“That is so, gospodin.” And here Nadia, twisting her long hair into a number of thick plaits, disposed them in ludicrous fashion around her head, saying with a smile, “This is Paul’s ideal coiffure, and this is how ladies must appear at Court. But we, who do not go to Court, may wear it as we please.” And with that she let her hair fall around her like a shower of golden threads, and pushing some aside, looked smilingly at Wilfrid.
CHAPTER IV
IN THE PRINCESS’S BED-CHAMBER
A few more words passed and then Wilfrid, with a glance at his watch, opined that it was high time for him to go to bed.
“Will you show the gospodin to his room, Nadia?” said the innkeeper.
“He had better pull off those heavy boots first,” suggested the girl.
And Wilfrid, knowing her reason, good-humouredly complied.
“And you’ll not get up till after ten?” pleaded Boris. “The boyarine must not know that I have broken my word. And I must keep your yamchik out of the way till she has taken her departure.”
“Very good. To please you I’ll prolong my slumbers,” assented Wilfrid, “though I confess I should like to have a peep at the fair boyarine.” And bidding the innkeeper “good-night,” Wilfrid followed Nadia, who led the way with lighted lamp.
“Tread softly,” she said with a subdued laugh. “Don’t disturb the repose of the Ugly One, whatever you do. So savage-looking is he that he’ll think nothing of running you through the body with his long sword if he should be waked before his time.”