The room was very large with diversions and compartments making different little établissements. In one corner plants and flowers were grouped as in a conservatory and another was railed off with rosewood and coloured glass for writing.
There were sofas and seats of all shapes and books, which Alida noticed were in every language. One corner was fascinatingly reserved for pictures and miniatures. And everywhere there were flowers.
The room was very warm and the warmth seemed to carry an exotic fragrance on the air so that everything was permeated with it.
The Countess was relating their adventures in the North Sea and describing the storm that had kept them all in their cabins, when the door opened and a man walked in.
Alida realised, even before the Grand Duchess rose to greet him, th
