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"I was only going to say that you not that you could not be like Gleboff but that you would have been more like " "I guess what you mean I should be an Osterman, not a Gleboff eh? Is that what you meant?" "What Osterman?" asked the prince in some surprise. "Why, Osterman the diplomatist. Peter's Osterman," muttered Hippolyte, confused. There was a moment's pause of mutual confusion.
"By Jove! this is the place for me!" and he proceeded to make violent love to Olga Gléboff, to who's side he remained persistently glued. And then the gayest repast began; nothing could have been more entertaining or full of wild entrain, and yet no one over-did it, or was vulgar or coarse.
It was long after five o'clock before it was all done, and they began to wrap up and say "Goodnight." And the troupe, bowing, went out to another engagement they had. "They sing all night and sleep in the day," Count Gléboff told Tamara, as they descended the stairs. "At this time of the year they never see daylight, only sometimes the dawn."
However, no one seemed to mind but herself, and they all stood laughing or sitting on the fender in the best of spirits. "I will bet you," said Olga Gléboff, in her attractive voice, "that Gritzko comes in with no apology, and that we shall none of us be able to drag from him where he has been!" As she spoke he entered the room.
"Having to take what partner falls to one's lot! No choice! My heavens! nothing would drag me. Whatever game I play in life, I will select my lady myself." "You are tiresome!" Countess Olga said. When they got to the station the Princess's coupé was waiting, as well as the Gléboff sleigh. "Good-bye, and a thousand thanks for taking me," Tamara said, and they waved as Countess Olga drove off.
And soon Tamara found herself seated on the middle sofa behind the long table, Count Gléboff on her right, and the French Secretary, Count Valonne, at her left, while beyond him was Princess Sonia, and near by all the rest. Their host stood up in front, a brimming glass in his hand.
And when they were all getting in, the Countess Gléboff said: "It is so terribly cold tonight, Gritzko. I am going to sit with my back to the horses, so as not to get the wind in my face."
And there sitting by Olga Gléboff, already perfectly at home, was Lord Courtray; and further down the Princess Ardácheff sat by Stephen Strong. "Gritzko we could not wait!" Countess Olga said. Then both the Englishmen got up and greeted Tamara. "Fancy seeing you here, Tamara! What a bit of luck!" Jack Courtray said.
The names were very difficult for Tamara to catch, especially as they all called each other by their petits noms all having been friends since babyhood, if not, as often was the case, related by ties of blood; but at last she began to know that "Olga" was the Countess Gléboff, and "Sonia," the Princess Solentzeff-Zasiekin both young, under thirty, and both attractive and quite sans gêne.
"I hope you are amusing yourself, dear child," her godmother said. "This is a Russian scene; you would not see it in any other land." And indeed Tamara was happy, in spite of her agitation and unrest. She sat down now with Olga Gléboff, and they watched the others while they took breath.
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