The Baron bent forward and answered in a stage whisper, “Zey live in zis hotel, Bonker!” “Then I can only wish you joy, Baron, and if my funds allow me, send her a wedding present.” “Ach, not quite so fast, my vriend! I am not caught so easy.” “My dear fellow, a week at close quarters is sufficient to net any man.” “Ven I marry,” replied the Baron, “moch most be considered. A von Blitzenberg does not mate viz every vun.” “A good many families have made the same remark, but one does not always meet the fathers-in-law.” “Ha, ha! ve shall see. Bot, Bonker, she is lofly!” The Baron awaited dinner with even more than his usual ardour. He dressed with the greatest care, and at an absurdly early hour was already urging his friend to come down and take their places. Indeed after a time there was no withholding him, and they finally took their seats in the dining-room before anybody else. At what seemed to the impatient Baron unconscionably long intervals a few people dropped in and began to study their menus and glance with an air of uncomfortable suspicion at their neighbours. “I vonder vill she gom,” he said three or four times at least. “Console yourself, my dear Baron,” his friend would reply; “they always come. That’s seldom the difficulty.” And the Baron would dally with his victuals in the most unwonted fashion, and growl at the rapidity with which the courses followed one another. “Do zey suppose ve vish to eat like——?” he began, and then laying his hand on his friend’s sleeve, he whispered, “She goms!” Mr Bunker turned his head just in time to see in the doorway the Countess of Grillyer and the Lady Alicia à Fyre. “Is she not fair?” asked the Baron, excitedly. “I entirely approve of your taste, Baron. I have only once seen any one quite like her before.” With a gratified smile the Baron filled his glass, while his friend seemed amused by some humorous reflection of his own. The Lady Alicia and her mother had taken their seats at a table a little way off, and at first their eyes never happened to turn in the direction of the two friends. But at last, after looking at the ceiling, the carpet, the walls, the other people, everything else in the room it seemed, Lady Alicia’s glance fell for an instant on the Baron. That nobleman looked as interesting as a mouthful of roast duck would permit him, but the glance passed serenely on to Mr Bunker. For a moment it remained serene; suddenly it became startled and puzzled, and at that instant Mr Bunker turned his own eyes full upon her, smiled slightly, and raised his glass to his lips. The glance fell, and the Lady Alicia blushed down to the diamonds in her necklace. The Baron insisted on lingering over his dinner till the charmer was finished, and so by a fortuitous coincidence they left the room immediately behind the Countess. The Baron passed them in the passage, and a few yards farther he looked round for his friend, and the Countess turned to look for her daughter.