Even though a messenger has come to the entrance, the troublesome part is that one cannot simply stand and talk at the entrance.
I descend the stairs from the private room on the second floor, glance sideways at the face of the messenger at the entrance while pretending not to notice, and enter the reception room. Then I must wait for the messenger to enter — that is the procedure one must follow, it seems. The messenger also appears to understand that; although I think my movement entered his field of vision, he is pretending not to look (I think). Does that mean that even if I appeared completely naked before the messenger he would pretend not to notice?
Incidentally, if the Duchess herself had come, I myself would have to stand before the entrance, open the carriage door, take the Duchess's hand, and so on — extremely troublesome procedures would be required, and for me who was raised in the depths of the Rear Palace these are all things I have never experienced.
