On the brink of embarking on a speech, George pulled himself up short.

“But it must be for another time,” he said. “Fortunately there is no hurry in your case. But the Countess, alas, is only a visitor to our shores.”

“She’s a Hungarian, isn’t she?” said Bundle, who was curious about the Countess.

“Yes. You have heard, no doubt, of the Young Hungarian party. The Countess is a leader in that party. A woman of great wealth, left a widow at an early age, she has devoted her money and her talents to the public service. She has especially devoted herself to the problem of infant mortality⁠—a terrible one under present conditions in Hungary. I⁠—Ah! here is Herr Eberhard.”