"Oh, you're doing hostess, are you?" he said. "Look here! bring me a glass of that wine in the tall, gold-necked bottle at the corner of the table. Drink some yourself." Regina went for it, but found the Princess herself pouring wine at that moment from the bottle with the golden neck. "Massimo would like a glass of that," she murmured ingenuously. "Beg pardon?" said the Princess, who fortunately had not heard. Regina, however, found a wine-glass ready filled, and carried it to her brother-in-law; exquisite bouquet rose from the glass as perfume from a flower. "It's port, you know," said Massimo, with genuine gratitude; "thanks, little sister-in-law! You're my salvation! 'Tis the wine of the modern gods." "You are facetious to-night." "Hush! I'm bored to death. Let's go. We'll leave Arduina. Who's that baboon-faced person she's got hold of?" "That's an author." "_Connais pas_," said the other, eating and drinking. "What a rabble! No one but rabble." "Just so," said Regina, "and we belong to it." "On the contrary, we'll snap our fingers at it. No! we are young and may some day be rich. Those folk are rich, but they'll never be young, my dear!" "Take care! I think you are right though." "Then bring me another glass of port!" said Massimo, imploringly. "Certainly not!" The old ladies and gentlemen, mildly excited by the wines and the tea, raised their voices, moved about, clustered in knots and circles. In the confusion Regina again found herself beside the hostess. "But you've had positively nothing!" said Madame; "come with me. Have a glass of port? How's your husband?" "The second time!" thought Regina; and she shouted, "Very well indeed, thank you." "Have you moved yet? How do you like your house? Come, drink this! Have some sweets? The pastry's pretty good to-day. Oh, Monsieur Massimo! won't you have another cup of tea? No? A glass of port, then? Tell me, are you also at the Treasury?" "No, Madame; in the War Office." Marianna no sooner observed that the Princess was talking to the Venutellis than she thrust her restless face behind Regina's shoulder; and it struck the latter that this girl watched her patroness over much. "I've a bothersome affair on hand," said Madame, slowly; "some money due in Milan which I want paid to me in Rome. I'm told I must have a warrant from the Treasury, Monsieur Antonio must come and speak to me to-morrow." "I'll tell him the moment I get in," cried Regina. Marianna said something in Russian, turning to Madame with an air almost of command. The Princess replied with her usual calm, but quickly afterwards she moved away. "Now I must pay for the help you gave me," said Marianna to Regina, pouring out a glass of a white liqueur. "Drink this." "No, thanks."