Contessa Martinelli

In the novel At Bertram's Hotel, Contessa Martinelli is the principal of a finishing school in Italy which Elvira Blake and her friend Bridget had been attending just before the events in the plot.

According to Elvira, the school had about 18 to 20 students. The Contessa was very strict but this did not prevent the students like Elivra and Bridget getting their own way by pulling all kinds of pranks and tricks. The Contessa was also referred to as "Old Macaroni" by the girls.