Page:In the name of a woman (1900).djvu/85

 the threads of the net that was closing round me, and drawing me forward upon a path that would lead I could not say whither.

Spernow's voice roused me.

"You are not dancing, Count. Won't you let me find you some partners? There are plenty here who wish to know you. Well, have you and Nathalie had an interesting conversation?" he asked in a lower voice, dropping into the seat at my side. "I know how anxious she was for it."

"I hope great things from it," I answered.

"Are you to be presented to the Princess?"

I looked at him in surprise, not understanding the question.

"Oh, the presentation was to hinge upon the result of your talk with her."

"Then probably I shall be presented," I returned, smiling.

"Good, very good; nothing could be better, indeed. Come, then, and let us go in search of partners. But don't fill up your card, you may need a gap or two in it presently." I guessed his meaning, but said nothing as I went with him back to the dancing hall, was introduced to several people, and for an hour danced and chatted as though I had no other object in life.

I was not too much engrossed by my partners, however, to miss the entrance of the Princess Christina, and more than once when I passed close to her in the course of a dance I caught her gaze fixed upon me with evident interest. Once especially was I certain of this, when she and Mademoiselle Broumoff were in close and earnest conversation; and it was with a thrill of pleasure that I felt that I was the subject of their talk.