop!" laughed Regina; "you intend to captivate the lady with that moustache!" "Surely you don't imagine any one could fall in love with me?--not even that '_vecchia corna_' (scarecrow)!" "I fell in love with you!" He caught her and kissed her. "But is it true you were in love? I don't believe it!" "It was you who didn't fall in love! A '_signorina fine, fine, fine_.' '30,000 _lire_ not to be despised,' 'a muzzle like----'" "Yes; a muzzle, a muzzle, a muzzle!" he said, like a child persisting in some innocent insult. As they were going forth the second time Signora Anna ran to see Regina's finery. She examined the stuff of her dress, and looked if it were lined with silk, while deep and painful sighs swelled her capacious bosom. In the kitchen Gaspare was heard scolding Marina. Regina felt acute pleasure in the thought that Gaspare and the mother-in-law were not coming to Arduina's dinner. However, she was no sooner back in the squeezy drawing-room, where they sat awaiting "Madame," than her low spirits returned. Evening fell rapidly; the shadows deepened like black impalpable clouds. Arduina was busy with final preparations. Sor Mario grunted benevolently, sunk in an arm-chair, his trousers drawn very tight over the knee. Antonio was thoughtful and silent. No one remembered to light the lamps. Regina felt a weight of sadness upon her soul. What was it? The gloom, the oppression of twilight in this remote and unknown place to which destiny had carried her, or was it the mere reflection of Antonio's unwonted seriousness? She walked to the window, and again looked for the little old woman with the black raiment; lamps white and yellow pierced the cloudy twilight; the pavement glistened; an infinite sadness, a mystery of fearful shadow fell blacker and blacker from the heavens. The bell rang. In rushed the servant and lighted the gas, barely in time for the great lady's entrance. With eyes dazzled by this suddenly kindled light, Regina first saw the Princess, and was at once disillusioned. The tall, stout, flat-chested form, the felt hat, fastened by an elastic under the black chignon stuck at the nape of the neck--suggested something masculine. Thick, colourless lips, a small nose slightly awry, small metallic eyes of yellowish-green, marked the pale heavy face. The whole made up a figure which, once seen, was not likely to be forgotten.