"I can't exactly say that," she replied, pushing out her chin, without that movement having its usual effect of making her face appear ugly, "it's more of a holiday jaunt." And her face shone with a genuine smile as she saw George's glance turn towards the door, from which Demeter Stanzides had just come out in a striped black-and-white flannel suit. He lifted his grey felt hat in salutation and shook hands with George. "Good-morning, Baron. Glad to see you again." "I am very glad, too, Herr Stanzides." "No letter for me?" Therese turned to Demeter. "No, Therese. Only a few cards for me," and he put them in his pocket. "How long have you been here?" inquired George, endeavouring to exhibit as little surprise as possible. "We arrived yesterday," replied Demeter. "Straight from Vienna?" asked George. "No, from Milan. We have been travelling for eight days. We were first in Venice, that is the orthodox thing to do," added Therese, pulled down her veil and took Demeter's arm. "You been away much longer?" said Demeter. "I saw a card from you some weeks back at Ehrenbergs', the house of the Vettii, Pompeii." "Yes, I've had a wonderful trip." "Well, we'll have a look round the place a bit," said Therese, "and besides, we don't want to detain the Baron any more. I am sure he wants to go and fetch his letters." "Oh, there is no hurry about that. Anyway, we'll see each other again." "Will you give us the pleasure, Baron," said Demeter, "of lunching with us to-day at the Europe? That's where we put up." "Thanks very much, but I'm afraid it's impossible. But ... but perhaps you could manage to dine with ... with ... us at the Park Hotel, yes? At half-past seven if that's all right for you. I'll have it served in the garden, under an awfully fine plane-tree, where we usually take our meals." "Yes," said Therese, "we accept with thanks. Perhaps I'll come in an hour earlier and have a quiet chat with Anna." "Good," replied George, "she will be very glad." "Well, till the evening, Baron," said Demeter, shook hands with him heartily and added: "Please give my kind regards at home." Therese flashed George an appreciative look, and then went on her way with Demeter towards the bank of the lake. George looked after them. If I hadn't known her, he thought, Demeter could have introduced her to me straight away as his wife, née Princess X. How strange, those two.... He then went into the hall, had his correspondence given to him at the counter and ran cursorily through it. The first thing which caught his eye was a card from Leo Golowski. There was nothing on it except "Dear George, mind you have a good time." Then there was a card from the Waldsteingarten in the Prater, "We have just emptied our glasses to the health of our runaway friend. Guido Schönstein, Ralph Skelton, the Rattenmamsell."