held the post-office and various
other offices. After passing a gendarme on guard at the door, they found
themselves in a not very light hall leading to the second story;
mounting a flight of stairs, there stood another soldier on guard; a
door suddenly was thrown open, and then a burst of light showed them a
large hall with lofty ceilings, the walls hung with red and golden
tapestry and with its rich medieval groined arches and gilded cornices,
resembling, after all the ruins and decay of the town, a castle-hall in
fairy-land rather than a positively real earthly room. Dazzled by the
brilliance of the scene, Rocjean and Caper were standing near the door
of entrance, when a tall, stout, and very handsome man, leaving a circle
of ladies, at once approached them, and introducing himself as the
Gonfaloniere of the city, with much courtesy showed them to seats among
the 'most reserved of the reserved.' There sat the Bishop of the Commune
in purple silk robes, with an inch-wide golden chain over his breast,
animatedly conversing with a dashing Roman lady, startingly handsome,
with solitaire diamond ear-rings flashing light, while the lace on her
dress would have caused deaths of envy in one of our country villages.
The Governor of the Province was there, a quiet, grave gentleman,
earnest enough in his duties to be respected, and evidently a favorite
with several ladies who also shone in diamonds and with the 'air noble'
so much adored by Dexter, A warlike looking priest whom Caper afterward
found out was the chaplain of a regiment of soldiers, and by no means
afraid of grape-juice, was also there; and with numerous distinguished
men and beautiful women including one or two of the _Stelle d'Anagni_,
or Stars of Anagni, as the nobility of that town are called, made with
their rich dresses and courteous manners such a picture--so startlingly
in contrast with the out-door life that our artists had seen, that they
have never forgotten it to this day. The concert for which the
invitation was given soon commenced. The selection of vocal and
instrumental pieces was made with good judgment, and the singers who
came from Rome, and had been selected for their ability, sung with a
skill and grace that proved they knew that their audience had nice
judgment and critical ears.

The concert was over: and having made their acknowledgments to the
Gonfaloniere for the pleasure they had received through his invitation,
our two artists, lighting