"Come and see me early tomorrow, Jack," Tamara said. "I want to show you Tom's letter from home," and she looked up with an alluring smile, feeling the Prince was watching her; then, turning to Count Boris, "I am sure you will regret your bargain in having asked me to dance the Mazurka tomorrow night," she said. "I do not know a single figure or a step—but I hope we shall have some fun. I am looking forward to it."
"More than fun!" the young man said, with devotion, as he kissed her hand.
Then they walked to say goodnight to the hostess, and Gritzko seemed to disappear. But when they got down into the hall they saw him already in his furs.
The Princess' footman began to hand Tamara her snowboots and cloak, but Gritzko almost snatched them from the man's hand. She made no protest, but let him help her to put them on and wrap her up, while her godmother thought it advisable to walk toward the door.
"Tonight was your moment, Madame," he said, in a low voice. "But the gods are often kind to me, and my hour will come!"
Tamara summoned everything she knew of provokingness into her face as she looked up and answered:
"Tant pis! et bon soir! Monsieur le démon de Lermontoff!"
Then she felt it prudent to run quickly after the Princess and get into the automobile!
CHAPTER XIV
It was twenty-four hours later. The night of the Ardácheff ball had come. The glorious house made the background of a festive scene. The company waited all round the galleries for the arrival of the Grand Dukes and the foreign King and Queen.