Paul and Steinmetz had suddenly given up their long drives to
distant parts of the estate.
Here the whole party was assembled on the Sunday afternoon following
Paul's visit to the village kabak, and to them came an unexpected guest.
The door was thrown open, and Claude de Chauxville, pale, but
self-possessed and quiet, came into the room. The perfect ease of his
manner bespoke a practised familiarity with the position difficult. His
last parting with Paul and Steinmetz had been, to say the least of it,
strained. Maggie, he knew, disliked and distrusted him. Etta hated and
feared him.
He was in riding costume--a short fur jacket, fur gloves, a cap in his
hand, and a silver-mounted crop. A fine figure of a man--smart, well
turned out, well-groomed--a gentleman.
"Prince," he said frankly, "I have come to throw myself upon your
generosity. Will you lend me a horse? I was riding in the forest when my
horse fell over a root and lamed himself. I found I was only three miles
from Osterno, so I came. My misfortune must be my excuse for
this--intrusion."
Paul performed graciously enough that which charity and politeness
demanded of him. There are plenty of people who trade unscrupulously
upon these demands, but it is probable that they mostly have their
reward. Love and friendship are stronger than charity and politeness,
and those who trade upon the latter are rarely accorded the former.
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