The cup itself, of deeply carved rock crystal, was set in chiselled silver, and if not the work of Cellini himself, must have been made by one of his pupils.

Saracinesca stopped by the great man's side.
"Good evening, Eminence," he said.
"Good evening, Prince," returned the Cardinal, who recognised Saracinesca's voice without looking up.

"Have you ever seen this marvellous piece of work?
I have been admiring it for a quarter of an hour." He loved all objects of the kind, and understood them with rare knowledge.
"It is indeed exceedingly beautiful," answered Saracinesca, who longed to take advantage of the opportunity of speaking to Cardinal Antonelli upon the subject nearest to his heart.
"Yes--yes," returned the Cardinal rather vaguely, and made as though he would go on.

He saw from Saracinesca's commonplace praise, that he knew nothing of the subject.

The old Prince saw his opportunity slipping from him, and lost his head.