d not trouble herself overmuch about
what society said of her covering her every audacity with the mantle of
her beauty, her wealth, and her ancient name; and she went on her way
serenely, surrounded by adulation and homage, by reason of a certain
good-natured tolerance which is one of the most pleasing qualities of
Roman society, amounting almost to an article of faith.

In any case, Andrea's connection with the Duchess of Scerni had
instantly raised him enormously in the estimation of the women. An
atmosphere of favour surrounded him and his successes became
astonishing. Moreover, he owed something to his reputation as a
mysterious artist, and two sonnets which he wrote in the Princess di
Ferentino's album became famous, in which, as in an ambiguous diptych,
he lauded in turn a diabolical and an angelic mouth--the one that
destroys souls and the other that sings 'Ave!'

He responded, without a moment's hesitation, to every advance. No longer
restrained by Elena's complete dominion over him, his energies returned
to their original state of disorder. He passed from one liaison to
another with incredible frivolity, carrying on several at the same time,
and weaving without scruple a great net of deceptions and lies, in which
to catch as much prey as possible. The habit of duplicity undermined his
conscience, but one instinct remained alive, implacably alive in
him--the repugnance at all this which attracted without holding him
captive. His will, as useless to him now as a sword of indifferently
tempered steel, hung as if at the side of an inebriated or paralysed
man.

One evening, at the Dolcebuonos', when he had outstayed the rest of the
guests in the drawing-room, full of flowers and still vibrating with a
_Cachoucha_ of Raff's, he had spoken of love to Bianca. He did it almost
without thinking, attracted instinctively by the reflected charm of her
being a friend of Elena's. Maybe too, that the little germ of sympathy
sown in his heart by her kindly championship at the dinner in the Doria
palace was now bearing fruit. Who can say by what mysterious process
some contact--whether spiritual or material--- between a man and a woman
may generate and nourish in them a sentiment which, latent and
unsuspected for long, may suddenly wake to life through unforeseen
circumstances? It is the same phenomenon so often encountered in our
mental world, when the germ of an idea or a shadowy fancy suddenly
reappears before us after a