Intercourse with these had fostered her pride
in a curious manner. The musicians are the most intelligent and most
widely-travelled not only of the Hungarian Gypsies, but of all the
Romany race. They are darker than the satoros czijanyok, or tented
Gypsies. The Lovells being the darkest of all the Gypsies of Great
Britain (and the most handsome, hence called Kaulo Camloes), it was
easy to make out an affinity closer than common between the Lovells
and the Hungarian musicians. Sinfi heard much talk among the
Hungarians of the splendours of the early leaders of the continental
Romanies. She was told of Romany kings, dukes, and counts. She
accepted, with that entire faith which characterised her, the stories
of the exploits of Duke Michael, Duke Andreas, Duke Panuel, and the
rest. It only needed a hint from one of her continental friends, that
her father, Panuel Lovell, was probably a descendant of Duke Panuel,
for Sinfi to consider him a Duke. From that moment she felt as
strongly as any Gorgie ever felt the fine sentiment expressed in the
phrase, _noblesse oblige_; and to hear her say, 'I'm a duke's chavi
[daughter], and mustn't do so and so,' was a delightful and
refreshing experience to me.
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