The Queen likewise singled out certain strangers of distinction.  In this way she sent for a United States senator, who was making a short visit in Rome, and kept him talking with her for a considerable time.  Her Majesty sat through the first waltz and quadrille.  Then she and the King promenaded slowly through the assemblage, speaking to many people as they passed.  Some careless foot went through Nina’s dress, tearing a great rent, just as she made her reverence to their Majesties, who were approaching.  The Queen smiled sympathetically and held out her hand for Nina to kiss, at the same time exclaiming her sympathy, then, quite at length, her admiration for the lovely dress.  Nina flushed with pleasure, feeling that the damage to her prettiest frock had been more than repaid.

Giovanni was standing with Nina at the time, and after their Majesties had passed, he looked quizzically at the torn hem that Nina held in her hand.  “Is it altogether spoiled?”

Nina laughed.  “If I were sentimental, I should keep it always in tatters in memory of the Queen!”

“But as you are not sentimental—­I hope it can be mended.  May I tell you that her Majesty’s admiration was well deserved?  It is a most charming costume and not too elaborate.  The touch of silver in the dress is just enough to go with the silver fillet over your hair.  White is seldom becoming to blondes, but it suits you admirably.”

She looked up, frankly pleased.  “It is nice, really?  I am so glad!” She was perfectly happy, and her smile showed it.  The whole evening had been delightful.  The disagreeable impressions made by the Contessa Potensi and Favorita were forgotten as she danced with Giovanni, who performed a feat of rare ability in finding a passage through the crush.

Presently he said to her, “When their Majesties have gone into an adjoining room, then the rest of us can go to supper.”

As he spoke, Nina saw them disappear through the doorway.  “Are they not coming back?” she asked.

“No.  They have gone.”

“But do they never dance?”

“Never!  Queen Margherita and King Humbert always opened the ball by the quadrille d’honneur, with the ambassadors and important court ladies and gentlemen.  But the present King abolished all that.”

At the end of the waltz Tornik managed to find Nina and announced supper.  In the stampede for food there was such a crush that people stepped on her slippers and literally swept up the floor with her train.  Tornik, being a giant, and able to reach over any number of smaller persons, finally secured a pate and an ice.  Standing near her, two young men were stuffing cakes and sandwiches into their pockets.  Amazed, she drew Tornik’s attention.  He shrugged his shoulders.  “Who are they?” she whispered.  “Princes, for all I know,” was his rejoinder.  “Poor devils, many of them never get such a feast as this.”

CHAPTER XIII