The sale began.
'Make your bids, gentlemen! make your bids!' cried the auctioneer from
time to time.
Some amateur encouraged by this cry bid a higher sum with his eye on his
competitors. The auctioneer raised his hammer.
'Going--Going--Gone!'
He rapped the table. The article fell to the last bidder. A murmur went
round the assemblage, then the bidding recommenced. The Cavaliere
Davila, a Neapolitan gentleman of gigantic stature and almost femininely
gentle manners, a noted collector and connoisseur of majolica, gave his
opinion on each article of importance. Three lots in this sale of the
Cardinal's effects were really of 'superior' quality: the Story of
Narcissus, the rock-crystal goblet, and an embossed silver helmet by
Antonio del Pollajuolo presented by the City of Florence to the Count of
Urbino in 1472 for services rendered during the taking of Volterra.
'Here is the Princess,' said Filippo del Monte to the Duchess.
Elena rose and shook hands with her friend.
'Already in the field!' exclaimed the Princess.
'Already.'
'And Francesca?'
'She has not come yet.'
Four or five young men--the Duke of Grimiti, Roberto Casteldieri,
Ludovico Barbarisi, Gianetto Rutolo--drew up round them. Others joined
them. The rattle of the rain against the windows almost drowned their
voices.
Elena held out her hand frankly to Sperelli as to everybody else, but
somehow he felt that that handshake set him at a distance from her.
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