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 their costumes praised are women who have only just began to dress tolerably, and are still not quite sure of the effects!"

"You are right, as always," said the Duc, with a little bow and a little smile. "But now and then perfection surprises us into involuntary indiscretion. You must not be too severe."

"Somebody should be severe," she said, contemptuously. "Society is a Battle of the Frogs, for rivality in dress and debt."

The Duc laughed.

"What do you know about it, Madame? You who are as above rivals as above debts? By the way, you told me you wanted some old Pesaro vases. I found some yesterday at Biangini's shop that might please you; they come out of an old pharmacy in Verona; perhaps the very pharmacy of Romeo's apothecary; and there are some fine old pots too "

"I am tired of buying things."

"The weariness of empire!—nothing new. You must take to keeping hens and chickens, as the Emperor John Vatices did. How does