Page:Robert Barr - Lord Stranleigh Philanthropist.djvu/303

. The lady's social status was beyond question, and her wealth estimated in large figures. The oddness of her application was mitigated by the fact that she distrusted her father's legal advisers, and had sought counsel of the Austrian Ambassador, who, years before, had been her father's friend. The Ambassador himself was not a rich man, and he felt that any advice he might give on a subject other than international politics would be valueless. It was his suggestion, therefore, and not the lady's, that brought Lord Stranleigh into consideration. So Blake duly delivered the letter making an appointment, and Stranleigh admitted that his doubts had vanished.

The young nobleman was alone when the Baroness von Arrenfels was announced. She entered his drawing-room accompanied by an aged but very aristocratic Englishwoman, who had probably seen better days, and was now acting as her ladyship's duenna. The girl was tall, and possessed a superb figure; even Stranleigh admitted to himself that she was more than ordinarily beautiful, distinguished by that patrician bearing which seems to be the birthright of the Viennese woman. The Baroness spoke English with a delicate, chaste perfection that was admirable, qualified by a slight