The Marchese Lamberto, though a grave and dignified personage in the eyes of the "jeunesse doree" of Ravenna, was looked up to as one of the best loved, as well as most respected, men in the city.

And there was not a member of the "society" who would not have been sadly hurt at not being invited to the great annual Carnival ball at the Castelmare palace.

But the same degree of laissez aller jollity would not have been "de mise" there as was permissible at the Circolo.
The fun was not so fast and furious as it was wont to be at the club of the nobles on the last night of Carnival.
The whole society were at the latter gathering.

All the nobles of Ravenna were the hosts, and everybody was there solely and entirely to amuse and enjoy themselves.

Host and guests, indeed, were almost identical.