"He would appreciate that.

He loves his own race.

He would rather feel that he is a comic misrepresentation of the most hideous Saracinesca who ever lived, than possess all the beauty of the Astrardente and be called by another name." The diplomatist paused for a second after this speech, and then bowed a little to the Duchessa; but the hit had touched her husband in a sensitive spot.

The old dandy had been handsome once, in a certain way, and he did his best, by artificial means, to preserve some trace of his good looks.

The Duchessa smiled faintly.
"I would wager," said Astrardente, sourly, "that his excited manner just now was due to one of two things--either his vanity or his money is in danger.