Everybody was interested.

Everybody was charmed, until-- The rumor flew rapidly along the verandas.

It was denied by the head waiter, it was confirmed by the chief clerk; it was referred to the manager himself and again confirmed.

Alas, it was true! The Grand Duke Alexander was coming, not to honor the hotel, but to honor Mrs.
Carmichael Porter; she would receive him as her guest, she would pay the royal hotel bill, she would pay the bills of the royal suite.
Yes, Blakely's mother had captured the grand duke.
A wave of indignation swept the columns of the rank and file.

They didn't want the grand duke themselves, but they didn't want Blakely's mother to have him; Blakely's mother and Mrs.Sanderson-Spear, and Mrs.Tudor Carstairs.