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But just at that moment, with an air of exasperating insouciant insolence, he came into the room and began chaffing with Valonne, and turning to her said something which set her wounded pride again all aflame, and burning with impotence and indignation she, as the strange guest, put her hand on his arm to go in to dinner. Zacouska was partaken of, and then the serious repast began.
"You should see my sister-in-law's place!" One bridge table was made up already when they got back to the saloon, and Sonia, Serge Grekoff and Valonne, only waited the Princess' advent to begin their game. It seemed to be an understood thing that Gritzko and his English guest should be left out, and so practically alone.
"It is the limitless nature warring against an impossible bar. If he were an Englishman he would soar to be one of the greatest of your country, Madame," Valonne said. "You have not perhaps talked to him seriously; he is extraordinarily well read; and then on some point that we of the Occident have known as children, he will be completely ignorant, but he never bores one!
"Look at that cabinet, and the sofa, and and that picture! One cannot help reflecting upon what caused those holes. One's imagination can conjure up extraordinary things." "Not more extraordinary than the probable facts," and Valonne laughed as if at some astonishing recollection. "You have not yet seen our host's own rooms though, I expect?" "Why?" asked Tamara.
"If you really go to England I think he will follow you, Madame," he said. "How ridiculous!" and Tamara laughed. "How can it make a difference to him whether I go or no? We do not exist for one another," and she fanned herself rather rapidly, while Valonne smiled a fine smile. "I should not be quite sure of that," he said.
"May I come in, Stephen?" he asked. "I heard you were all here, Serge saw you. I have just arrived from Tsarsköi, and must eat." And of course he was warmly welcomed and pressed to take a seat, while Valonne chaffed him in an undertone about the joys he had precipitately left. Tamara's face was the picture of disdain. But the Prince sat beside her godmother, apparently unconcerned.
"If I might predict, I should say you will be lucky if you get away from here without being the cause of a duel of some sort." "A duel!" Tamara was startled. "How dreadful, and how silly! But why? I thought dueling had quite gone out in all civilized countries; and in any case, why fight about me? And who should fight? Surely you are only teasing me, Count Valonne."
But this idea was laughed to scorn, until Valonne joined in with his understanding smile. "I will make you a bet," he said; "in five years' time they will still be love-birds. She will be the only one among this party who won't have been divorced and have moved on to another husband." "You horribly spiteful cat!" Princess Sonia laughed. "But I am sure we all hope they will be happy."
"Duels are real facts here, I am afraid," he said. "Gritzko has already engaged in two of them. He is not quarrelsome, but just never permits any one to cross his wishes or interfere with his game." "But what is his game? You speak as though it were some kind of cards or plot. What do you mean?" and Tamara, with heightened color, lifted her head. "The game of Gritzko?" and Count Valonne laughed.
"Valonne said they were both hit in the first round, and all the company burst into the room. Nothing seemed very serious, and they laughed and shook hands.
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