Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/90

100 about the Prince ——, who had broken his leg by a fall from his horse, and the Princess ——, who is ill. One person says that she is better, another that she is worse, and so on.

I listened with one ear to these remarks, whilst I lent the other to Count B——'s vindication of certain Catholic usages, which I had censured, perhaps a little too openly. He is a kind and agreeable young man. Count Colloredo, whom I had seen more than thirty years ago in Stockholm, when he was a blonde Apollo-like figure and the favorite of high-born ladies; I now beheld him a gray-haired statesman, no longer handsome, but polite and agreeable as formerly.

After somewhat more than an hour I drove home. On the Piazza di Spagna, a crown of stars was blazing around the image of the immaculate Virgin, at the top of the white marble colonnade which had been erected in her honor, and in memory of the new dignity which Pio Nono conferred upon her. At the end of the colonnade stand colossal statues of Moses and three prophets, all of whom are thought to have written upon or announced the new dogma. On the pedestal are seen Pio Nono and his cardinals—good portraits—who announce the same to the world in the year 1849.

December 11th.—Soirée at the Bavarian minister's, Baron De Verger; very entertaining; various new and agreeable acquaintance, amongst whom are the artist Rudolf Leman, and the young and charming Mrs. Grant, born Baroness Wegener. Lively conversation and good music.

Sunday the 13th.—Cold bright morning! Walked