"These servants down here absolutely idolize him; they have all been in
the house since he or they were born. For them he can do no wrong. He
has a gymnasium, and he keeps two or three of them to exercise him, and
wrestle with him, and last year Basil, the second one, put his master's
shoulder out of joint, and then tried to commit suicide with remorse.
You can't, until you have been here a long time, understand their
strange natures. So easily moved to passion, so fierce and barbaric,
and yet so full of sentiment and fidelity. I firmly believe if he were
to order them to set fire to us all in our beds tonight, they would do
it without a word! He is their personal 'Little Father.' For them there
is a trinity to worship and respect--the Emperor, God, and their
Master."
Tamara felt extremely moved. A passionate wild regret swept over her.
Oh! why might not fate let him love her really, so that they could be
happy. How she would adore to soothe him, and be tender and gentle and
obedient, and bring him peace!
But just at that moment, with an air of exasperating insouciant
insolence, he came into the room and began chaffing with Valonne, and
turning to her said something which set her wounded pride again all
aflame, and burning with impotence and indignation she, as the strange
guest, put her hand on his arm to go in to dinner.
Zacouska was partaken of, and then the serious repast began.
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