conversation with the Grand Duke and Duchess; she had not seen him
come in. The Aunt Caroline noticed this, too, and drew her
attention to the fact.

"Look, Stella, that dreadful man is talking to Royalty!" she said.
"I suppose he must be a gentleman, after all--one never can tell
with foreigners, as their titles mean nothing, and half of them
are assumed. Your Uncle Carford had a valet once who afterward was
arrested for posing as a Polish count."

"I should think anyone could see this man was a gentleman, Aunt
Caroline," Stella answered, "even without his talking to
Royalties."

They were soon joined by the secretary cousin, who was charmed to
welcome so pretty a relation to Rome, and was profuse in his
apologies for not having been able to do more than leave cards
upon them as yet.

"We should so like to know the names of the celebrities," Mrs.
Ebley said, "especially can you tell us about the very curious-
looking person now conversing with her Imperial Highness; he is at
our hotel."

"That--Oh! that is by far the most interesting man here--it is the
famous Count Roumovski. He is a most celebrated traveler; he has
been all over the world and Africa and Asia in unaccessible
places. He is a fabulously rich Russian--a real Muscovite from
near Moscow, and he does everything and anything he pleases; he
gives enormous sums for the encouragement of science. He is