Explore "The Bird of Paradise" by E. Phillips Oppenheim on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The Baron de Brett was ushered at once on to the fine broad terrace of the _château_, where he was received in friendly and flattering fashion. It seemed in every way to be a fortuitous visit. The Marquise was enchanted to meet again her old admirer, and the young people, who had just trooped in from bathing, were duly impressed by the presence in their midst of one of the prominent figures in world finance. The Marquis, a tall and dignified personage, who had at one time been a senator, greeted his visitor with especial cordiality.
"I could scarcely believe it when I heard that you were in these parts," he said. "If I had not known that you were in the company of a very distinguished man who prefers always to spend his vacation in solitude I should have ventured to pay my respects."