The troopers cheered him from their stirrups, in spite of their officers, who pretended to check their men.
“Vive la France! Vive la Russie!” they roared. “Forward the Terek Cossacks!”
Sengoun turned to Ilse Dumont:
“Madame,” he said, “in gratitude and admiration!”—and he gracefully saluted her hand. Then, to his comrade: “Neeland!”—seizing both the American’s hands. “Such a night and such a comrade I shall never forget! I adore our night together; I love you as a brother. I shall see you before I go?”
“Surely, Sengoun, my dear comrade!”
“Alors—au revoir!” He sprang into the taxicab. “To the Russian Embassy!” he called out; and turned to the half fainting girl on the seat beside him.
“Where do you live, my dear?” he asked very gently, taking her icy hand in his.