His Hour

"You have a vivid imagination, and are talking perfect nonsense."

Tamara laughed nervously. "I refuse to be the least upset by such

ideas!"

At the moment up came Count Boris Varishkine, and after a while she

went off with him to a sofa by the window, and there was seated in deep

converse when the Prince came in.

He looked at them for a second and then made straight for the Princess

Ardácheff, who was just about to arrange her rubber of bridge.

"Tantine, I want to talk to you," he said.

And the Princess at once left the cardroom and returned with him. They

found a quiet corner opposite Tamara and her Garde, and there sat down.

"Tantine, I brought you here to look over there.--What does that mean?"

The Princess put up her glasses to gain time.

"Nothing, dear boy. Tamara is merely amusing herself like all the rest

of us at a party. Are you jealous, Gritzko?" she asked.

He looked at her sharply, and for a moment unconsciously fingered the

dagger in his belt.

"Yes, I believe I am jealous. I am not at all sure that I do not love

your charming friend," he said.

"Well, why don't you marry her then?" suggested the Princess.

"Perhaps I shall--if she does not drive me to doing something mad

first. I don't know what I intend. It may be to go off to the Caucasus,

or to stay and make her love me so deeply that she will forgive me--no

matter what I do."

He paused a moment, and his great eyes filled with mist, and then the

wild light grew.

"If ever she becomes my Princess, she shall be entirely for me. I will

not let her have a look or thought for any other man. All must be

mine--unshared, and then she shall be my queen."

Princess Ardácheff leant back and looked at him. He was in his blue

uniform with the scarlet underdress; and even she--old woman and fond

friend--could not help picturing the gorgeous joy such a fate would

give--to have him for a lover! to see his fierce, proud head bent in

devotion, to feel his tender caress. Tamara must be an unutterable fool

if she should hesitate.

But what he had said was not reassuring in its prospect of calm. She

felt she must put in some small word of admonition.

"You will be careful won't you, Gritzko?" she ventured to suggest.

"Remember, Tamara is an Englishwoman, and not accustomed to your ways."