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Strauch, Dora; Brockmann, Walter / Satan came to Eden
(1936)
Chapter XXI: Hit and miss, pp. 211-227
Page 211
Chapter XXI: HIT AND MISS T HE GENERAL INVITATION TO THE "HACIENDA PARADISE," posted on the barrel at the bay, brought numerous vis- itors to the place. They would call at Friedo afterwards and tell us many a curious story of what they had ex- perienced there. Thus we learned that Lorenz was no longer cavalier-in-waiting; he had evidently been de- graded in rank, for he was now addressing the Baroness by her title, no longer as "darling," as when they had come to Friedo on that first day. This form of address was exacted of him only while visitors were present. Philippson was still given out as the husband, and Arends was the hired man. Callers at the "Hacienda Paradise" did not find the Baroness in the garden to receive them. Her men performed this office, took the names and went indoors to ask whether Madame would care to see the strangers. If she was so disposed, the visitors were then admitted to her presence. It was a kind of royal audience. The Baroness received reclining on a divan in riding dress-shirt, breeches, and high boots, and the riding-whip that never left her hand. The excessive condescension of her manner would have fitted the Empress of the World, not merely of the Galapagos; but for all this, most of the visitors came away charmed with her culti- vated manner and worldly graces, and looked upon her as an ec- centric denizen of the grand monde. As I have said, the Baroness was a truly superb actress. It happened now and then that she was caught by strangers in a less favorite r6le than that of the Circe of the islands. Once a party surprised her in the midst of a strenuous washing day. It was unusual for her to do any manner of work, but the inexperienced and clumsy hands of men are somewhat hard on fragile clothes and such, therefore it did happen from time to time that she did a little laundry. On this occasion, the visitors found a very dif- ferent Baroness, hot and disheveled, and, at least for a moment, furious at having been taken unawares. She may have retreated in scattered order, but when she emerged again she was splendidly mistress of the situation and herself. She could afford to treat the accident with humor, for a greater transformation between the 211
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