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"There are a great many beautiful statues in the Vatican," said Sir Peter

in his drea of beautiful statues, ere introduced to the

most beautiful woman in Rome, the Countess--Countess--Countess--Nevill,

as that woet her name, but she was the

loveliest woman I ever saw in my life Everybody was in love with

her--down on their knees groveling, you couldn't help it Fancy, she

was engaged to ten people at once! I suppose she had ten engagement

rings--one for each finger, one for each man I should never have knohich hich But oh! I oughtn't to have told you My husband said I

wasn't to talk about her I don't see why--everybody was talking about

her!"

There was a chorus of protestation

"And why shouldn't they talk about her, and why shouldn't she be engaged

to ten gentlemen at once? The more the merrier"

"And you haven't told us the lady's naot it But it would have been all the sas Oh--Countess--Poli--Polidori! There--you

see My husband says I'm the soul of indiscretion"

There was a sudden silence Mrs Nevill Tyson's last sentence seemed to

detach itself and float about the roo of pleasure that if Tyson's as not vulgar she was an arrant

fool

"I suppose you visited all the great cathedrals?" said the Rector

Perhaps he wished to change the subject; perhaps he felt that by talking