"So," thought Lucretia, "I have a clock!" and she bounded off to the drawing-room to see it. Marietta followed with the chocolate, which, in the excitement of the moment, had been forgotten.
"True," said the countess. "bring me my breakfast, and let me take it here in this beautiful apartment. Who is that at the door?" added she, as Marietta went forward to open it.
"Your ladyship's butler," replied she. "He comes to know whether the dejeuner a la fourchette is to be served in the boudoir or in the banqueting-hall."
"Let it be in the banqueting-hall, for I may have several guests."
"The steward ordered it for one o'clock, my lady. He said that you expected some guests of distinction."
"My steward?" repeated Lucretia, smiling. "So it seems that I have an entire household. Let us go over our altered domains, Marietta." And the two went from room to room, the femme de chambre as delighted as her mistress, until they descended as far as the kitchen. Here every thing gave evidence that the dejeuner was to be a rare one. Two cooks, in white, presided over the arrangements, and two scullions were busy carrying out the orders of the chief. They were so absorbed in their business, that they did not perceive the countess who stood in the door.
Presently from the storeroom opposite there emerged a man with baskets of bottles, which he deposited on the table, saying:
"Here is Burgundy for the Bayonne ham. The champagne, sherry, and constantia, are for the table."
The countess had now seen and heard enough. Not only was her palace fitted up, but her kitchen was in order, and her wine-cellar filled. So she returned to the drawing-room, where she was met with the tidings that her boudoir was ready for occupation, and nothing now remained to be done, unless her ladyship had any alterations to suggest, or deficiencies to point out.
Her ladyship professed herself satisfied, and then came a moment of embarrassment. "As regards the payment—"