IV
445 Words
IVMadame Borgensky, forced in her capacity as hostess to be constantly attentive to His Imperial Majesty, doing the necessary presentations, and having to appear as gay and entertaining as possible, had not, from the end of the room where she was, noticed the little scene that was being enacted close to the mantelpiece. Had Count Gulohoff possessed himself of the letter, she wondered?—the letter that denounced her husband, as well as his friends. She endured most excruciating tortures of mind, all the more unendurable as she was, for the moment, at least, perfectly powerless to do anything. She was gaily chatting the while, gradually leading Alexander III. towards the further end of the ballroom in the hope that she might yet ward off this fearful, monstrous thing.
Ah! it was too late. She had caught sight of Count Gulohoff coming towards her, and she felt, more than she actually saw, that the fatal letter was in his hand.
"Will your Majesty, and also my fair hostess, deign to allow me to take my leave?" said the Count, bowing before the Tsar, while he threw a quick glance of intelligence at Madame Borgensky, who had now become deathly pale; "serious duties call me away."
"Yes, dear Count!" said his Majesty laughing. "I bet you he has discovered some conspiracy against my life, and is going to save me. I assure you, Madame, last year he discovered 365 plots, each one of which would inevitably have ended my days, were it not for the devotion and fidelity of Count Gulohoff."
"The devotion and fidelity of all your Majesty's right-minded subjects," said Count Gulohoff. "Madame Borgensky, I feel sure, would do what I have done, and more, were she but given the opportunity, which, after all, may arise any day."
"Indeed, your Majesty, and so would my husband, than whom your Majesty has no more faithful subject," said Madame Borgensky, vainly trying to master her emotion.
"I thank you, Madame," said the Tsar, with the charming cordiality so peculiar to him, "and I can assure you that in coming here I quite forget that I am the guest of a Pole. Well, au revoir, cher Comte. I shall leave soon after one o'clock, and I hope Madame Borgensky will allow me, for the moment, to monopolize her society and let me escort her to the supper-room."
And offering his fair hostess his arm, Alexander Nicolaïevitch led her across the room and down the stairs, followed by the respectful salutes of all, and the glances of admiration levelled at his beautiful partner, who, with eyes open wide with agonized fear, and cheeks blanched with terror, was making superhuman efforts to appear calm and self-possessed.
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