"
The confident, almost respectful, tone in which she spoke arrested
her ladyship's attention. It promptly sent her off at a tangent:
"You like Ned, don't you, dear?"
"I think everybody likes him." Sylvia's voice was now studiously
cold.
"Yes; but I don't mean quite in that way." And then before the
subject could be further pursued the carriage rolled to a standstill
in a flood of light from gaping portals, scattering a mob of curious
sight-seers intersprinkled with chairmen, footmen, linkmen and all
the valetaille that hovers about the functions of the great world.
The carriage door was flung open and the steps let down. A brace
of footmen, plump as capons, in gorgeous liveries, bowed powdered
heads and proffered scarlet arms to assist the ladies to alight.
Above in the crowded, spacious, colonnaded vestibule at the foot of
the great staircase they were met-by Captain Tremayne, who had just
arrived with Major Carruthers, both resplendent in full dress, and
Captain Marcus Glennie of the Telemachus in blue and gold. "Together
they ascended the great staircase, lined with chatting groups, and
ablaze with uniforms, military, naval and diplomatic, British and
Portuguese, to be welcomed above by the Count and Countess of
Redondo.
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