His Hour

The Khedive's ball was a fairly fine sight, Tamara thought, but driving

through the streets took such a ridiculously long time, the crowd was

so great. The palace itself was, and probably is still, like all other

palaces that are decorated in that nondescript style of Third Empire

France--not a thing of beauty. But the levée uniforms of the officers

gave an air of brilliance contrasted with the civilians of the

Government of Egypt. Tamara thought their dress very ugly, it reminded

her of a clergyman's at a children's party, where he has been decorated

with caps and sham orders from the crackers to amuse the little guests.

It seemed strange to see the English faces beneath the fez. She and

Millicent Hardcastle walked about and talked to their friends. There

were many smart young gallants in the regiments then quartered in

Cairo, who enjoyed dancing with the slender, youthful widow with the

good jewels and pretty dress, and soon Tamara found herself whirling

with a gay hussar.

"Let us stop near the Royalties and look at the Russians," he said.

"You know, a Grand Duke arrived to-day, and must be here to-night."

They came to a standstill close to the little group surrounding the

Khedive, and amid the splendid uniforms of the Grand Duke's suite there

was one of scarlet, the like of which Tamara had never seen before.

Afterward she learned it was a Cossack of the Emperor's escort, but at

the moment it seemed like a gorgeous fancy dress. The high boots and

long, strangely graceful coat, cut with an Eastern hang, the white

under-dress, the way the loose scarlet sleeves fell at the wrist,

showing the white tight ones, the gold and silver trimmings and the

arms, stuck in the quaint belt, all pleased her eye extremely; and then

she recognized its wearer as the young man of the Sphinx.

How dress changes a person! she thought. He looked at ease now in this

gorgeous garment, and a very prince for a fairy tale. That accounted

for the dreadful gray flannel--he was a soldier and unaccustomed to

wearing ordinary clothes. She had heard that in foreign countries even

the officers wore their uniforms habitually; not as the English do,

merely as an irksome duty.

He did not appear to see her, but when she began dancing again, and

paused once more for breath, she was close to him as he stood some way

apart and alone.

Their eyes met. His had the same whimsical provoking smile in them

which angered and yet attracted her. He made no move to bow to her, nor

did he take any steps to be introduced. She burnt with annoyance.