Two highly satisfactory messages, brought him shortly afterwards by the telegraph that connected his study at Schneeburg with the business world, did not suffice to drive this vexatious occurrence from his mind. He looked considerably sallower than usual when he appeared at lunch. All the rest were seated at table when the Baroness Melkweyser appeared. In her character of convalescent she wore a gorgeous, brocade dressing-gown upon which was portrayed a forest of gigantic sunflowers against an olive-green background. Otherwise she betrayed no indication of feeble health; her appetite was particularly reassuring. "You are very subject to headache nowadays," said the Conte, in a tone of reproof. Instead of replying Zoe helped herself for the second time to omelette with truffles, and Parmesan cheese. "Perhaps the long drive was too fatiguing," suggested the mistress of the house, always kindly desirous of atoning for her husband's rudeness. "Had you a pleasant visit at Tornow?" asked Fermor. "It is always pleasant to see dear old friends again," said Zoe curtly. Her mood was undeniably irritable; apparently she had laid in a stock of arrogance at Tornow, that would last her several days. "I really must go over to Tornow," said Fermor, "I trust, Baroness, that you did not mention my having been here so long; the Countess might well think it very strange that I had not been over to see her." Kilary smiled, and Fermor went on in his affected, drawling way. "Very admirable people, the Lodrins, but they are not very interesting to me;--they are too matter-of-fact;--they have too little feeling for art." After lunch, whilst Fermor was testifying to the depth of his feeling for art, by improvising on the grand piano an accompaniment to a new ode by Paul Angelico, who, in his immortal waterproof, draped like Sophocles, stood opposite and read the ode aloud in a sonorous voice out of a little volume bound in red morocco, Capriani took occasion to draw Zoe Melkweyser aside that he might ask: "Did you have any opportunity yesterday to deliver my message to the Countess Lodrin?" "Yes," replied Zoe drily. "And what answer have you brought me?" "The Countess says she is quite ready to purchase the china of you." "To purchase it of me!" repeated the Conte, pale with anger, "but my dear Zoe,"--in moments of great excitement the Conte was wont to call the Baroness by her first name,--"but my dear Zoe what did you propose to her?" "Exactly what you told me." "Indeed?"--the Count drew closer to her, and leaned forward,--"did you tell her that I laid the china at her feet, not in the name of the Count Capriani, but of the Doctor Stein whom she knew years ago in the Riviera?" "Yes, and I told her that you said you had formerly attended the Count, her husband." "Well?" "She replied--do you really wish to hear her reply." "Yes." "Well, then, she replied, 'that may possibly be so, but I do not remember it.'"