displaying that vice of nature were seldom afforded to Ginevra in the
life of a studio, still, the specimens she had now and then given of
her vindictive disposition had left a strong impression on the minds
of her companions.

After many conjectures, Mademoiselle Roguin came to the conclusion
that the Italian's silence showed a grandeur of soul beyond all
praise; and the banking circle, inspired by her, formed a project to
humiliate the aristocracy. They succeeded in that aim by a fire of
sarcasms which presently brought down the pride of the Right coterie.

Madame Servin's arrival put a stop to the struggle. With the
shrewdness that usually accompanies malice, Amelie Thirion had
noticed, analyzed, and mentally commented on the extreme preoccupation
of Ginevra's mind, which prevented her from even hearing the bitterly
polite war of words of which she was the object. The vengeance
Mademoiselle Roguin and her companions were inflicting on Mademoiselle
Thirion and her group had, therefore, the fatal effect of driving the
young _ultras_ to search for the cause of the silence so obstinately
maintained by Ginevra di Piombo. The beautiful Italian became the
centre of all glances, and she was henceforth watched by friends and
foes alike.

It is very difficult to hide even a slight emotion or sentiment from
fifteen inquisitive and unoccupied young girls, whose wits and
mischief ask for nothing better than secrets to guess, schemes to
create or baffle, and who know how to find too many interpretations
for each gesture, glance, and word, to fail in discovering the right
one.