Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/153

 He joined me at once, telling me naïvely that he had been waiting for me, and asking me why I did not go to the ballet the night before, when I suddenly remembered that I had told him I intended to go.

"Were you there?" I asked.

"Yes," he answered hesitatingly; then added, with a badly assumed air of indifference, "I go nearly every Thursday."

There was a few moments' silence, as we followed the rest of the party through the lofty rooms; then I said abruptly,—

"What are you?"

My companion evidently thought I had become suddenly insane, and his mystified air amused me vastly.

"I mean, what is your position? What are your duties in the palace?"

"Oh!" (laughing with an air of intense relief) "I am gentilhomme de la chambre. On certain days I am on duty here to make myself useful in this way."

"Escorting ladies about? Not an unpleasant duty, I should say."

"Quite the contrary," responded my gallant companion. After a pause he continued,—

"Do you intend to stay long in Russia, mademoiselle?"

"About two months longer."

His face fell. "Is that all?"

"Quite long enough to stay away from one's own country."

"But you would like Russia; I am sure you would.