United States or Seychelles ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Freule Menela van der Windt is not pretty; but without her pince-nez, she looked almost piquant in the pink lights and blue shadows which laced our features as we passed, for which I was devoutly thankful, as it made my task comparatively easy. I found her softer, more feminine, more sympathetic, than she had been in the hotel. She would, she said, like to see America; and that gave me my chance.
The famous Pink Ball at the Casino was for the 23d, and she wanted to have her party the night before, so that everybody would be worn out, and the ball would fall flat. "But we've got our cards all right now," said Potter. "Why do you want to queer the show?" "I intend to show Mrs. Van der Windt what I can do," she answered.
And you let us dub you 'bonhomme nouveau'! Grand Diable, Ivan Mikhailovitch, had you had the choice of Petersburg, you could not have selected a better lanceuse than Countess Caroline! On my word, your saint favors you!" And Ivan, who shrugged away the whole affair, found Monsieur de Windt perfectly right.
Vladimir de Windt, Ivan's acknowledged chum, was doubly concerned and doubly restless. He shuffled his chair from group to group, his eyes asking anxious and unanswerable questions of each comrade with whom he discussed the state of the weather. And, indeed, the great doubt in his mind was echoed in that of every man present: what would be the outcome of Ivan's audacity?
De Windt shook his head, but forbore to utter his incredulity. Presently he said: "You'll see her, of course. And you'll want me to be getting out of here. I can sleep with Deroiev, easily." "Thanks, Vladimir. But, by the way, you'll that is, I'd prefer, my good friend, that you should say nothing at all of this incident. I'll let you know, in the morning, the result of the interview.
I stifled the pang which I could not help feeling at the thought that he should have either, and in a low voice asked Freule Menela van der Windt if I might be her cavalier, in order to continue our very interesting argument? I had already forgotten what the last one was about; but that was a detail. Had she been a little less well-bred, I think she would have bridled.
De Windt had certainly not foreseen the effect of his involuntary act. At the gesture, Ivan started, as if he had been shot. Then he drew himself away, violently, and sprang to his feet, turning on his friend: "Don't! My God! Are you going to show me your pity? Me? A Gregoriev? Humph!" He broke into an abominable little laugh. "They didn't give me much, Vladimir Vassilyitch!
The Grand-Duchess Helena, with both Rubinsteins in her train, had gone to Baden-Baden to drink the waters and listen to half a dozen summer concerts which the brothers were to conduct. Lastly, two young officers, Ivan and de Windt, were closing their snug apartment, and preparing kits suitable for tent accommodation.
By the time he had reached twenty-five, his inbred pessimism was so deeply rooted within him, that mankind, always interesting and to be studied as a theme, was to be fenced with, and generally avoided as a living entity. He rose in his time, did Vladimir de Windt, to be the Premier of Russia.
But, as the ladies said good-night to us at the foot of the stairs, Freule van der Windt contrived to whisper, as she slipped her hand into mine "For better for worse, I've taken your advice, Mr. Starr. I am absolutely free." "How did you manage it?" I heard myself asking. "Robert insisted on living in Rotterdam.
Word Of The Day