Monte Fato bowed, and Réginard instructed his valet to notify M. and Mme. de Pérégrin of the imminent arrival of the Count of Monte Fato.
Arriving in the Count de Pérégrin's antechamber, Monte Fato saw an escutcheon over the doorway, which, by its harmony with the rest of the room and its enormous size, indicated the importance the proprietor of the hotel attributed to this blazon.
"A red eye and a white tree on a black background - is this the escutcheon of your family, monsieur?" inquired the Count. "I ask as I am highly ignorant in matters of heraldry, being Count by hazard, and who might have done without the title were it not an absolutely necessary thing when travelling, if only because the bondiers, wizard's pupils, and riders of Rohan leave you in peace if you have a coat-of-arms affixed to your eagle-carriage."
"The question is not in the least indiscreet, my dear Count," said the Viscount. "It is indeed our escutcheon, and it combines the white cedar of my mother's family with the red eye of my father's, which is one of the oldest houses in the Farthing-Midi."
