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Then they descended to the hall, and were wrapped in their furs again to go to the café where the Bohemians were to sing. Tamara and the Princess were already in the latter's coupé when Prince Milaslávski called out: "Tantine ! take me too I am slim and can sit between you, and I want to arrive soon, I have sent my motor on with Serge and Valonne." And without waiting he got in.
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.
She seemed unable to get near the Princess, she was always surrounded, and when at last she did come upon her in deep converse with Valonne. "Tamara, dear," she said, "you must be so dreadfully tired. Slip off to bed. They will go on until daylight," and there was something in her face which prevented any questions.
"I told you you would be lucky if you got away from here without some row of sorts, Madame," and Valonne smiled enigmatically. "What do you mean? Please tell me?" and Tamara turned pale. "I mean nothing; only I fancy you will only see one of them tonight; which it will be is still on the cards." A cold, sick feeling came over Tamara.
You may have noticed Sasha Basmanoff has no left thumb? He lost it last year on just such a night." "Oh! Marraine, how dreadful!" Tamara said. "It is perhaps not a very civilized game," the Princess continued, "but we are not discussing that, I am telling you what occurred. Well, from this point Valonne and the rest were eyewitnesses.
No one was down in the great saloon when Tamara and the Princess descended for dinner, but as they entered, Stephen Strong and Valonne came in from the opposite door and joined them near the stove, and Tamara and Valonne talked, while the other two wandered to a distant couch. "Have you ever been to any of these wonderful parties one hears have taken place, Count Valonne?" she asked.
"It was unfortunate, was it not?" Valonne went on, and he glanced at Tamara sideways. He guessed that she was interested in the Prince; but Valonne was a charming creature with an understanding eye, and in their set was in great request. He knew exactly the right thing to talk about to each different person, as a perfect diplomat should, and he was too tactful and sympathetic to tease poor Tamara.
Nothing he does makes one feel heavy like lead!" Tamara looked so interested, Valonne went on. "These servants down here absolutely idolize him; they have all been in the house since he or they were born. For them he can do no wrong.
"Tamara, you saw I talked last night with Valonne, and this morning I sent for Serge Grekoff, but he would not come, so I got Valonne again." She paused an instant. "I was extremely worried last night about Gritzko. I dare say you were not to blame, dear, but " "Please tell me, Marraine," and poor Tamara sat up and pushed her hair back.
She had a hard, determined face, and she was well dressed, and not too covered with jewels. "That is a celebrated lady," Count Valonne said. "You must look at her, Madame Loraine; she was one of the best dancers at the ballet, and last year she tried to commit suicide in a charmingly dramatic way at one of Gritzko's parties.
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