Page 534 (1/2)

Without answering, he took her ar Count Paulo to his

side, led the princess to the circle of ladies

Behind those closed curtains that still concealed theBusy servants hastened hither and

thither, lighting the la the festoons and draperies It

seee wall-picture

that fore bore the appearance of a

decoration A side curtain, serving as a partition, forreenroohtedherself with the greatest attention, here plucking

at her dress and there arranging her train or an ornament She was

evidently the one as to appear upon the stage; her costume betrayed

it It was not the fashionable costuuished ladies of Roman society; it was an ideal Greek

dress that see and

rendering yet reat beauty of the

wearer

She was very beautiful, this wo hair, which had been gathered into a Grecian knot

behind--beautiful, with the laurel-wreath resting upon her high

forehead--beautiful, in the transparent Grecian robe which only so far

concealed the luxuriant forure as to allow them to be

divined--beautiful, with those full, round, and entirely uncovered arraceful neck, her

fully exposed, naked shoulders, and her voluptuously swelling bosom