Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1905-04-06
XVI.

~ you must accept" SteinmetZ
repeated to Paul. "There is
no help for it. We cannot af-
L ford to offend Vassili, of all
people in the world"
They were standing together in the
saloon Of a suit of rooms assigned for
the time to Paul and his party in the
Hotel Bristol in Paris. Steinmetz. who
held an open letter in his hand, looked
out of the window.
Steinmetz looked at the letter with d
queer smile. He held it out from him
as if he distrusted the very stationery.
$50 friendly" he exclaimed. 80 very
frasndly! That good Steinmetz' he calls
me. That good Steinmetz'-confound
his cheek! He hopes that his dear
prince will waive ceremony and bring
his charming princess to dine in the
Champs Elysees. He guarantees that
only his sister, the marquise, will be
present, and he hopes that that good
Steinmetz' will accompany you and
also the young lady, the cousin of the
princess"
Steinmetz threw the letter down on
the table, left it there for q moment.
and then, picking it up. he crossed the
room and threw it into the fire.
(Which MEANS" he explained. that
M. Vassili knows we are here, and un-
less we dine with him we shall be SUBJ
jected to annoyance and delay on the
frontier by a stupid-a singularly and
suspiciously stupid-minor official. If
we refuse, Vassili will conclude that
we are afraid of him. Therefore we
must accept, especially as Vassili has
his weak points. He loves a lord, this
Vassili.' If you accept on some Of that
stationery I ordered for you with a CO.
lossal gold %coronet, that will already
be of some effect"
Paul laughed. 1t was his habit either
to laugh or to grumble at Karl Stein
metz's somewhat subtle precautions.
"Of course" he said, 81 leave these
matters to you. Let US show Vassili.
him."
Then sit down and accept"
That which NJ. Vassili was pleased to
call his little dog hole in the Champs
E1ysees was in fact a gorgeous house
In the tawdry style of modern Paris,
Respondent in the iron ratings and
high g~ateposts, surmounted by green
cactus plants cunningly devised in cast
iron.
The heavy front door was thrown
open by a lackey, and others bowed
In the halls as if by machinery. Two
maids pounced upon the ladies with the
self assurance of their kind and coun-
try and led the way upstairs, while
the men removed fur coats in the hall.
1t was all very princely and gorgeous
and Partisan.
Vassili and his sister the marQuise-
a stout lady in ruby velvet and anne
thysts, who invariably caused Maggie
Delafield's mouth to twitch whenever
b opened her w during the even
tng-received the guests in the drawing
room. They were standing OH the
white fur hearth rug side by side when
the doors were dramatically thrown
open, and the servant rolled the names
unctuously over his tongue.
Steinmetz. who was behind, saw
everything. He saw Vassili's mask
like face contract with stupefaction
when he set eyes on Eta. He saw the
self contained Russian give a little
gasp and mutter an exclamation before
he collected himself sufficiently to bow
and conceal his face, but he could not
see Etta's face for q moment or two
until the formal greetings were over.
When he did see it be noted that 1t was
as white as marble.
"Aha, my good steinmetz!' cried
Vassili, with less formality, holding
out his hand with frank and boyish
good humor.
"Aha, my dear Vassili!' returned
Steinmetz, taking the hand.
ut is good of you, NJ. lie Prince, and
you, madame, to honor us in our small
house." said the marquise.
49," said Nassili, with a comprehen-
sive bow to all his guests-"so you
are bound for Russia. But l envy you,
I envy you. You know Russia Nine.
la Princesse"
Eta met his yelled gaze calmly.
"A little" she replied.
There was no sign Of recognition in
his eyes now. nor pallor on her face.
"a beautiful country, but the rest Of
Europe does not believe it. And the
estate Of the prince is one of the vast
est, If not the most beautiful. It is a
sporting estate, is it not, princes"
Essentially So" replied Paul.
"Bears. wolves, deer, besides, of course,
black game, capercailzie, ptarmigan-
everything one could desire"
Speaking as a sportsman" suggest
ed Vassili gravely.
speaking as a sportsman"
"Of course"--vassili paused and with
a little gesture Of the hand included
Steinmetz in the conversation; it may
have been that he preferred to have
him talking rather than watching-"of
course, like all great Russian landhold-
srs.. YOU. have your troubles with the