a few young men whom
they brought with them, partly because the boys admired these two lovely
foreign women; partly because, with a certain easy benevolence that cost
them nothing, they wanted the Contessa's little girl, whoever she was,
to have her chance. But few, if any, of these astute gentlemen, young or
old, was in any doubt as to the position she held.

Nor was she altogether without female visitors. Lady Anastasia, that
authority of the press, who made the public acquainted with the
movements of distinguished strangers and was not afraid of compromising
herself, sometimes made one at the little parties and enjoyed them much.
The Dowager Lady Randolph's card was left at the Contessa's door, as was
that of the Duchess, who had looked upon her with such consternation at
Lucy's party in the country. What these ladies meant it would be curious
to know. Perhaps it was a lingering touch of kindness, perhaps a wish to
save their credit in case it should happen by some bewildering turn of
fortune that La Forno-Populo might come uppermost again. Would she dare
to have herself put forward at the Drawing-room was what these ladies
asked each other with bated breath. It was possible, nay, quite likely,
that she might succeed in doing so, for there were plenty of
good-natured people who would not refuse if she asked them, and of
course so close a scrutiny was not kept upon foreigners as upon native
subjects; while, as a matter of fact, the Dowager Lady Randolph was
right in her assertion that, so far as could be proved, there was
nothing absolutely fatal to a woman's reputation in the history of the
Contessa. Would she have the courage to dare that ordeal, or would she
set up a standard of revolt, and declare herself superior to that
hall-mark of fashion? She was clever enough, all the people who knew her
allowed, for either _role_; either to persuade some good woman, innocent
and ignorant enough, to be responsible for her, and elude the researches
of the Lord Chamberlain, or else to retreat bravely in gay rebellion and
declare that she was not rich enough, nor her diamonds good enough, for
that noonday display. For either part the Contessa was clever enough.

Meanwhile Bice had all the enjoyment, without any of the drawbacks of
this new life. It was far more luxurious, splendid, and even amusing,
than the old existence of the watering-places. To ride in the Park and
feel herself one of that brilliant crowd, to be surrounded