Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/378

394 consists of mosaic halls, seemed to me to be the most original portion. In the upper marble halls, I caught a glimpse of some figures which excited my curiosity more than their articles of luxury. These were a tall, elderly gentleman, with a bald head; a young ditto, with a handsome, dark Italian countenance, and two quite young girls, with white aprons, dark eyes, and dark, long plaits of hair. The young girls seemed a little curious to see the crowd of strangers, who were conducted by a servant in livery, through the state apartments, but were prevented doing so by the gentlemen, and consoled themselves instead, by waltzing over the marble floor, and every time they passed the open doors, casting merry, inquiring glances into the gallery where the strangers were standing. I saw also, through a half-open door, a table spread for a few persons as simply as in any well-to-do country clergyman's family; but this side of the palace was forbidden to the curious, and in these few moments, I could only obtain a glimpse of the present Borromean family, the proprietor of these celebrated islands. The old Count, his son, and these two daughters, reside for present on Isola Bella.

It is said that the palace and grounds of Isola Bella cost annually thirty thousand francs to keep them up. The family which owns them, is still, as formerly, immensely rich. Nothing in these costly designs astonishes me so much, as that any body will go to such a vast expense and so much trouble for a great child's play. For in reality this little, great piece of work is nothing more. It seems infinitely small amidst its grand surroundings of lake and mountains. There is