“I will try,” said Orsino, considerably amused.

“Upon me?”

“Since you advise it—­”

“Have I said that I detest you?”

“More or less.”

“It was only by way of illustration to my argument.  I was not serious.”

“You have not a serious character, I fancy,” said Orsino.

“Do you dare to pass judgment on me after an hour’s acquaintance?”

“Since you have judged me!  You have said five times that I am enthusiastic.”

“That is an exaggeration.  Besides, one cannot say a true thing too often.”

“How you run on, Madame!”

“And you—­to tell me to my face that I am not serious!  It is unheard of.  Is that the way you talk to your compatriots?”

“It would not be true.  But they would contradict me, as you do.  They wish to be thought gay.”

“Do they?  I would like to know them.”

“Nothing is easier.  Will you allow me the honour of undertaking the matter?”

They had reached the door of Madame d’Aragona’s hotel.  She stood still and looked curiously at Orsino.

“Certainly not,” she answered, rather coldly.  “It would be asking too much of you—­too much of society, and far too much of me.  Thanks.  Good-bye.”

“May I come and see you?” asked Orsino.

He knew very well that he had gone too far, and his voice was correctly contrite.

“I daresay we shall meet somewhere,” she answered, entering the hotel.

CHAPTER IV.

The rage of speculation was at its height in Rome.  Thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands of persons were embarked in enterprises which soon afterwards ended in total ruin to themselves and in very serious injury to many of the strongest financial bodies in the country.  Yet it is a fact worth recording that the general principle upon which affairs were conducted was an honest one.  The land was a fact, the buildings put up were facts, and there was actually a certain amount of capital, of genuine ready money, in use.  The whole matter can be explained in a few words.

The population of Rome had increased considerably since the Italian occupation, and house-room was needed for the newcomers.  Secondly, the partial execution of the scheme for beautifying the city had destroyed great numbers of dwellings in the most thickly populated parts, and more house-room was needed to compensate the loss of habitations, while extensive lots of land were suddenly set free and offered for sale upon easy conditions in all parts of the town.