Part 16 (1/2)

They werethe hill behind which lay the fashi+onable quarter of Kieff with its great stone palaces, its wonderful cherry gardens and broad avenues

”I like old Kensky,” she went on; ”he soreatest merchant in Little Russia He even tells hter: you have heard about her?”

”I thought she was rather good,” said Malcoled her shoulders Evidently her Grand Ducal Highness had no great opinion of Sophia Kensky's conversion

The Grand Ducal palace was built in the Byzantine style and presented, froe drive that led from the road, a confusion of roofs, s and bastions, as though the designer had left the working out of his plan to fifty different architects, and each architect had interpreted the scheme of construction in his oay

The Grand Duke was standing in the portico as they went through the gate, and ca ht and wore pince-nez Malcolhness he had been disappointed in his lack of personal grandeur

”My child, irl with outstretched arms ”What a terrible misfortune! How came you to be mixed up in this matter? The comnation By St Inokeste, I will not have the rabble breathing upon you! And this is the good gentleman who came to your rescue?”

He surveyed Malcollance and intonation lacked the cordiality which his words irateful to you You understand they would not have harmed the Grand duchess, but this you could not know As for the Jew----”

He becahtful He had the air of a hts and who now ereatest protest To Malcolm it see his thoughts to his own daughter

”I ahness,” said Malcolm correctly

”Yes, yes, yes,” interrupted the Grand Duke nervously, ”but you will stay and breakfast with me? Come, I insist, Mr--er--er----”

”Mr Hay, father,” said the girl

The conversation throughout was carried on in English, which was not ree of the Court

”Yes, yes, yes, Mr Hay, you ood, very noble, I aentleman”

He held out his hand jerkily and Malcolm took it with a bow

Then without another word or even so hter, the Grand Duke turned and hurried back into the palace, leaving Malcolirl saw his embarrassment

”My father does not seem to be very hospitable,” she sleaive you a warmer invitation”

He spread out his hands in mock dishness is very generous,” he said, ”but how can I come to the Grand Duke's table like this?”

”You will not see the Grand Duke,” she laughed; ”father gives these invitations but never accepts them himself! He breakfasts in his own rooed

He said nothing but looked much, and her eyes fell before his All the time he was conscious that red-haired Boolba stood stiffly behind him, a spectator, yet, as Malcolm felt, a participant in this small affair of the breakfast invitation She followed Malcolm's look and beckoned the man forward He had already surrendered the horses to an orderly

”Take the lord to a guest-room,” she said in Russian, ”and send a valet to attend to hiirl turned and walked into the house, followed at a more leisurely pace by Malcolm and the man with the crooked nose