said that his surname one day would be
Othomar the Benevolent. It was at this time that he laid the
foundation-stone of a great alms-house, to whose establishment the will
of an immensely wealthy, childless duke--one of the oldest Liparian
families, which had become extinct--had contributed millions.

Othomar's gentleness was in amiable contrast with Oscar's justly exerted
but rough force. He himself, however, was inwardly very much astonished
at this talk of benevolence: he liked to do good, but did not feel the
love of doing good as a leading feature in his character.

After the dinner given to him by the staff-officers, Othomar was to go
in the evening with Ducardi, Dutri and Leoni to the Duke of Yemena, to
thank the court marshal officially for the hospitality shown him at
Castel Vaza. The duke occupied at Lipara a large, new house; his old
family-residence was at Altara.

* * * * *

It is nine o'clock; the crown-prince is not yet expected. The duke and
duchess, however, are already receiving their guests; the duchess sent
out numerous invitations when Othomar announced his visit. The spacious
reception-rooms fill up: almost the whole of the diplomatic corps is
present, as are some of the ministers and great court-officials with
their wives, old Countess Myxila and her daughters and a number of
officers. They form the intimate circle of the Imperial. A jaunty
familiarity prevails among them, with the _sans-gene_ in vogue.

Near the duchess stands Lady Danbury, the wife of the British first
secretary, and the Marquis of Xardi, the duke's son. They are talking
busily about the Dazzaras:

"I've seen them," says Lady Danbury. "It's shocking, shocking. They're
living at Castel Dazzara, that old ruin in Thracyna, with their five
daughters, poor things! The ceilings are falling in. Three crooked old
men in livery; and the liveries even older than the servants. And debts,
according to what I hear, debts! I was astonished to see how old the
marchioness had grown; she has taken it terribly to heart, it seems."

"Grown old?" asks the duchess. "I thought she looked quite young still,
last time I saw her...."

She detests Lady Danbury, who is tall, thin and sharp-featured, her
appearance rather suggesting that of a graceful adder. And she
continues:

"She still looked so well; she is slender, but she has a splendid neck
and shoulders.... I really cannot understand how she can have grown s