Her rare beauty, her unstudied pose, her slender elegance, the quiet harmonies of her costume--each and all made their appeal.

He even waited for her reply, compelling it by some subtle transference of the knowledge that he would not endeavor to browbeat or misunderstand her.
"I have heard your name, but may I ask why you are here ?" she said composedly.
It pleased him to find that he had not erred by underrating her intelligence.
"A very proper question, Lady Hermione," he said.

"I am a lawyer, fairly well known in New York, and your father has consulted me with reference to the marriage you have contracted to-night." "Since, as you say, the marriage has most certainly been contracted, the statement hardly explains your presence." He smiled, and Lord Valletort, who had not seen Otto Schmidt smile once during the past hour, discovered that he had not begun to appraise his new ally's qualities at their due worth.
"It is a legal habit to state events in their order," he replied suavely.

"But these are matters which we ought to discuss privately." "No, Marcelle, do not go," said Hermione, hiding her fear under an assumption of icy indifference, and checking the maid's movement in response to the lawyer's hint.

"Marcelle Leroux is fully in my confidence," she explained, "and you can say nothing which she may not listen to." "I am obliged to your ladyship, but I had to mention her presence," said Schmidt.