Part 21 (1/2)

”I should not be quite sure of that,” he said. ”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.”

”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. ”Frankly, I think he is very much in love with you, Madame,” he said. ”So by that you can guess what would be any man's game.”

”You have a vivid imagination, and are talking perfect nonsense.”

Tamara laughed nervously. ”I refuse to be the least upset by such ideas!”

At the moment up came Count Boris Varishkine, and after a while she went off with him to a sofa by the window, and there was seated in deep converse when the Prince came in.

He looked at them for a second and then made straight for the Princess Ardacheff, who was just about to arrange her rubber of bridge.

”Tantine, I want to talk to you,” he said.

And the Princess at once left the cardroom and returned with him. They found a quiet corner opposite Tamara and her Garde, and there sat down.

”Tantine, I brought you here to look over there.--What does that mean?”

The Princess put up her gla.s.ses to gain time.

”Nothing, dear boy. Tamara is merely amusing herself like all the rest of us at a party. Are you jealous, Gritzko?” she asked.

He looked at her sharply, and for a moment unconsciously fingered the dagger in his belt.

”Yes, I believe I am jealous. I am not at all sure that I do not love your charming friend,” he said.

”Well, why don't you marry her then?” suggested the Princess.

”Perhaps I shall--if she does not drive me to doing something mad first. I don't know what I intend. It may be to go off to the Caucasus, or to stay and make her love me so deeply that she will forgive me--no matter what I do.”

He paused a moment, and his great eyes filled with mist, and then the wild light grew.

”If ever she becomes my Princess, she shall be entirely for me. I will not let her have a look or thought for any other man. All must be mine--unshared, and then she shall be my queen.”

Princess Ardacheff leant back and looked at him. He was in his blue uniform with the scarlet underdress; and even she--old woman and fond friend--could not help picturing the gorgeous joy such a fate would give--to have him for a lover! to see his fierce, proud head bent in devotion, to feel his tender caress. Tamara must be an unutterable fool if she should hesitate.

But what he had said was not rea.s.suring in its prospect of calm. She felt she must put in some small word of admonition.

”You will be careful won't you, Gritzko?” she ventured to suggest.

”Remember, Tamara is an Englishwoman, and not accustomed to your ways.”

”It will depend upon herself,” he said. ”If she goes on teasing me I do not know what I shall do. If she does not--”

”You will be good?”

”Possibly. But one thing, Tantine, I will not be interfered with either by her friend the Englishman or Boris Varishkine.”