When we returned to the palace after the scene on the La Meilleraie bridge she said not a word to me. We had our breakfast together, then she began to arrange large purple iris and white nigella in vases.
About ten o'clock she summoned one of her waiting women.
"Is Mademoiselle Marthe there?" she asked. Receiving an affirmative reply the said:
"Show her in."
Mlle. Marthe came every year about this time to show the Grand Duchess the last word in novelties from Paris. A delicate suggestion of the Boulevard de la Madeleine seemed to enter with this good-looking, dainty girl.
"Have you had a pleasant journey, child?" asked Aurora.
"I arrived last evening, madame," replied the girl. "Please excuse me for intruding on your Highness so soon, but I have to go back this evening."
"What have you got for me this year?"
Mlle. Marthe opened her boxes and revealed dainty jewellery, tulle fans, vanity bags in velvet and moiré, diminutive stamp boxes, powder boxes, patch-boxes—those Parisian fallals which make all others look cheap.
"Leave me these," said Aurora. "Tell Duvelleroy it will be all right. In November I shall want a Watteau fan, or at any rate a Lancret. It must be ready when I arrive in Paris."