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206 coldnescoldness [sic] of manner, and remained incognita. This vexed the old gentleman so much the more, as he discovered, among the rest, without exception, all the friends that he had invited; so that this lady was, without any doubt, the individual who had been added unexpectedly to the number. At the same time he did not venture to force a removal of her disguise, as the extraordinary value of her jewels took away all his suspicions that a spy of the police had intruded himself, and he would not run the risk of offending a person who was evidently of high rank. She might, perhaps, be some acquaintance who had arrived suddenly at Venice—heard of his brilliant entertainment, and, as a harmless jest, resolved to make one at the masquerade without being discovered.

“Meanwhile, it was thought right, at all events, to make some inquiries among the servants; but, notwithstanding the great number of strange lacqueys and female attendants that were at the villa, none could be found who would acknowledge this lady for their mistress, nor could any one of his own household recollect when or how she arrived; and their ignorance was the more unaccountable, as the lady must have retired to her toilet in or-