At the house in Belgrave Square at present tenanted by the Baron and Baroness von Blitzenberg, an event of considerable importance had occurred.

This was nothing less than the arrival of the Countess of Grillyer upon a visit both of affection and state.

So important was she, and so great the attachment of her daughter, that the preparations for her reception would have served for a reigning sovereign.

But the Countess had an eye as quick and an appetite for respect as exacting as Queen Elizabeth, and she had no sooner embraced the Baroness and kissed her ceremoniously upon either cheek, than her glance appeared to seek something that she deemed should have been there also.
"And where is Rudolph ?" she demanded.

"Is he so very busy that he cannot spare a moment even to welcome me ?" The Baroness changed color, but with as easy an air as she could assume she answered that Rudolph had most unfortunately been summoned from England.
"Indeed ?" observed the Countess, and the observation was made in a tone that suggested the advisability of a satisfactory explanation.
This paragon among mothers and peeresses was a lady of majestic port, whose ascendant expression and commanding voice were commonly held to typify all that is best in the feudal system; or, in other words, to indicate that her opinions had never been contradicted in her life.
When one of these is a firm belief in the holder's divine rights and semi-divine origin, the effect is undoubtedly impressive.