"See how ill-natured people are! It is said that you so love the French people that you no longer have a thought for your own folks; some even said that you would remain in Paris throughout the war!"
"It is false and very stupid also. Of course I love the French people. We have no quarrel with them, Madame, but with one man only; him whom we must all hold accursed for bringing this wicked war upon us!"
"It is true, it is true, dooshá moyá! It is the ogre of Europe who would eat up our children, not the people of France. Kiss me, chérie, you are beautiful like a morning in summer! Alas! how proud Sasha would have been of you, of his sweet fiancée, could he but have seen you!"
"Oh, Madame, Alexander Petrovitch is better employed!" said Vera weakly.
"You will scarcely believe how he looked forward to seeing you, chérie; assuredly he has not forgotten his precious claims to your heart's preference!"
Vera laughed quite unaffectedly.
"Oh, Madame, be sure that, no more than I, would he desire to remember those claims, if we had met! You speak of ancient history which is recalled only with a smile!"
"Dooshá tui moyá," exclaimed the Countess, throwing up her hands, "do you realise what you say? The dear Tsar himself would be disappointed to hear your words."
Vera laughed outright.
"The Tsar! What in the world has the Tsar to do with the matter, Madame?"