’That pretty girl in Ciociara costume is the Condessa or Countess Stella di Napoli.’

‘Introduce me,’ said Uncle Bill.

Rocjean went through the performance, concluding thus:  ’The countess expresses a wish that you should order a bottiglia (about two bottles) of red wine.’

‘Go ahead,’ quoth Uncle Bill; ’for a nobility ball this comes as near a dance-house affair as I ever want to approach.  By the way, who is that pickpocket-looking genius with eyes like a black snake?’

‘Who is that?’ said Rocjean, theatrically.  ’Chut! a word in your ear; that is An-to-nel-li!’

’The devil!  But I heard some one only a few minutes ago call him Angelucio.’

’That was done satirically, for it means big angel, which you, who read the papers, know that Antonelli is not.  But here comes the wine, and I see the countess looks dry.  Pour out a half-dozen glasses for her.  The Roman women, high and low, paddle in wine like ducks, and it never upsets them; for, like ducks, their feet are so large that neither you nor wine can throw them.  I wish you could speak Italian, for here comes the Princess Giacinta con Marchese—­’

‘I wish,’ said Uncle Bill, ‘you would talk English.’

‘Well,’ continued Rocjean, ’with the Marchioness Nina Romana, if you like that better.  Shall I introduce you?’

‘Certainly,’ replied the old gentleman, ’and order two more what d’ye call ’ems.  It’s cheap—­this knowing a princess for a quart of red teaberry tooth-wash, for that’s what this “wine” amounts to.  I am going to dance to-night, for the Princess Giacinta is a complete woman after my heart, and weighs her two hundred pound any day.’

The nobility now began begging Rocjean and Caper to introduce them to his excellency Il vecchio, or the old man; and Uncle Bill, in his enthusiasm at finding himself surrounded with so many princes, Allegrini, Pelligrini, Sapgrini, and Dungreeny, compelled Caper to order up a barrel of wine, set it a-tap, and tell the nobility to ‘go in.’  It is needless to say that they went in.  Many of the costumes were very rich, especially those of the female nobility; and in the rush for a glass of wine the effect of the brilliant draperies flying here and there, struggling and pushing, was notable.  The musicians, who were standing on what appeared to be barrels draped with white cloth, jumped down and tried their luck at the wine-cask, and, after satisfying their thirst, returned to their duties.  There was a guitar, mandolin, violin, and flute, and the music was good for dancing.  Uncle Bill was pounced on by the Princess Giacinta and whirled off into some kind of a dance, he did not know what; round flew the room and the nobility; round flew barrels of teaberry tooth-wash, beautiful princesses, big devils of Antonellis.  Lights, flash, hum, buzz, buzz, zzz—­ooo—­zoom!

Uncle Bill opened his eyes as the sunlight shed one golden bar into his sleeping-room at the Hotel d’Europe, and there by his bedside sat his nephew, Jim Caper, reading a letter, while on a table near at hand was a goblet full of ice, a bottle of hock, and another bottle corked, with string over it.