The Prince generously permits it to remain on view for a few days longer, so that those who have not yet enjoyed its attraction, have still time to behold one of the most wonderful pictures of the age.

The colouring yet remains a marvel to both students and connoisseurs, and the life-like appearance of the girl's figure, robed in its clinging white draperies ornamented with lilies of the valley, is so strong, that one imagines she will step out of the canvas and confront the bystanders.

Signor Cellini must now be undoubtedly acknowledged as one of the greatest geniuses of modern times." I could see no reason, as I perused this, to be sure that _I_ had served as the model for this successful work of art, unless the white dress and the lilies of the valley, which I had certainly worn at Cannes, were sufficient authority for forming such a conclusion.

Still I felt quite a curiosity about the picture--the more so as I could foresee no possible chance of my ever beholding it.

I certainly should not go to Rome on purpose, and in a few days it would be in the possession of Prince N----, a personage whom in all probability I should never know.