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Updated: May 7, 2025
He turned a canvas that stood face to the wall, and lifted it to a sofa for a better view. It was a marvelous picture: a Madonna and child; and on the shoulder of the Madonna was a dove. "It is supposed to be a Raphael," said Randolph, "and I am convinced that it is. The story is rather interesting. Raphael painted two pictures that were almost identical. One is in the Sansevero family.
"Would any one marry a Sansevero when there is a Scorpa to choose!" "It has happened," chuckled the princess. The threatening break in their habitual politeness was averted by the arrival of a third old lady, the Marchesa Valdeste.
Their collection in Rome I have seen, but this picture has always hung at Torre Sansevero, their country estate, and I have never been there. However, as I said, Raphael painted two. The second belonged to the Belluno family and was sold long ago into France. There it became the property of a Duc du Richeur, and during the Revolution it was supposedly destroyed.
"I told you that you were a baby! But we can't talk here. I shall come to see you to-morrow, but not until late in the afternoon. I shall then perhaps be useful, for in the meantime I am going about like the wolf in the sheep's pelt, to see what news I can pick up. Till then have courage!" Just then the Sansevero carriage was announced, and Nina was obliged to hasten after her aunt.
My husband told me that the Carpazzi were of the genuine optimates of the Roman Duchy." "I think Cesare regrets in his heart," said the Princess Sansevero, "that his ancestors did not accept one, but I agree with him now." She stirred her coffee slowly and then added, "I am fond of the boy, but I do not think I shall have him to dinner soon again. He is too uncontrolled." The contessa agreed.
His look at the duchess demanded that she corroborate his account. "It was too bad," she said, glibly enough. "I should have accompanied her as I was, without hat or mantle even, but Miss Randolph was gone before I really had time to think. It is, after all, but a step to the Palazzo Sansevero." Eleanor Sansevero arose.
"As I told you, I am of course acting merely in the interest of my friend the Prince Sansevero. Selling against the law of my country would be abhorrent to me personally. But my friend, poor fellow, is hard pressed for money. And, as he argues, the picture is his, and has been in his family since long before our government ever made such laws.
Then with a smile he bowed to the Contessa Zoya and went in search of the Princess Sansevero, to say good-by. He found her in the adjoining room, absorbed in the music; and luckily there was an empty chair beside her, into which he quietly dropped.
Each guest at the Palazzo Sansevero carried away the impression that not only had he been welcome himself, but that his presence had added materially to the enjoyment of others. Early in the evening Nina was standing with Giovanni a little apart. Giovanni was unusually quiet, and both had fallen into reverie, from which Nina was aroused by the sudden announcement of a jarring name.
He kissed his wife's hand and began, at great length, to tell her exactly where and how he had spent the afternoon. After a while, however, as one or two other friends dropped in, Sansevero talked aside with Tornik. "You were not at Savini's last night, were you?" he asked. Tornik looked interested. "No," he said, "but I hear they had a very high game." "Yes.
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