Her word was law in the household; her mother-in-law a mere cypher, who found both husband and wife perpetually leagued against her.

Just as he was sealing it, a note was brought to him by his servanta slender, narrow, perfumed note, written on creamy paper, and adorned on the envelope with an elaborate cypher in gold and colors.

These consist either of flowery initials, grotesque cyphers, portraits, or even historical compositions.