"
Tamara laughed with gay scorn. She put out her little foot and tapped
the edge of the great stove.
"For once I shall do as I please, Prince. I shall not ask your leave!"
His eyes seemed to gleam, and he lay perfectly still in his chair like
some panther watching its prey. Tamara's blood was up. She would not be
dominated! She continued mocking and defying him until she drove him
gradually mad.
But on one thing she had counted rightly, he could do nothing with them
all in the room.
First one and then another left their game, and joined them for a few
minutes, and then went back.
And so in this fashion the late afternoon passed and they went up to
dress.
No one was down in the great saloon when Tamara and the Princess
descended for dinner, but as they entered, Stephen Strong and Valonne
came in from the opposite door and joined them near the stove, and
Tamara and Valonne talked, while the other two wandered to a distant
couch.
"Have you ever been to any of these wonderful parties one hears have
taken place, Count Valonne?" she asked.
Valonne smiled his enigmatic smile. "Yes," he said. "I have once or
twice--perhaps you think this room shows traces of some rather violent
amusements, and really on looking round, I believe it does!"
Tamara shivered slightly. She had the feeling known as a goose walking
over her grave.
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