No human being succeeds in being absolutely factitious in his home or in his writings.

The author had thus noted that the salon bore a date, that of the Countess's last journey to Paris in 1880.

It was to be seen in the plush and silk of the curtains.

The general coloring, in which green predominated, a liberty egotistical in so brilliant a blonde, had too warm a tone and betrayed the Italian.

Italy was also to be found in the painted ceiling and in the frieze which ran all around, as well as in several paintings scattered about.