Page:The Tsar's Window.djvu/79

 George danced this with Judith. He spoke to her a great deal in a low voice, and she blushed often and looked shy, which was a revelation to me, for I did not know that she was capable of such an expression.

A sudden idea struck me. Sacha had hinted at some secret which he possessed,—something about George, I judged from the way in which he spoke. Might it not be something which, if Judith knew, would prevent her from being drawn on any further?

Oh for a chance to speak to that unfortunate young man! If need be, I would drag his secret to the light. But he had gone home in dark despair, and my opportunity for that night was over. I was almost driven to retire to the ladies' dressing-room, where I had seen a package of cigarettes, and recklessly indulge in a smoke, for I grew so nervous that I could not sit still; but Alice dissuaded me by telling me it would be sure to make me ill.

Then I was tempted to confide my fears to Alice; but how could I, when I knew that she adored her brother-in-law, and thought that any woman who gained his heart would be fortunate above all others? In my feverish imagination, that secret of Sacha's took elephantine form. The last point was reached when I decided that probably George was already married to some one whom he did not acknowledge. It is fortunate that we took our departure at that moment, for I know not what I should have done in my perplexity.

I awoke this morning burning with zeal, and resolved to have a severe talk with Judith. A favorable