Then Sabina reflected upon the Baroness's existence, which was one
long struggle to reach a social elevation not even remotely rivalling
that of the Princess Conti; a struggle in which she was armed with a
large fortune, with her husband's political power, with the most
strictly virtuous views of life, and an iron will; a struggle which
could never raise her much beyond the point she had already reached.
Sabina's meditations were soon interrupted by the arrival of her
belongings, in charge of her mother's maid, and the immediate
necessity of dressing more carefully than had been possible when she
had been so rudely roused by the Baroness. She was surprised to find
herself so little tired by the desperate adventure, and without even a
cold as the result of the never-to-be-forgotten chill she had felt in
the vaults.
In the afternoon, the Princess declared that she would not go out. She
was sure that Malipieri would present himself, and she would receive
him in her boudoir. The ambassador had given her a very pretty set of
rooms. He was a bachelor, and was of course delighted to have her stay
with him, and still more pleased that her pretty daughter should join
her. It was late in the season, he was detained in Rome by an
international complication, and he looked upon the arrival of the two
guests as a godsend, more especially as the Princess was an old
acquaintance of his and the wife of an intimate friend.
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