Book 2, Chapter 17: Miss Bell Asks a Question

⁠​​​‌​​​​​​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌⁠After dinner, Miss Bell was sketching in the drawing-room. She was tracing, on canvas, profiles of bearded Etruscans for a cushion which Madame Marmet was to embroider. Prince Albertinelli was selecting the wool with an almost feminine knowledge of shades. It was late when Choulette, having, as was his habit, played briscola with the cook at the caterer’s, appeared, as joyful as if he possessed th