and long before the surrounding guests had recovered from the
surprise which they had occasioned them, and which did not
diminish, when Lord Monmouth, advancing, placed his arms round
Coningsby with a dignity of affection that would have become Louis
XIV., and then, in the high manner of the old Court, kissed him on
each cheek.

"'Welcome to your home,' said Lord Monmouth. 'You have grown a
great deal.'

"Then Lord Monmouth led the agitated Coningsby to the great lady,
who was a Princess and an Ambassadress, and then, placing his arm
gracefully in that of his grandson, he led him across the room, and
presented him in due form to some royal blood that was his guest,
in the shape of a Russian Grand Duke. His Imperial Highness
received our hero as graciously as the grandson of Lord Monmouth
might expect; but no greeting can be imagined warmer than the one
he received from the lady with whom the Grand Duke was conversing.
She was a dame whose beauty was mature, but still radiant. Her
figure was superb; her dark hair crowned with a tiara of curious
workmanship. Her rounded arm was covered with costly bracelets, but
not a jewel on her finely-formed bust, and the least possible rouge
on her still oval cheek. Madame Colonna retained her charms."


III

Nearly a quarter of a century passed, during which Disraeli slowly rose
to the highest honours in the State. Lord Derby died, and the novelist,
already Leader of the House of Commons, found himself called to be Prime