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Updated: May 31, 2025
She tore open the letter, read it, and stood holding it in her hand, looking out over the trackless pine-woods with absorbed, speculative eyes. The sun had just set. The farthest ridge of pine-trees stood out like the teeth of a saw in black relief on the rosy sky. Catrina Lanovitch watched the rosiness fade into pearly gray.
Catrina came forward, standing over Maggie, looking down at her with eyes full of antagonism. "Excuse me. I saw her understand a remark I made to one of the servants. She was not careful. I saw it distinctly." "I think you must be mistaken," answered Maggie quietly. "She has been in Russia before for a few weeks; but she did not learn the language. She told me so herself.
He opened the breech and looked into the barrels. They were clean; the rifle had not been fired off. He gave a little laugh of contempt, and, throwing the rifle at De Chauxville's feet, turned abruptly away. It was Catrina who spoke. "If you had killed him," she said, "I would have killed you!" Steinmetz picked up the rifle, closed the breech, and handed it to De Chauxville with a queer smile.
Having achieved his purpose, he did not now propose to convey the impression that he admired Catrina. In a few moments the girl appeared, drawing on her fur gloves. Before the door was opened the countess discreetly retired to the enervating warmth of her own apartments.
"May I go in?" Steinmetz did not move. "I think not. This Moscow man is eccentric. He likes to do good sub rosa. He prefers to be alone." Catrina tried to look into the cottage; but Karl Steinmetz, as we know, was fat, and filled up the whole door-way. "I should like to thank him for coming to us, or, at least, to offer him hospitality. I suppose one cannot pay him."
He presently left Steinmetz and the prince engaged in a controversy with the countess as to a meeting-place at the luncheon-hour. Maggie and Catrina were at the piano. Etta was looking at a book of photographs. "A charming house, princess," said De Chauxville, in a voice that all could hear while the music happened to be soft. But Catrina's music was more remarkable for strength than for softness.
"Then you will make an enemy of her," said Steinmetz quietly. "It may be inconvenient, but that cannot be helped. A woman scorned you know. Shakspere or the Bible, I always mix them up. No, Paul; Catrina Lanovitch is a dangerous enemy. She has been making love to you these last four years, and you would have seen it if you had not been a fool!
"Why did you come here?" asked Catrina suddenly. De Chauxville seemed to awake from a revery. He turned and looked at her in assumed surprise. They were on the high-road now, where the snow was beaten down, so conversation was easy. "But to see you, mademoiselle." "I am not that sort of girl," answered Catrina coldly. "I want the truth." De Chauxville gave a short laugh and looked at her.
Steinmetz shrugged his shoulders with a commiserating smile. He took the countess's troubles indifferently, as do the rest of us when our neighbor's burden does not drag upon our own shoulders. It suited him that Catrina should be in Petersburg, and it is to be feared that the feelings of the Countess Lanovitch had no weight as against the convenience of Karl Steinmetz.
With a twist she wrenched herself free and went into the dimly lighted room. Almost immediately she gave a mocking laugh. "Paul!" she said. For a moment there was silence in the hovel, broken only by the wail of the dying man in the corner. Paul and Catrina faced each other she white and suddenly breathless, he half frowning. But he did not meet her eyes.
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