“That is what I thought,” the Duchesse replied.
She moved across the hall and the Manager hurried ahead to open the outer door for her.
The girl followed and she was wondering if the Duchesse really intended her to travel in her carriage or perhaps she had misunderstood what the lady had said.
The carriage was an open one and the horses looked fat and well fed.
There was a smart coachman and a footman on the box.
A porter, wearing the livery of The Grand Hotel, opened the carriage door and helped the Duchesse inside.
She seated herself on the back seat and he covered her knees with a light rug.
Then, as the girl hesitated, the Manager said sharply,
“Go on, girl, get in and sit opposite Madame!”
She obeyed instantly him, looking small and rather frightened as she did so.
“Do you r
