n
strong convulsions; and while some were in search of medical aid
for her, others, not less eagerly, were endeavoring to detect the
delinquent.

From the gay and brilliant picture of festivity which was presented but
a few minutes back, what a change now came over the scene! Many hurried
away at once, shocked at even a momentary shadow on the sunny road of
their existence; others as anxiously pressed on to recount the incident
elsewhere; some, again, moved by curiosity or some better prompting,
exerted themselves to investigate what amounted to a gross violation of
the etiquette of a carnival; and thus, in the _salons_, on the stairs,
and in the court itself, the greatest bustle and confusion prevailed. At
length some suggested that the gate of the palace should be closed,
and none suffered to depart without unmasking. The motion was at once
adopted, and a small knot of persons, the friends of the Countess,
assumed the task of the scrutiny.

Despite complaints and remonstrances as to the inconvenience and delay
thus occasioned, they examined every carriage as it passed out. None,
however, but faces familiar to the Florentine world were to be met with;
the well-known of every ball and _fete_ were there, and if a stranger
presented himself, he was sure to be one for whom some acquaintance
could bear testimony.

At a fire in one of the smaller _salons_ stood a small group, of which
the Duc de Brignolles and Major Scaresby formed a part. Sentiments of a
very different order had detained these two individuals, and while
the former was deeply moved by the insult offered to the Countess, the
latter felt an intense desire to probe the circumstance to the bottom.

"Devilish odd it is!" cried Scaresby; "here we have been this last hour
and a half turning a whole house out of the windows, and yet there's no
one to tell us what it's all for, what it 's all about!"

"Pardon, monsieur," said the Duke, severely. "We know that a lady
whose hospitality we have been accepting has retired from her company
insulted. It is very clearly our duty that this should not pass
unpunished."

"Oughtn't we to have some clearer insight into what constituted the
insult? It may have been a practical joke,--a _mauvaise plaisanterie_,
Duke."

"We have no claim to any confidence not extended to us, sir," said
the Frenchman. "To me it is quite sufficient that the Countess feels
aggrieved."

"Not but we shall cut an absurd figure to-morrow, when