"Well, your haughty
guest touched me with too sharp a spur, perhaps," he said, "but she was
right. I do waste my life. I have been thinking of my mother. I believe
she might not be pleased with me sometimes. And then I felt mad, and
now I must do something to forget. So if you won't sup--"
"Oh! Gritzko!" the Princess said.
"I telephoned home and ordered things to be ready. I know you don't
like a restaurant. Say you will come," and he kissed her hand. "I have
asked all the rest." And the Princess had to consent!
"You must promise not to quarrel any more with my godchild if we do. I
am sure you frighten and upset her, Gritzko--promise me," she said. He
laughed.
"I upset her! She is too cold and good to be upset!"
Tamara still continued to talk to Valonne, and presently they all moved
into the box, and the Prince sat down beside her, and again as he
leaned over in the shaded light that nameless physical thrill crept
over her. Was she really cold, she asked herself. If so, why should she
shiver as she was shivering now?
"I wonder if you have any heart at all, Madame?" he said. "If under the
mummy's wrappings there is some flesh and blood?"
Then she turned and answered him with passion. "Of course there is,"
she said.
He bent over still nearer. "Just for to-night, shall we not quarrel or
spar?" he whispered. "See, I will treat you as a sister and friend.
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