"Oh, we're all hoping to go. It will be the greatest disappointment of their lives to those who have to stop behind."
"You are all terribly bloodthirsty. And yet there are very nice boys among the Russians, too."
"You have been in Russia, madame?"
"Oh yes. I have even met the Tsar Nicholas and spoken with him; though, truly, it was he did most of the talking."
"What is he like?" asked Jack eagerly.
"He is good-looking, very tall, very grand; but--well, that is about all--though, indeed, he was good enough to approve of my dancing. Stay--Manuela!"--to her old attendant--"give me the Russian bracelet out of that little box. I am going out to supper to-night or it would not be here. Yes, that is it. The Tsar gave me that himself, and he tried to smile as he did it. But smiles do not become him. He is an iceberg, and I think he is also a little bit mad. He is very strange at times. Indeed, I was glad when he went away."
"That is very interesting," said Jack; "and this is surely a very valuable present."
"An Imperial present. But I have many such, and some that I value more, though they may not be so valuable."
"You have travelled much, then, madame?"
"I have been a wanderer most of my life----"