Miss Woods and Miss Arguello have accepted an invitation to spend a few days at the villa of the Baron and Baroness von Schilprecht--an hour or two from here." He lingered over the title with an odd mingling of impressiveness and inquiry, and glanced at Paul.

But Hathaway exhibiting neither emotion nor surprise at the mention of Yerba's name or the title of her host, he continued, "Miss Arguello, I suppose you know, is immensely admired: she has been, sir, the acknowledged belle of Strudle Bad." "I can readily believe it," said Paul, simply.
"And has taken the position--the position, sir, to which she is entitled." Without appearing to notice the slight challenge in Pendleton's tone, Paul returned, "I am glad to hear it.

The more particularly as, I believe, the Germans are great sticklers for position and pedigree." "You are right, sir--quite right: they are," said the colonel, proudly--"although"-- with a certain premeditated deliberation--"I have been credibly informed that the King can, in certain cases, if he chooses, supply--yes, sir--SUPPLY a favored person with ancestors--yes, sir, with ANCESTORS!" Paul cast a quick glance at his companion.
"Yes, sir--that is, we will say, in the case of a lady of inferior rank--or even birth, the King of these parts can, on her marriage with a nobleman--blank it all!--ennoble her father and mother, and their fathers and mothers, though they've been dead, or as good as dead, for years." "I am afraid that's a slight exaggeration of the rare custom of granting 'noble lands,' or estates that carry hereditary titles with them," said Paul, more emphatically, perhaps, than the occasion demanded.
"Fact, sir--George there knows it all," said Pendleton.

"He gets it from the other servants.

I don't speak the language, sir, but HE does.
Picked it up in a year." "I must compliment him on his fluency, certainly," said Paul, looking at George.
The old servant smiled, and not without a certain condescension.