His Hour

Tamara's room and the Princess' joined. They were both gorgeously

upholstered in crude blue satin brocade, and full of gilt heavy

furniture, but in each there was a modern brass bed.

They were immense apartments, and warm and bright, monuments of the

taste of 1878.

"Is it not incredible, Marraine, that with the beautiful models of the

eighteenth century in front of them, people could have perpetrated

this? Waves of awful taste seem to come, and artists lose their sense

of beauty and produce the grotesque."

"This is a paradise compared to some," the Princess laughed. "You

should see my sister-in-law's place!"

One bridge table was made up already when they got back to the saloon,

and Sonia, Serge Grekoff and Valonne, only waited the Princess' advent

to begin their game.

It seemed to be an understood thing that Gritzko and his English guest

should be left out, and so practically alone.

"I feel it is my duty to learn to play better," Tamara said, "so I am

going to watch."

He put down his hand and seized her wrist. "You shall certainly not,"

he said. "You cannot be so rude as deliberately to controvert your

host. It is my pleasure that you shall sit here and talk."

His eyes were flashing, and Tamara's spirit rose.

"What a savage you are, Prince," she laughed. "Everything must be only

as you wish! That I want to watch the bridge does not enter into your

consideration."

"Not a bit."

"Well, then, since I must stay here I shall be disagreeable and not say

a word."

And she sat down primly and folded her hands.

He lit a cigarette, and she noticed his hand trembled a little, but his

voice was quite steady, and in fact low as he said: "I tell you frankly, if you go on treating me as you have done today,

whatever happens is on your head."

"Do you mean to strangle me then?--or have me torn up by dogs?" and

Tamara smiled provokingly. With all the others in the room, and almost

within earshot, she felt perfectly safe.

She had suffered so much, it seemed good to oppose him a little, when

it could not entail a duel with some unoffending man!

"I do not know yet what I shall be impelled to do, only I warn you, if

you tease me, you will pay the price." And he puffed a cloud of smoke.

"He can do nothing tonight," Tamara thought, "and tomorrow we are going

back to Moscow, and then I am returning home." A spirit of devilment

was in her. Nearly always it had been he who regulated things, and now

it was her turn. She had been so very unhappy, and had only the outlook

of dullness and regret. Tonight she would retaliate, she would do as

she felt inclined.