At Wilhelm'a ring the door was opened by Anne, who
made him a careless courtesy, but greeted her mistress respectfully.
Wilhelm was going to let Pilar precede him, but she said: "No, no;
you go first. It is a better omen."
Assembled in the hall they found Auguste, an old woman with a red
nose, and a man not in livery, who expressed their satisfaction at
their mistress' return, and complimented her on her improved
appearance, but were in reality chiefly engaged in taking stock of
Wilhelm while they did so. Pilar gave the man some direction in
Spanish, and then drew Wilhelm into the salon, which opened into the
hall.
"Welcome, a thousand times, to this house," she said, clasping him
in her arms; "and may your coming bring happiness to us both. I will
take off my things now, and say a word, to my servants, and be with
you again directly."
With that she hurried away, and Wilhelm found himself alone. He
looked about him. The salon was luxuriously, if, according to
Wilhelm's taste, somewhat gaudily furnished. The walls were draped
in yellow silk, the portieres, window-curtains, and gilt-backed
chairs being of the same brilliant hue, though its monotony was
fortunately broken by numerous oil paintings, forming, as it were,
dark islands in a sea of sulphur.
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