“Isn’t she lovely, my little Kitty!” said Madame d’Estrees, in the ears of a Bavarian baron, who was also much occupied in staring at the small beauty in black.  “I may say it, though I am her mother.  And my son-in-law, too.  Have you seen him?  Such a handsome fellow!—­and such a dear!—­so kind to me.  They say, you know, that he will be Prime Minister.”

The baron bowed, ironically, and inquired who the gentleman might be.  He had not caught Kitty’s name, and Madame d’Estrees had been for some time labelled in his mind as something very near to an adventuress.

Madame d’Estrees eagerly explained, and he bowed again, with a difference.  He was a man of great intelligence, acquainted with English politics.  So that was really the wife of the man to whose personality and future the London correspondent of the Allgemeine Zeitung had within the preceding week devoted a particularly interesting article, which he had read with attention.  His estimate of Madame d’Estrees’ place in the world altered at once.  Yet it was strange that she—­or, rather, Donna Laura—­should admit such a person as Mademoiselle Ricci to their salon.

The mother, indeed, that afternoon had much reason to be socially grateful to the daughter.  Curious contrast with the days when Kitty had been the mere troublesome appendage of her mother’s life!  It was clear to Marguerite d’Estrees now that if she was to accept restraint and virtuous living, if she was to submit to this marriage she dreaded, yet saw no way to escape, her best link with the gay world in the future might well be through the Ashes.  Kitty could do a great deal for her; let her cultivate Kitty; and begin, perhaps, by convincing William Ashe on this present occasion that for once she was not going to ask him for money.

In the height of the party, Lord Magellan appeared.  Madame d’Estrees at first looked at him with bewilderment, till Kitty, shaking herself free, came hastily forward to introduce him.  At the name the mother’s face flashed into smiles.  The ramifications of two or three aristocracies represented the only subject she might be said to know.  Dear Kitty!

Lord Magellan, after Madame d’Estrees had talked to him about his family in a few light and skilful phrases, which suggested knowledge, while avoiding flattery, was introduced to the Bavarian baron and a French naval officer.  But he was not interesting to them, nor they to him; Kitty was surrounded and unapproachable; and a flood of new arrivals distracted Madame d’Estrees’ attention.  The Ricci, who had noticed the restrained empressement of his reception, pounced on the young man, taming her ways and gestures to what she supposed to be his English prudery, and produced an immediate effect upon him.  Lord Magellan, who was only dumb with English marriageable girls, allowed himself to be amused, and threw himself into a low chair by the actress—­a capture apparently for the afternoon.