Part 11 (1/2)
He came up behind her and sat down and began to talk nicely again--about the sights to be seen in the capital, and the interesting museums and collections of pictures and arms. Nothing could be more correct than his manner, and the bridge players who were within earshot smiled, while Countess Olga thought.
”Either Gritzko has just been making love to the Englishwoman, or he is immensely bored--The latter from his face.”
CHAPTER VIII
The company stopped their game about a quarter to twelve, and tables and champagne and gla.s.ses were brought in, and hand in hand they made a circle and drank in the New Year.
Tamara took care to stand by Princess Ardacheff, but her host looked at her as he raised his gla.s.s. Then they descended to the hall, and were wrapped in their furs again to go to the cafe where the Bohemians were to sing.
Tamara and the Princess were already in the latter's coupe when Prince Milaslavski 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.
They had to sit very close, and Tamara became incensed with herself, because in spite of all her late rage with the Prince, she experienced a sensation which was disturbing and unknown. The magnetic personality of the man was so strong. He bent and whispered something to the Princess, and then as though sharing a secret, he leaned the other way, and whispered to Tamara, too. The words were nothing, only some ordinary nonsense, of which she took no heed. But as he spoke his lips touched her ear. A wild thrill ran through her, she almost trembled, so violent was the emotion the little seemingly accidental caress caused.
A feeling she had never realized in the whole of her life before. Why did he tease her so. Why did he always behave in this maddening manner!
and choose moments when she was defenseless and could make no move. Of one thing she was certain, if she should stay on in Russia she must come to some understanding with him if possible, and prevent any more of these ways--absolutely insulting to her self-respect.
So she shrunk back in her corner and gave no reply.
”Are you angry with me?” he whispered. ”It was the shaking of the automobile which caused me to come too near you. Forgive me, I will try not to sin again,”--but as he spoke he repeated his offense!
Tamara clasped her hands together, tightly, and answered in the coldest voice--
”I did not notice anything, Prince, it must be a guilty conscience which causes you to apologize.”
”In that case then all is well!” and he laughed softly.
The Princess now joined in the conversation.
”Gritzko, you must tell Mrs. Loraine how these gipsies are, and what she will hear--she will think it otherwise so strange.”
He turned to Tamara at once.
”They are a queer people who dwell in a clan. They sing like the fiend--one hates it or loves it, but it gets on the nerves, and if a man should fancy one of them, he must pay the chief, not the girl. Then they are faithful and money won't tempt them away. But if the man makes them jealous, they run a knife into his back.”
”It sounds exciting at all events,” Tamara said.
”It is an acquired taste, and if you have a particularly sensitive ear the music will make you feel inclined to scream. It drives me mad.”
”Gritzko,” the Princess whispered to him. ”You promise to be _sage_, dear boy, do you not? Sometimes you alarm me when you go too far.”
”Tantine!” and he kissed her hand. ”Your words are law!”
”Alas! if that were only true,” she said with a sigh.
”Tonight all shall be suited to the eleven thousand virgins!” and he laughed. ”Or shall I say suited to an English _grande dame_--which is the same!”
They had crossed the Neva by now, and presently arrived at a building with a gloomy looking door, and so to a dingy hall, in which a few waiters were scurrying about. They seemed to go through endless shabby pa.s.sages, like those of a lunatic asylum, and finally arrived at a large and empty room--empty so far as people were concerned--for at the end there were sofas and a long narrow table, and a few smaller ones with chairs.