Their father was preparing the ground so that they might enter the Guard or some aristocratic regiment without any of the members being able to vote against their admission.

The two daughters would surely marry, when they had reached a suitable age with officers of the Hussars whose names bore the magic "von" of petty nobility, haughty and charming gentlemen about whom the daughter of Misia Petrona waxed most enthusiastic.
The establishment of the Hartrotts was in keeping with these new relationships.

In the home in Berlin, the servants wore knee-breeches and white wigs on the nights of great banquets.

Karl had bought an old castle with pointed towers, ghosts in the cellars, and various legends of assassinations, assaults and abductions which enlivened its history in an interesting way.

An architect, decorated with many foreign orders, and bearing the title of "Councillor of Construction," was engaged to modernize the mediaeval edifice without sacrificing its terrifying aspect.