Donna Tullia, however, had noticed as she turned her head in sitting down that Orsino was piloting a strange lady to the tribune, and when the latter sat down beside her, she determined to make her acquaintance, no matter upon what pretext. The time was approaching at which the procession was to make its appearance, and Donna. Tullia looked about for something upon which to open the conversation, glancing from time to time at her neighbour. It was easy to see that the place and the surroundings were equally unfamiliar to the newcomer, who looked with evident interest at the twisted columns of the high altar, at the vast mosaics in the dome, at the red damask hangings of the nave, at the Swiss guards, the chamberlains in court dress and at all the mediæval-looking, motley figures that moved about within the space kept open for the coming function.
"It is a wonderful sight," said Donna Tullia in Trench, very softly, and almost as though speaking to herself.
"Wonderful indeed," answered Maria Consuelo, "especially to a stranger."
"Madame is a stranger, then," observed Donna Tullia with an agreeable smile.
She looked into her neighbour's face and for the first time realised that she was a striking person.
"Quite," replied the latter, briefly, and as though not wishing to press the conversation.
"I fancied so," said Donna Tullia, "though on seeing you in these seats, among us Romans--"
"I received a card through the kindness of a friend."
There was a short pause, during which Donna Tullia concluded that the friend must have been Orsino. But the next remark threw her off the scent.
"It was his wife's ticket, I believe," said Maria Consuelo. "She could not come. I am here on false pretences." She smiled carelessly.
Donna Tullia lost herself in speculation, but failed to solve the problem.
"You have chosen a most favourable moment for your first visit to Rome," she remarked at last.
"Yes. I am always fortunate. I believe I have seen everything worth seeing ever since I was a little girl."
"She is somebody," thought Donna Tullia. "Probably the wife of a diplomatist, though. Those people see everything, and talk of nothing but what they have seen."
"This is historic," she said aloud. "You will have a chance of contemplating the Romans in their glory. Colonna and Orsini marching side by side, and old Saracinesca in all his magnificence. He is eighty-two year old."