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But I was quite ready for them, and if they had any suspicions I hope they abandoned them for the present. After dinner a resplendent footman brought a message to Grodwitz, who thereupon told me that he was to conduct me to his Highness, who would receive me now. "Say, what shall I have to do?" I asked confidentially as we passed along a magnificent corridor.
That hand at bridge lasted till long past midnight, and I only got away at last on the plea that I was dead tired after my two days' ride. "Tired or not, you play a good hand, mon ami!" Grodwitz declared. We had been partners, and had won all before us. "They shall have their revenge in good time," I said, stifling a yawn. "Bonsoir, messieurs."
"He is discreet, that Mishka," said Grodwitz, and drew himself up stiffly as the footman, who had preceded us, threw open a door, and ushered us into the Duke's presence.
I gathered from Grodwitz and others that they managed to enliven their exile with plenty of flirtations, and squabbles. On this evening the Countess Stravensky was holding a reception in her apartments, with dancing and music; and all my usual after-dinner companions were attending it. "Better come, mon ami," urged Grodwitz. "You are not invited?
"I don't quite understand you, Colonel Grodwitz," I said quietly, looking at him very straight. "If you think I'm in the habit of gossiping with Mishka Pavloff or any other servant here, you're very much mistaken." "A thousand pardons, my dear fellow; I was merely joking," he assured me; but I guessed he had made one more attempt to "draw" me, the last.
During the first day or two Grodwitz or one of the other officers always accompanied me, ostensibly as an act of courtesy towards a stranger, really, as I well understood, to watch me; and therefore I was fully on my guard.
To-night I shall return as I said; and now au revoir." He left just in time, for a minute or two after I had unlocked the door, Nicolai reappeared, and conducted me to an ante-room where I found quite a throng of officers, one of whom introduced himself as Colonel Grodwitz, and presented me to several of the others.
"Well, that's all right," I said with a sigh of relief, when Grodwitz and I were back in the corridor again. "But there doesn't seem to be much of the peasant about him!" "I was but jesting, mon ami," Grodwitz assured me. "But now your ordeal is over. You will take a hand at bridge, hein?"
He was standing before a great open fireplace in which a log fire crackled cheerily, and beside him was the little fat officer I had seen him with before; while there were several others present, all ceremoniously standing, and looking more or less bored. Our interview was brief and formal; but I noted that the fat officer and Grodwitz were keenly observant of all that passed.
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