uture festivities been issued to the world. A vague and
terrible fear began to prevail that it was possible they meant all
these splendid preparations for themselves alone. Such a treason was
incredible at first; but as day followed day, and no sign was made,
suspicion ripened into actual dread; and now the eager expectants began
to whisper among themselves dark reasons for a conduct so strange and
inexplicable.

Haggerstone contributed his share to these mysterious doublings, for,
while not confessing that his acquaintance with the Onslows was of the
very slightest, and dated but from a week before, he spoke of them with
all the affected ease and information of one who had known them for
years.

Nor were his comments of the most flattering kind, for seeing how
decidedly every effort he made to renew acquaintance was met by a
steady opposition, he lost no time in assuming his stand as enemy. The
interval of doubt which had occurred as to their probable mode of life
was favorable for this line of action. None knew if they were ever to
partake of the splendor and magnificence of the Mazzarini; none could
guess what chance they had of the sumptuous banquets of the rich man's
table. It was a lottery, in which, as yet, they had not even a ticket;
and what so natural as to depreciate the scheme!

If the courts of law and equity be the recognized tribunals by which the
rights of property are decided, so there exists in every city certain
not less decisive courts, which pronounce upon all questions of social
claims, and deliver judgments upon the pretensions of every new arrival
amongst them. High amid the number of these was a certain family called
Ricketts, who had been residents of Florence for thirty-odd years back.
They consisted of three persons, General Ricketts, his wife, and a
maiden sister of the General. They inhabited a small house in a garden
within the boulevard, dignified by the name of the "41 Villino Zoe." It
had originally been the humble residence of a market-gardener, but, by
the aid of paint and plaster, contrived to impose upon the world almost
as successfully as did the fair owner herself by the help of similar
adjuncts. A word, however, for the humanities before we speak of their
abiding-place. The "General" Heaven alone knew when, where, or in
what service he became so was a small, delicate little man, with bland
manners, a weak voice, a weak stomach, and a weaker head; his instincts
all mild, gentle