Orsino saw and heard, but the first impression was gone, and the thrill did not come back.

“It was a fine sight,” he said to his father, as the shout died away.

“A fine sight?  Have you no stronger expression than that?”

“No,” answered Orsino, “I have not.”

The ladies were already coming out of the tribunes, and Orsino saw his father give his arm to Corona to lead her through the crowd.  Naturally enough, Maria Consuelo and Donna Tullia came out together very soon after her.  Orsino offered to pilot the former through the confusion, and she accepted gratefully.  Donna Tullia walked beside them.

“You do not know me, Don Orsino,” said she with a gracious smile.

“I beg your pardon—­you are the Countess Del Ferice—­I have not been back from England long, and have not had an opportunity of being presented.”

Whatever might be Orsino’s weaknesses, shyness was certainly not one of them, and as he made the civil answer he calmly looked at Donna Tullia as though to inquire what in the world she wished to accomplish in making his acquaintance.  He had been so situated during the ceremony as not to see that the two ladies had fallen into conversation.

“Will you introduce me?” said Maria Consuelo.  “We have been talking together.”

She spoke in a low voice, but the words could hardly have escaped Donna Tullia.  Orsino was very much surprised and not by any means pleased, for he saw that the elder woman had forced the introduction by a rather vulgar trick.  Nevertheless, he could not escape.

“Since you have been good enough to recognise me,” he said rather stiffly to Donna Tullia, “permit me to make you acquainted with Madame d’Aranjuez d’Aragona.”

Both ladies nodded and smiled the smile of the newly introduced.  Donna Tullia at once began to wonder how it was that a person with such a name should have but a plain “Madame” to put before it.  But her curiosity was not satisfied on this occasion.

“How absurd society is!” she exclaimed.  “Madame d’Aranjuez and I have been talking all the morning, quite like old friends—­and now we need an introduction!”

Maria Consuelo glanced at Orsino as though, expecting him to make some remark.  But he said nothing.

“What should we do without conventions!” she said, for the sake of saying something.

By this time they were threading the endless passages of the sacristy building, on their way to the Piazza Santa, Marta.  Sant’ Ilario and Corona were not far in front of them.  At a turn in the corridor Corona looked back.

“There is Orsino talking to Tullia Del Ferice!” she exclaimed in great surprise.  “And he has given his arm to that other lady who was next to her in the tribune.”

“What does it matter?” asked Sant’ Ilario indifferently.  “By the bye, the other lady is that Madame d’Aranjuez he talks about.”

“Is she any relation of your mother’s family, Giovanni?”