There was Prince Rudolph Liechtenstein, whom Gisela had already met, two brothers, Count Hans and Count Heinrick Larisch, the Baron Orczy, beside two other gentlemen whose names Gisela could not catch and two Ladies-in-Waiting, the Countess Festetics and the Countess Sztáray.
“And now that you all know each other,” the Empress said, “I have a surprise for you. Someone has arrived tonight who was not expected until tomorrow. He warned me that he might be late for dinner and that we may have to wait a few moments for him.”
The Empress’s face was alight as she spoke and then, as she glanced towards the door, she added with a little cry of delight,
“But he is here! Oh, Bay, how quick you have been!”
The man advanced across the room and Gisela looked with interest and realised that this mus
