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Rh to describe the various visitors who flitted to and fro. And yet, when he withdrew, she blamed herself for being amused—so completely had it been at the expense of others. But ill-nature is inevitable in those who "season their discourse with personal talk". De Joinville only aimed at being entertaining; and what is there entertaining about people in general, but their faults, follies, and peculiarities, served up with the sauce piquant of epigrammatic epithet and of ludicrous inference?

At length the crowded apartment gradually cleared. Drawing Francesca's arm within her own, the Duchesse gave orders that no more visitors were to be admitted; and the little party adjourned to sup in an adjacent room.