She is not nervous in
that way. I have never seen any one drive like her."
"I have no doubt," said De Chauxville, "that mademoiselle's hands are
firm, despite their diminutiveness."
The countess was charmed--and showed it. She frowned at Catrina, who
remained grave and looked at the clock.
"When would you like to go?" she asked De Chauxville, with that complete
absence of affectation which the Russian, of all women of the world,
alone have mastered in their conversation with men.
"Am I not at your service--now and always?" responded the gallant baron.
"I hope not," replied Catrina quietly. "There are occasions when I have
no use for you. Shall we say eleven o'clock?"
"With pleasure. Then I will go and write my letters now," said the
baron, quitting the room.
"A charming man!" ejaculated the countess, before the door was well
closed.
"A fool!" corrected Catrina.
"I do not think you can say that, dear," sighed the countess, more in
sorrow than in anger.
"A clever one," answered Catrina. "There is a difference. The clever
ones are the worst."
The countess shrugged her shoulders hopelessly, and Catrina left the
room. She went upstairs to her own little den, where the piano stood. It
was the only room in the house that was not too warm, for here the
window was occasionally opened--a proceeding which the countess
considered scarcely short of criminal.
Pages:
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278