one
of his friends were so dear to him as Musellaro, for his noble
character, his keen and penetrating mind and rare culture.

'Ruggiero--Ludovico--sit down. Giulio, will you sit here?'

He offered them tea, cigarettes, liqueurs. The conversation grew very
lively. Grimiti and Barbarisi gave the news of Rome, especially the more
spicy items of society gossip. The aroma of the tea mingled with that of
the tobacco.

'I have brought you a chest of tea,' said Musellaro to Sperelli, 'and
much better tea too than your famous Kien Loung used to drink.'

'Ah, do you remember, in London, how he used to make tea after the
poetical method of the Great Emperor?'

'I say,' said Grimiti, 'do you know that the fair Clara Green is in
Rome? I saw her on Sunday at the Villa Borghese. She recognised me and
stopped her carriage to speak to me. She is as lovely as ever. You
remember her passion for you, and how she went on when she thought you
were in love with Constance Landbrooke? She instantly asked for news of
you.'

'I should be very pleased to see her again. Does she still dress in
green and wear sunflowers in her hat?

'Oh no. She has apparently abandoned the aesthetic for good and all. She
goes in for feathers now. On Sunday, she was wearing an enormous hat a
la Montpensier with a perfectly fabulous feather in it.'

'The season is in full swing, I suppose?'

'Earlier than usual this year, both as to saints and sinners.'

'Which of the saints are already in Rome?'

'Almost all--Giulia Moceto, Barbarella Viti, the Princess of Micigliano,
Laura Miano, the Marchesa Massa d'Alba, the Countess Lucoli----'

'I saw her just now from the window, driving. And I saw your cousin too
with Barbarella Viti.'

'My cousin is only here till to-morrow, then she goes back to Frascati.
On Wednesday, she gives a kind of garden party at the villa in the style
of the Princess of Sagan. Costume is not absolutely _de rigueur_, but
the ladies will all wear Louis XV. or Directoire hats. We are going.'

'You are not leaving Rome again so soon, I hope?' Grimiti asked of
Sperelli.

'I shall stay till the beginning of November. Then I am going to France
for a fortnight to see about some horses. I shall be back in Rome about
the end of the month.'

'Talking of horses,' said Ludovico, 'Leonetto Lanza wants to sell
_Campomorto_. You know it--a magnificent animal, a first-rate jumper.
That would be something for you.'

'How much does he want for i