The woman, who had commenced now to move slowly towards him, save that her cheeks, at that moment, at any rate, were almost unnaturally pale, was of the same colouring.

Her red-gold hair gleamed beneath her black hat.

She was tall, a Grecian type of figure, large without being coarse, majestic though still young.

She carried a little dog under one arm and a plain black silk bag, on which was a coronet in platinum and diamonds, in the other hand.

The major-domo who presided over the room, watching her approach, bowed with more than his usual urbanity.