"Since I was here," answered Steinmetz.
The countess launched into a disquisition on the heinousness of marrying
any but a compatriot. The tone of her voice was sharp, and the volume of
her words almost amounted to invective. As Steinmetz was obviously not
listening, the lady imparted her views to the Baron de Chauxville.
Steinmetz waited for some time, then he turned slowly toward Catrina
without actually looking at her.
"It is dangerous," he said, "to stay in this warm room with your furs."
"Yes," she answered, rather faintly; "I will go and take them off."
Steinmetz held the door open for her, but he did not look at her.
CHAPTER XVI
THE THIN END
"But I confess I cannot understand why I should not be called the
Princess Alexis--there is nothing to be ashamed of in the title. I
presume you have a right to it?"
Etta looked up from her occupation of fixing a bracelet, with a little
glance of enquiry toward her husband.
They had been married a month. The honeymoon--a short one--had been
passed in the house of a friend, indeed a relation of Etta's own, a
Scotch peer who was not above lending a shooting-lodge in Scotland on
the tacit understanding that there should be some quid pro quo in the
future.
In answer Paul merely smiled, affectionately tolerant of her bright
sharpness of manner.
Pages:
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167