You shall remain seated as on a throne, as befits your regal state, and even in taking a cup of tea, you shall not lay aside the invisible sceptre you carry for ever in your imperial right hand.

On these conditions is the grace accorded ?' 'No.' But she smiled nevertheless, flattered by this exaltation of the regal aspect of her beauty, wherein she gloried.

And Sperelli continued to tempt her, always in a tone of banter or entreaty, but adding to the seduction of his voice a gaze so subtle, so penetrating and disturbing that, at length, Donna Ippolita, half offended and blushing faintly, said to him-- 'I will not have you look at me like that.' Few persons besides themselves remained upon the stand.

Ladies and gentlemen strolled up and down across the grass, along the barrier, or surrounded the victorious horse or the yelling bookmakers, under the inconstant rays of the sun that came and went between the floating archipelago of clouds.
'Let us go down,' she said, unaware of Giannetto Rutolo leaning with watchful eyes upon the railing of the staircase.
As they passed him, Sperelli called back over his shoulder-- 'Addio, Marchese--see you again soon.

Our race is on directly.' Rutolo bowed profoundly to Donna Ippolita, and a deep flush rose suddenly to his face.