The Cost of a Secret (Volume 3)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863. Excerpt: ... BOOK VIII. CO'RDELIA'S DIARY. # We have just returned from a party at the Austrian Ambassador's. For the first part of the evening there were private theatricals, and then dancing. The private theatricals were much as such things usually are. Weak imitation, and awkward assumption of dramatic power, except in one instance. Princess Bifrons acted charmingly. Ease, spirit, grace were in every gesture, every tone. The part of her stage lover was acted by a Mr. Clayre, whom she afterwards introduced to us. He has only just come to Naples. He looked distinguished and graceful, but his acting was inferior to hers. After the acting was over, he joined our party, and remained with us the rest of the evening. I am not sure whether I shall like him. He is proud and reserved, and yet, when he does unclose his lips, he speaks like a man who has thought and felt. He put my cloak on carelessly enough as we left, but I heard him ask Mrs. Vibert to be allowed to call upon her. She consented, and when I stepped into the carriage after her, and looked back, he was still standing under the portico, and our eyes met. . Mr. Clayre comes every evening. He says this is the only English-looking room and society in Naples. This evening Mr. Clayre and Princess Bifrons came in. Mrs. Vibert was not in the room. M. Corsand was reading some letters to her on the terrace. The Princess said she would wait for her, and sat down opposite to me. Her manners to me are usually half caressant, half insolent, and she watches me with a pertinacity which is most oppressive. She affects to consider me a mere child, and tries to patronise me in a way which rouses all my pride, and which I resist with a disdain which evidently provokes her. As she still claims to be young--and she must be twe...