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Updated: May 23, 2025
I wonder why you went into the army?" "It is the only career open to me." Nina was thinking of Giovanni and his point of view as she asked, "Why are you not content to be merely Count Tornik?" "You mean that I, like Carpazzi, should live on the illustriousness of my name? If I were very poor, perhaps I should." "How curious!" Nina exclaimed. "Does not a career mean making money?"
"Why all this fuss!" he repeated. "It is insupportable that an upstart of 'nobility' styled p-r-ince" he snarled the word "a title that was bought with a tumbledown estate, dares to speak lightly the great name of the Carpazzi, a name that is higher than that of the reigning family." His flexible fingers flashed and grew stiff by turns.
The intensity of her tone alarmed Nina, who was beginning to feel confused by the succession of violent impressions. Scorpa, Giovanni, Carpazzi, Zoya Olisco, all struck such strident notes that their vibrations jangled. Another act and entr'acte passed. Nina saw Giovanni enter the box of the Contessa Potensi. In contrast to her greeting across the house, she seemed now scarcely to speak to him.
But "Shut up, Jenkins, you ass!" was all the latter got for a retort courteous. On the evening of the first court ball, the Sanseveros gave a small dinner, after which they went to the opera. The guests were the Count and Countess Olisco, Count Tornik, Don Cesare Carpazzi, and Prince Minotti. Don Cesare Carpazzi, a thin swarthy youth, sat just across the corner of the table from Nina.
And then Carpazzi hoped she liked Rome and this very harmless subject was tossed gently back and forth, until Prince Minotti gave it an unexpectedly violent fling by remarking, "I suppose Signorina, that you have been impressed" he held the pause with evident satisfaction "with the great history of the Carpazzi, without which there would be no Rome!"
She rarely wore colors, but to-night, because of the etiquette against wearing black at court, her long-trained dress was of sapphire blue velvet, as severe and as clinging as possible. Nina divined better than she knew, when she put the little Russian and Carpazzi in the same category.
Heedless of Nina, the contessa demanded that Giovanni take her into the supper room for a cup of tea, and Nina was left with Carpazzi, who had at that moment also joined them. He took no notice of her absent-mindedness and kept the conversation going briskly without much help from her, until gradually she became able to focus her attention upon him.
The conversation there, as it happened, came back to the subject of Carpazzi. Zoya Olisco lit her cigarette and spoke with it pasted on her lower lip. She smoked like this continually, and never touched the cigarette except to light it and put a new one in its place. "Though I see what he means," she said, "I should, were I in his place, claim a title! They need not take a new one.
Nina was keen with curiosity. "Of course," Nina said sweetly, eager to soothe his over-sensitive pride, "I have heard of the Carpazzi, but I do not know what is the title of your house. I asked Count Tornik whether you were a duke." "I am Cesare di Carpazzi!" He said it as though he had announced that he was the Emperor of China. "The Carpazzi are of the oldest nobility," Giovanni interposed.
In spite of the unusual liberty allowed Nina, as an American, it seemed to her that she was very restricted. She had, for instance, suggested that they ask Carpazzi to dine with them alone and go to the opera. But the princess had said, "Impossible. Carpazzi, finding no one but the family, would naturally suppose we wish to arrange a marriage between you." Marry Carpazzi!
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