"She had been detained," she said, "by the Contessa Maraviglia for the letter which she brought back to Mr. Mole."
The letter was an invitation to a grand ball which was to be given by the contessa at the Palazzo Maraviglia, and to which the Harkaways were going.
Dick Harvey had been at work in this business, and had made the contessa believe indirectly that Mr. Mole was a most graceful dancer, and that it would be an eternal shame for a bal masqué to take place in the neighbourhood without being graced by his—Mole's—presence.
The result was that during lunch Mr. Mole received from the maid the following singular effusion.
"Al Illustrissimo Signor Mole," which, being translated, means, "To the illustrious Mr. Mole."
"Hullo!" said the tutor, looking around him and dropping his eye on Dick, "who is this from?"
"From the Contessa Maraviglia," replied the girl.
Mr. Mole gave her a piercing glance.
The contessa's letter was a sort of puzzle to poor old Mole.
"The Contessa Maraviglia begs the honour of the Signor Mole's company on the 16th instant. She can accept no refusal, as the fête is especially organised in honour of Signor Mole, whose rare excellence in the poetry of motion has elevated dancing into an art."