The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-03-30
CHAPTER XII.

VI TIE name, the S1rlSlanS
Il amuse themselves, was in a
blaze of electric light and fashion. The
occasion was the Concours Hippique,
an ultra equine fete, where the lovers
OF the friend Of man and such persons
as are fitted by an ungenerous fate
with limbs suitable to horsy clothes
meet and bow.
A crowd of we'll dressed men jostled
each other good naturally around a.
long table, where insolent walters
served tepid coffee and sandwiches.
In the midst of these, as in his ele-
ment, moved the Baron Claude de
Chauxville, smiling his courteous,
ready smile, which his enemies called
a grin. Not far from him stood q stout
gentleman of middle age with a heavy
fair mustache brushed upward on Ell
Their side. This man had an air of dis
tinction, which was notable even in
this assembly, for there We're many
distinguished people present, and a
Frenchman Of note plays his part we'll.
He stood with his hands behind his
back, looking gravely on at the social
festivity. He bowed and raised his hat
to many, but he entered into conversa-
ton with none
'This Vassili is dangerous man."
he heard more than once whispered.
Now, if a very keen observer had
taken the trouble to ignore the throng
and watch two persons only, that OBJ
or oh +1,o o+
that Claude de Chauxville was slowly
and purposely making his way toward
the man called Vassili
De Chauxville knew and was known
Of many. He had but recently arrived
from London. He found himself called
upon to shake hands with this one and
that. He went from one to the other,
and each change Of position brought
him nearer to the middle aged man
with upturned mustache, upon whom
his movements were by no means lost.
Finally De Chauxville bumped
against the object of his quest, posi-
bly, indeed the object of his presence.
He turned with a ready apology
"Ah,'' he exclaimed. ''the very man I
was desiring to see''
The individual known as "this Vas
sii,'' 4 term of mingled contempt and
distrust, bowed very low. He was
plain commoner, while his interlocutor
was a baron. The knowledge of this
was subtly conveyed in his bow.
"How can serve NJ. lie Baron?' he
inquired in voice which was natural
~ loud and strong, bur had been re-
duced by careful training to tone in
audible at the distance of a few PAGES
by following me to the Cafe Tan
tale in ten minutes,'' answered De
Chauxville, passing on to greet a lady
who was bowling to him with the la
bored grace of Persistence
Vassili merely bowed and stood I'D
right again. There was something in
his attitude of quiet attention. of un-
obtrusive scrutiny and retiring intelli-
gence vaguely suggestive of the police
something which his friends refrain
ed from mentioning to him, for this
Vassili was 4 dignified man, of like
susceptibilities with ourselves and just
ly proud of the fact that he belonged
to the diplomatic corps. What posi-
ton he occupied in that select corpora
ton he never vouchsafed to define,
but it was known that he enjoyed con-
siderable emOluments, while he was
never called upon to represent his coun-
try OF his emperor in any official ca
pacity. He was attached, he said, to
the Russian embassy. His enemies
called him a spy.
In ten minutes Claude de Chauxville
left the Concours Hippique.
At the Cafe Tantale-not in the gar
den, for it was winter, but in the III
ner room-he found the man called
Vassili consuming a pensive and soil
tary glass Of liqueur.
De Chauxville sat down. stated his
requirements to the waiter in single