As the king danced with one of the guests, a newly married noblewoman named Caterina Quirini, his buckle caught a string of pearls that adorned the belt of her dress, scattering them on the floor.

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Still, nothing could dampen the thrilling views on the west and north sides of the building (especially from the 2, 000-plus-square-foot Kohinoor Suite), which take in the entirety of the Queen's Necklace, the stretch of Marine Drive running along the city's Back Bay that, when lit up, truly resembles a vast string of pearls--one of the urban wonders of the world.

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And if you are stuck for an evening outfit as the nights grow chillier, don't forget the allure of a simple black cashmere polo-neck with black pants, accessorized with a single long string of pearls.

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Most emerging-market banks are pursuing a cautious string-of-pearls strategy abroad, but the lesson from Western banks is that this is a quick way to lose money.

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