"Then I may make it au revoir?" enquired De Chauxville, holding out a
frank hand.
"Au revoir," said Paul, "if you wish it."
And he turned to say good-by to Catrina.
As De Chauxville had arrived later than the other visitors, it was quite
natural that he should remain after they had left, and it may be safely
presumed that he took good care to pin the Countess Lanovitch down to
her rash invitation.
"Why is that man coming to Tver?" said Paul, rather gruffly, when Etta
and he were settled beneath the furs of the sleigh. "We do not want him
there."
"I expect," replied Etta rather petulantly, "that we shall be so
horribly dull that even M. de Chauxville will be a welcome alleviation."
Paul said nothing. He gave a little sign to the driver, and the horses
leaped forward with a musical clash of their silver bells.
CHAPTER XXII
THE SPIDER AND THE FLY
It is to be feared that there is a lamentable lack of local color in the
present narrative. Having safely arrived at Petersburg, we have nothing
to tell of that romantic city--no hints at deep-laid plots, no prison,
nor tales of jail-birds--tales with salt on them, bien entendu--the
usual grain. We have hardly mentioned the Nevski Prospekt, which street
by ancient right must needs figure in all Russian romance. We have
instead been prating of drawing-rooms and mere interiors of houses,
which to-day are the same all the world over.
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