SoBecky，whohadarrivedinthediligencefromFlorence，andwaslodgedataninninaverymodestway，gotacardforPrincePolonia’sentertainment，andhermaiddressedherwithunusualcare，andshewenttothisfineballleaningonthearmofMajorLoder，withwhomshehappenedtobetravellingatthetime——thesamemanwhoshotPrinceRavoliatNaplesthenextyear，andwascanedbySirJohnBuckskinforcarryingfourkingsinhishatbesidesthosewhichheusedinplayingatecarte——andthispairwentintotheroomstogether，andBeckysawanumberofoldfaceswhichsherememberedinhappierdays，whenshewasnotinnocent，butnotfoundout。MajorLoderknewagreatnumberofforeigners，keen-lookingwhiskeredmenwithdirtystripedribbonsintheirbuttonholes，andaverysmalldisplayoflinen；buthisowncountrymen，itmightberemarked，eschewedtheMajor。Becky，too，knewsomeladieshereandthere——Frenchwidows，dubiousItaliancountesses，whosehusbandshadtreatedthemill——faugh——whatshallwesay，wewhohavemovedamongsomeofthefinestcompanyofVanityFair，ofthisrefuseandsedimentofrascals？Ifweplay，letitbewithcleancards，andnotwiththisdirtypack。Buteverymanwhohasformedoneoftheinnumerablearmyoftravellershasseenthesemaraudingirregularshangingon，likeNymandPistol，tothemainforce，wearingtheking’scoloursandboastingofhiscommission，butpillagingforthemselves，andoccasionallygibbetedbytheroadside。
Well，shewashangingonthearmofMajorLoder，andtheywentthroughtheroomstogether，anddrankagreatquantityofchampagneatthebuffet，wherethepeople，andespeciallytheMajor’sirregularcorps，struggledfuriouslyforrefreshments，ofwhichwhenthepairhadhadenough，theypushedonuntiltheyreachedtheDuchess’sownpinkvelvetsaloon，attheendofthesuiteofapartmentswherethestatueoftheVenusis，andthegreatVenicelooking-glasses，framedinsilver，andwheretheprincelyfamilywereentertainingtheirmostdistinguishedguestsataroundtableatsupper。ItwasjustsuchalittleselectbanquetasthatofwhichBeckyrecollectedthatshehadpartakenatLordSteyne’s——andtherehesatatPolonia’stable，andshesawhim。
Thescarcutbythediamondonhiswhite，bald，shiningforeheadmadeaburningredmark；hisredwhiskersweredyedofapurplehue，whichmadehispalefacelookstillpaler。Heworehiscollarandorders，hisblueribbonandgarter。HewasagreaterPrincethananythere，thoughtherewasareigningDukeandaRoyalHighness，withtheirprincesses，andnearhisLordshipwasseatedthebeautifulCountessofBelladonna，needeGlandier，whosehusbandtheCountPaolodellaBelladonna，sowellknownforhisbrilliantentomologicalcollections，hadbeenlongabsentonamissiontotheEmperorofMorocco。
WhenBeckybeheldthatfamiliarandillustriousface，howvulgarallofasuddendidMajorLoderappeartoher，andhowthatodiousCaptainRookdidsmelloftobacco！Inoneinstantshereassumedherfine-ladyshipandtriedtolookandfeelasifshewereinMayFaironcemore。”Thatwomanlooksstupidandill-humoured。”
shethought；“Iamsureshecan’tamusehim。No，hemustbeboredbyher——heneverwasbyme。”Ahundredsuchtouchinghopes，fears，andmemoriespalpitatedinherlittleheart，asshelookedwithherbrightesteyestherougewhichsheworeuptohereyelidsmadethemtwinkletowardsthegreatnobleman。OfaStarandGarternightLordSteyneusedalsotoputonhisgrandestmannerandtolookandspeaklikeagreatprince，ashewas。