"I know the dandy, I know him very well," said Karr. "During the life of His Majesty I used to play cards with him at Oranienbaum. He is a stupid youngster. Whenever I called carreau, he used to give cœur."
"It appears that he plays even worse now," said the Czarina; "now he throws pique after cœur!"
It was the fashion at this time at the Russian Court to throw in every now and then a French word, and cœur in French means heart, and piquer means to sting and prick.
"Yes, because our commanders have been inactive. Were I only there!"
"Won't you have the kindness to go there?" asked Orloff mockingly.
"If Her Majesty commands me, I am ready."
"Ah! this tarok-party would suffer a too great loss in you," said Katharine, jokingly.
"Well, your Majesty might have hunting-parties at Peterhof," he said, consolingly, to the Czarina.
This was a pleasant suggestion to Katharine, for at Peterhof she had spent her brightest days, and there she had made the acquaintance of Orloff. With a smile full of grace, she nodded to General Karr.
"I don't mind, then; but in two weeks you must be back."