After that Colonel Vladimir Sominoff was a frequent visitor at the château, and he kept by Irma’s side all the while he was in the house. Jack he simply ignored, never addressing a word to him, and treating him as if he did not exist. Sometimes the count came with the colonel, but more often the latter came alone.
On one occasion the colonel and the count came to spend a few days at the mansion, and Jack determined to keep in the apartments which he occupied. This, however, Irma did not let him do.
‘Why do you shut yourself up here?’ she cried with a little stamp of her foot, while her dark eyes shone angrily.
‘I—I do not wish to intrude,’ said Jack rather lamely.
‘Intrude, intrude! who has dared say you intrude?’ she cried fiercely. ‘If any of the servants’—— and her eyes blazed ominously.
‘No one has said a word,’ interrupted Jack hastily; ‘but your brother and your cousin are here. You are quite a little family circle, and—and’——
‘And what? Have we neglected you? Have we slighted you?’
‘No, a thousand times no,’ said Jack; ‘but can you not understand? You are of the aristocracy. I am a plain English soldier; I cannot mix on an equality with you, and it is better that I should not. This life is unfitting me for my career. I shall never forget your kindness; but the longer I remain here the harder I shall find it when I go. At any moment I may be taken off to prison’——
‘You won’t,’ cried Irma. ‘Alexis has promised me that you shall not be taken from here if he can help it; and he can help it—he shall. He is a friend of Prince Mentschikoff.’
‘Then I must return to my duty, and before long I hope.’