had the greatest time, bad cess to it!
talking to some people I knew and to a lot that I didn't. Italo would
whisper to me beforehand what to say, and I'd say it. I didn't always
know what it was about, but nothing was further from my mind than to
wish to insult anybody. I was so excited I didn't always notice what I
did say, it just seemed playful and funny and in the spirit of the rest.
I went up to Charlie Hunt and spoke to him. I put a flea in his ear, and
I'm positive from his face that he didn't know me. I came near going up
to you when you were talking with that Mr. Guerra, but I was too much
afraid you'd recognize me; you're so sharp, and, then, you're the one
most particularly who has heard me talk with my English accent, which I
put on on the night of the _veglione_ so as not to be known."

"Your English accent? That explains."

"What?"

"Your English accent is a caricature of Antonia's."

"I don't have to tell you, I suppose, that I had no idea of personating
Antonia."

"The very difference between the original and your imitation might seem
the result of an effort on her part to disguise her speech."

"I've been a fool, of course, and some of the blame is mine, but just
let me get hold of Italo and watch me shake the teeth out of his
confounded little head. I remember perfectly speaking to the old general
that we saw at Antonia's that day and to the old viscount who came to my
ball."

"Do you remember what you said?"

"Not exactly, but in both cases it seemed harmless. I wouldn't have said
it if it hadn't seemed harmless. I couldn't have wished to insult them,
how could any one suppose it? To the general it was something about a
horse."

Gerald gave a sound of raging disgust.

Aurora waited, watching him.

"Was it very bad?" she asked finally, and held her breath for his
answer.

"Just as bad as possible. Ceccherelli deserves to be flayed. Is the man
mad? And what, may I ask, did you say to De Breze?"

"I only remember it was something about ermine. I forgot until this
moment that I meant to ask Italo what the joke was about ermine. Was
that too very bad?"

"Just as bad as possible. No, rather worse. Both relate to ancient bits
of scandal that no one would dare refer to--that would place a man
referring to them in the necessity to fight a duel. Mind you, mean and
discredited scandal. I won't resurrect it to enlighten you. You can
interrogate Signor Ceccherelli, who has really distinguished