about the streets in black."

And Peter, during this interchange of small-talk, was at
liberty to feast his eyes upon her.

"Perhaps you have not yet reached the time of life where men
begin to find a virtue in snuff?" the priest said, producing a
smart silver snuff box, tapping the lid, and proffering it to
Peter.

"On the contrary--thank you," Peter answered, and absorbed his
pinch like an adept.

"How on earth have you learned to take it without a paroxysm?"
cried the surprised Duchessa.

"Oh, a thousand years ago I was in the Diplomatic Service," he
explained. "It is one of the requirements."

Emilia Manfredi lifted her big brown eyes, filled with girlish
wonder, to his face, and exclaimed, "How extraordinary!"

"It is n't half so extraordinary as it would be if it were
true, my dear," said the Duchessa.

"Oh? Non e poi vero?" murmured Emilia, and her eyes darkened
with disappointment.

Peter meanwhile was looking at the snuffbox, which the priest
still held in his hand, and admiring its brave repousse work of