So will I." And they both went, and found themselves in a vast crowd of acquaintances.

No one had believed that Astrardente could ever die, that the day would ever come when society should know his place no more; and with one consent everybody sent their carriages to the funeral, and went themselves a day or two later to the great requiem Mass in the parish church.

There was nothing to be seen but the great black catafalque, with Corona's household of servants in deep mourning liveries kneeling behind it.

Relations she had none, and the dead man was the last of his race-- she was utterly alone.
"She need not have made it so terribly impressive," said Madame Mayer to Valdarno when the Mass was over.

Madame Mayer paused beside the holy-water basin, and dipping one gloved finger, she presented it to Valdarno with an engaging smile.