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ost's eloquence。
〃Oh； hush！〃 she exclaimed； 〃I'd have fancied you'd be having no thoughts beyond your daughter's affliction。〃
〃My Eva！ my poor Eva！ Where is the suffering child？〃 cried Mrs。 Gallosh。 〃Duncan； what'll she be doing？〃
〃Making a to…do like the rest of the women…folk；〃 replied her husband； with rather less sympathy than the occasion seemed to demand。
In point of fact Eva had disappeared from the company immediately after hearing the contents of Mr。 Maddison's letter； and whatever she had been doing； it had not been weeping alone； for at that moment she ran into the room； her face agitated； but rather； it seemed； with excitement than grief。
〃Papa； lend me five pounds；〃 she panted。
〃Lend youfive pounds！ And what for； I'd like to know？〃
〃Don't ask me now。 II promise to tell you later some time later。〃
〃I'll see myself！ I mean； you're talking nonsense。〃
Eva's lip trembled。
〃Hi； hist！ Eva； my dear；〃 said Mr。 Rentoul； 〃if you're wanting the money badly； and your papa doesn't see his way〃
He concluded his sentence with a wink and a dive into his trousers…pocket； and a minute later Eva had fled from the room again。
This action of the sage； being at total variance to his ordinary habits （which indeed erred on the economical side）； was attributed by his irate hostwith a certain show of reasonto the mere intention of annoying him； and the conversation took a more acrimonious turn than ever。 In fact； when Eva returned a few minutes later she was just in time to hear her father thunder in an infuriated voice
〃A German waiter； is he？ Aye； that's verra probable； verra probable indeed。 In fact I might have known it when I saw you and him swilling a bottle and a half of my best port together！ Birds of a feather aye； aye； exactly！〃
The crushing retort which the sage evidently had ready to heap upon the fire of this controversy was anticipated by Miss Gallosh。
〃He isn't a German waiter； papa！ He is a German BARONand an ambassador； too！〃
The four started and stared at her。
〃Where did you learn that？〃 demanded her father。
〃I've been talking to the man who brought the letter； and he says that Lord TulliI mean the Baron declares positively that he is a German nobleman！〃
〃Tuts； fiddlesticks！〃 scoffed her father。
〃Verra like a whale；〃 pronounced the sage。
〃I wouldn't believe what HE said；〃 declared Mrs。 Gallosh。
〃One can SEE he isn't；〃 said Mrs。 Rentoul。
〃The kind of Baron that plays in a German band； perhaps；〃 added her husband； with a whole series of winks to give point to this mot。
〃He's just a scoundrelly adventurer！〃 shouted Mr。 Gallosh。
〃I hope he'll get penal servitude； that's what I hope；〃 said his wife with a sob。
〃And； judging from his appearance； that'll be no new experience for him；〃 commented the sage。
So remarkably had their judgment of the late Lord Tulliwuddle waxed in discrimination。 And； strange to say； his only defender was the lady he had injured most。
〃I still believe him a gentleman！〃 she cried； and swept tearfully from the room。
CHAPTER XXXV
While his late worshippers were trampling his memory in the mire； the Baron von Blitzenberg； deserted and dejected； his face still buried in his hands； endured the slow passage of the doleful afternoon。 Unlike the prisoner at The Lash； who； by a coincidence that happily illustrates the dispensations of Providence； was undergoing at the same moment an identical ordeal； the Baron had no optimistic； whimsical philosophy to fall back upon。 Instead； he had a most tender sense of personal dignity that had been egregiously outraged and also a wife。 Indeed； the thought of Alicia and of Alicia's parent was alone enough to keep his head bowed down。
〃Ach； zey most not know；〃 he muttered。 〃I shall give moch moneyhondreds of poundnot to let zem find out。 Oh； what for fool have I been！〃
So deeply was he plunged in these sorrowful meditations； and so constantly were they concerned with the two ladies whose feelings he wished to spare； that when a hum of voices reached his ear； one of them strangely even ominouslyfamiliar； he only thought at first that his imagination had grown morbidly vivid。 To dispel the unpleasant fancies suggested by this imagined voice； he raised his head； and then the next instant bounded from his chair。
〃Mein Gott！〃 he muttered； 〃it is she。〃
Too thunderstruck to move； he saw his prison door open； and there； behold！ stood the Countess of Grillyer； a terrible look upon her high…born features； a Darius at either shoulder。 In silence they surveyed one another； and it was Mr。 Maddison who spoke first。
〃Guess this is a friend of yours；〃 he observed。
One thought and one only filled the prisoner's mind she must leave him； and immediately。
〃No； no； I do not know her！〃 he cried。
〃You do not know me？〃 repeated the Countess in a voice rich in promise。
〃Certainly I do not。〃
〃She knows you all right；〃 said the millionaire。
〃Says she does；〃 put in Ri in a lower voice； 〃but I wouldn't lay much money on her word either。〃
〃Rudolph！ You pretend you do not know me？〃 cried the Countess between wrath and bewilderment。
〃I never did ever see sochlike a voman before；〃 reiterated the Baron。
〃What do you say to that； ma'am？〃 inquired Mr。 Maddison。
〃I sayI blush to saythat this wretched young man is my son…in…law；〃 declared the Countess。
As she had come to the house inquiring merely for Lord Tulliwuddle； and been conducted straight to the prisoner's cell； the stupefying effect of this announcement may readily be conceived。
〃What！〃 ejaculated the Dariuses。
〃It is not true！ She is mad！ Take her avay； please！〃 shouted the Baron； now desperate in his resolution to say or do anything； so long as he got rid of his formidable relative。
The Countess staggered back。
〃Is he demented？〃 she inquired。
〃Say； ma'am；〃 put in Ri； 〃are you the mother of Miss Constance Herringay？〃
〃Of？ I am Lady Grillyer！〃
〃See here； my good lady； that's going a little too far；〃 said the millionaire not unkindly。 〃This friend of yours here first calls himself Lord Tulliwuddle； and then the Baron von something or other。 Well； now； that's two of the aristocracy in this under… sized apartment already。 There's hardly room for a thirdsee？ Can't you be plain Mrs。 Smith for a change？〃
The Countess tottered。
〃Fellow！〃 she said in a faint voice； 〃II do not understand you。〃
〃Thought that would fetch her down；〃 commented Ri。
〃Lead her back to ze train and make her go to London！〃 pleaded the Baron earnestly。
〃You stick to it； you don't know her？〃 asked Mr。 Maddison shrewdly。
〃No； no； I do not！〃
〃Is her name Lady Grillyer？〃
〃Not more zan it is mine！〃
〃Rudolph！〃 gasped the Countess inarticulately。 〃He ishe WAS my son！〃
〃Stoff and nonsense！〃 roared the Baron。 〃Remove her！I am tired。〃
〃Well；〃 said Mr。 Maddison； 〃I guess I don't much believe either of you； but whether you know each other or not； you make such a remarkably fine couple that I reckon you'd better get acquainted now。 Come； Ri。〃
And before either Countess or Baron could interpose； their captors had slipped out； the key was turned； and they were left to the dual enjoyment