Alpha Book

The paragraph was written in the usual
florid style with a fine generosity in the distribution of titles to
unknown persons.
"The centre of all attraction," said the reporter, "was a most beautiful
Spanish princess, Donna Maria Consuelo d'A----z d'A----a, in whose
mysterious eyes are reflected the divine fires of a thousand triumphs,
and who was gracefully attired in olive green brocade--"
"Oh! Is that it?" said Sant' Ilario aloud, and in the peculiar tone
always used by a man who makes a discovery in a daily paper.
"What is it?" inquired Frangipani and Montevarchi in the same breath.
The young diplomatist looked up with an air of interrogation.
Sant' Ilario read the paragraph aloud. All three listened as though the
fate of empires depended on the facts reported.
"Just like the newspapers!" exclaimed Frangipani. "There probably is no
such person. Is there, Ascanio?"
Montevarchi had always been a weak fellow, and was reported to be at
present very deep in the building speculations of the day.


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