A good portion of it was put up, and it produced a good effect.

The whole thing was about ten or twelve feet high, consisting of widely-set gilt bars, between which were fastened large arabesques and scrolls.

On each side of the gate, in the middle, an angel supported a metal drapery, of which the folds were in reality of separate pieces, but which, as it now appeared, all screwed together in its place, had a very free and light effect.

It was work of a conventional kind and of a conventional school, but even here Marzio's great talent had shown itself in his rare knowledge of effects and free modelling; the high lights were carefully chosen and followed out, and the deep shadows of the folds in dull gold gave a richness to the drapery not often found in this species of decoration.

The figures of the angels, too, were done by an artist's hand--conventional, like the rest, but free from heaviness or anatomical defects.
"It is not bad," said Don Paolo, in a tone which surprised every one.