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probably applied to the Lord Chamberlain.
    Before Anton could reply, she continued,
    â€œAnd you must, of course, tell these gentlemen that I have also brought Count von Hoffmannstall with me as my second aide-de-camp besides Pieter Seitz whom I think you met when you were staying with us.”
    She paused a moment.
    â€œThe Count is the youngest son of one of the most important grandees at the Palace in Vienna and I feel sure that His Royal Highness Prince Majmir will be delighted to meet him.”
    By this time they had stepped into the inn where the proprietor was bowing almost to the ground.
    â€œLuncheon be ready for Your Royal Highness,” he said. “And I hope very much it’ll be to your liking.”
    â€œI am sure it will be. We will be three for luncheon and will you see to it that there is a meal for my Escort and for my lady’s maid who is in the carriage just behind us.”
    â€œIt’ll be seen to, Your Royal Highness,” agreed the proprietor bowing even lower than before.
    They went in to luncheon.
    Zoleka found that it was an adequate but dull meal.
    Champagne had not been ordered for them.
    Her father would always arrange for champagne to be served whenever he greeted anyone of significance on the borders of Opava.
    Anton now held a whispered conversation with the proprietor.
    Zoleka guessed it was to reassure him that he would be paid for the additional guests, but that he did not have enough money with him.
    â€˜No one,’ she pondered with a glint of satisfaction, ‘at the Krnov Palace will have expected me to arrive with such a retinue.’
    She was only hoping they would be as astonished as Anton was.
    As she sat down to luncheon with her two aides-decamp , she knew they were as amused at the situation as she was herself.
    â€œPoor young Bauer will be hungry,” smiled Pieter, “as you sent him off without his luncheon.”
    â€œCan you imagine my Papa treating any guest when they arrived in Opava in the way we have been? It is not Anton’s fault of course, but it is the Prime Minister who should know better.”
    â€œI heard they had all become lazy and neglectful of protocol in Krnov,” remarked Pieter. “But I think you can be sure now they will be on the doorstep when Your Royal Highness arrives!”
    The Count too thought that this was a good joke.
    He told Zoleka stories of how he and his father had been received in different countries.
    â€œWhen I was travelling for several months after I left University,” he recounted, “things were very different. I did not use my title as I wanted to see how the ordinary people behaved and I believe it was a good experience.”
    â€œOf course it was,” agreed Zoleka, “and I admire you very much for doing it. You will find it a great help in the future if you are going into the Diplomatic Service.”
    â€œThat is what I may do,” the Count replied, “but my father has such extensive possessions all over Austria that at present, as he is not in such good health, I find myself running from one to the other to make sure everything is in order as he would wish it to be.”
    He spoke in a manner that told Zoleka he enjoyed being in control and having people obeying him.
    She thought, as she had before, that he would be of great assistance to her and also that what they were going to experience shortly in Krnov would be of considerable help to him in the future.
    They did not hurry over their luncheon.
    When eventually they drove off again, the sun was shining.
    The part of the country they were now entering was more attractive than the borderland, but here too, however, the people looked poor and badly dressed.
    The houses were not well built and a great number of them were in need of repair and they passed through several small towns that did not seem at all prosperous.
    Once again Zoleka was thinking how stupid it was of Prince Majmir not to develop