Well, Catrina says we must live in
Petersburg this winter, and--nous voila!"
Steinmetz shrugged his shoulders with a commiserating smile. He took the
countess's troubles indifferently, as do the rest of us when our
neighbor's burden does not drag upon our own shoulders. It suited him
that Catrina should be in Petersburg, and it is to be feared that the
feelings of the Countess Lanovitch had no weight as against the
convenience of Karl Steinmetz.
"Ah, well!" he said, "you must console yourself with the thought that
Petersburg is the brighter for some of us. Who is this--another
visitor?"
The door was thrown open, and Claude de Chauxville walked into the room
with the easy grace which was his.
"Mme. la Comtesse," he said, bowing over her hand.
Then he stood upright, and the two men smiled grimly at each other.
Steinmetz had thought that De Chauxville was in London. The Frenchman
counted on the other's duties to retain him in Osterno.
"Pleasure!" said De Chauxville, shaking hands.
"It is mine," answered Steinmetz.
The countess looked from one to the other with a smile on her foolish
face.
"Ah!" she exclaimed; "how pleasant it is to meet old friends! It is like
by-gone times."
At this moment the door opened again and Catrina came in. In her rich
furs she looked almost pretty.
She shook hands eagerly with Steinmetz; her deep eyes searched his face
with a singular, breathless scrutiny.
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