She knew nothing of the English customs, nor how such a thing as the arrangement of this marriage, as she thought it was, was a perfectly unknown impossibility, as an idea.  She supposed that the entire family were aware of the circumstances, and were willing to accept her only for her uncle’s wealth—­she already hated and despised them all.  Her idea was, “noblesse oblige,” and that a great and ancient house should never stoop to such depths.

Francis Markrute looked at her when she said, “I suppose we shall have to go down,” with that icy calm.  He felt faintly uneasy.

“Zara, it is understood you will be gracious? and brusquer no one?”

But all the reply he received was a glance of scorn.  She had given her word and refused to discuss that matter.

And so they descended the stairs just in time to be standing ready to receive Lord and Lady Coltshurst who were the first to be announced.  He was a spare, unintelligent, henpecked, elderly man, and she, a stout, forbidding-looking lady.  She had prominent, shortsighted eyes, and she used longhandled glasses; she had also three chins, and did not resemble the Guiscards in any way, except for her mouth and her haughty bearing.

Zara’s manner was that of an empress graciously receiving foreigners in a private audience!

The guests now arrived in quick succession.  Lord Charles and his son, “Young Billy,” then Tristram and his sisters, and Jimmy Danvers, and, lastly, the Duke and Lady Ethelrida.

They were all such citizens of the world there was no awkwardness, and the old Duke had kissed his fair, prospective niece’s hand when he had been presented, and had said that some day he should claim the privilege of an old man and kiss her cheek.  And Zara had smiled for an instant, overcome by his charm, and so she had put her fingers on his arm, and they had gone down to dinner; and now they were talking suavely.

Francis Markrute had a theory that certain human beings are born with moral antennae—­a sort of extra combination beyond the natural of the senses of sight, smell, hearing and understanding—­which made them apprehend situations and people even when these chanced to be of a hitherto unknown race or habit.  Zara was among those whose antennae were highly developed.  She had apprehended almost instantaneously that whatever their motives were underneath, her future husband’s family were going to act the part of receiving her for herself.  It was a little ridiculous, but very well bred, and she must fall in with it when with them collectively like this.

Before they had finished the soup the Duke was saying to himself that she was the most attractive creature he had ever met in his life, and no wonder Tristram was mad about her; for Tristram’s passionate admiration to-night could not have been mistaken by a child!

And yet Zara had never smiled, but that once—­in the drawing-room.