She was summoned from the kitchen to receive the dignitaries.
"Let there be no ceremony, gentlemen," she exclaimed in her musical voice, hastening toward them.

"I detest all formalities.

I have had a surfeit of them in Vienna, and intend to breathe natural air here in the country, without 'fuss or feathers,' with no incense save that which rises from burning tobacco! This is why I avoided your parade out yonder on the highway.

I want nothing but a cordial shake of your hands; and as regards the official formalities of this 'installation' business, you must settle that with my agent, who has authority to act for me.
After that has been arranged, we will all act as if we were old acquaintances, and every one of you must consider himself at home here." To this gracious speech the vice-palatine gave utterance to something which sounded like: "Kisz-ti-hand!" "Ah!" returned the baroness, "you speak German ?" "Well, yes," replied the descendant of the Scythians; "only, I am likely to blunder when speaking it, as did the valiant Barkocz.

When our glorious Queen Maria Theresa recovered from the chicken-pox, she was bemoaning the disfiguring scars left on her face, when the brave soldier, in order to comfort her, said: 'But your Majesty still has very beautiful _leather_.'" "Ha, ha, ha!" merrily laughed the baroness.