The first dance was in progress. Pretty women, with their smart, good-looking cavaliers, were whirling about me to the slow, tuneful strains of one of the latest of Strausss waltzes, when Colonel Mellini, the Italian military attaché, halted before me to chat. He had just returned from leave, and had much Embassy gossip to relate to me from the Eternal City, where I had served for two years.
I hear, he remarked at last, that another plot was discovered early this morning a desperate one in the Nevski. Markoff really seems ubiquitous.
I looked into his dark eyes and smiled.
Ah! I see, caro mio, he laughed. Your thoughts are similar to mine eh? These plots are a little too frequent to be genuine, and, lowering his voice to a whisper, he added: I cant understand how His Majesty does not see through the transparency of it. They are terrorising him every day every hour. A man of less robust physique or mental balance would surely be driven out of his mind.
I agree with you entirely, my dear friend. But, I added, this is not the place to discuss affairs of State. Ah, Madame! and turning, I bent over the gloved hand of old Madame Neilidoff, one of the leaders of Society in Moscow, with whom I stood chatting for a long time, and who kindly invited me for a week out at her great country estate at Sukova in Tver.
Captain Stoyanovitch, gay with decorations, hurried past me on some errand for the Emperor, and gave me a nod as he went on, while young Bertram Tucker, our third secretary, came up and began to chat with the yellow-toothed old lady, who was such a power in the Russian social circle.
I suppose it must have been nearly two oclock, when, after wandering through the salons, greeting many men and women I knew, I suddenly heard a voice behind me exclaim in English:
Hulloa, old Uncle Colin! Am I too small to be recognised?
I turned quickly and confronted the pretty laughing girl of nineteen of whom I had been in search all the night Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Natalia Olga Nicolaievna.
Tall, slim, with a perfect figure, she was dressed in cream, a light simple gown which suited her youth and extreme beauty admirably. Across her dark, well-dressed hair she wore a narrow band of forget-me-nots; at her throat was a large single emerald of great value, suspended by a fine chain of platinum, a present from His Majesty, while on the edge of her low-cut corsage she wore a bow of pale-blue ribbon embroidered in silver with a Russian motto, and from it was suspended a medallion set with diamonds and bearing in the centre the enamelled figure of Saint Catherine the exclusive Order of Saint Catherine bestowed upon the Grand Duchesses.
How miserable you look, Uncle Colin! exclaimed the dark-eyed girl before I could reply. Whatever is the matter? Is the British Lion sick or what?
I really must apologise to Your Imperial Highness, I said, bowing. I was quite unaware that I looked miserable. I surely could never look miserable in your presence.
We both laughed, while standing erect and defiant, before me she held up a little ivory fan, threatening to chastise me with it.
Well, I said, and so you are safely back again in Petersburg, after all your travels! Why, its surely eight weeks since we were at the ball at the Palace of your uncle, the Grand Duke Serge.
Where you danced with me. Do you remember how we laughed? You said some nasty sarcastic things, so I punished you. I told Captain Stoyanovitch and some of the others that you had flirted with me and kissed me. So there!
I looked at her in stern reproach.
Ah! I said. So that is the source of all those rumours eh? Youre a very wicked girl, I added, even though you are a Grand Duchess.
Well, I suppose Grand Duchesses are in no way different to other girls eh? she pouted. Sometimes I wish I were back again at school at Eastbourne. Ah! what grand times I used to have in those days hockey and tennis and gym, and I was not compelled to perform all sorts of horrible, irksome etiquette, and be surrounded by this crowd of silly dressed-up apes. Why, Uncle Colin, these are not men all these tight-uniformed popinjays at Court.
Hush, my child! I said. Hush! You will be overheard.
And I dont care if I am. Surely a girl can speak out what she thinks!
In England, yes, in certain circumstances, but in Russia and especially at Court never!
Oh, you are so horribly old-fashioned, Uncle Colin. When shall I bring you up-to-date? cried the petted and spoiled young lady, whose two distinctions were that she was one of the most beautiful girls in all Russia, and the favourite niece of the Tzar Alexander. She had nicknamed me Uncle, on account of my superior age, long ago.
And you are utterly incorrigible, I said, trying to assume an angry look.
Ah! Youre going to lecture me! she exclaimed with another pout. I suppose I ought never to dance at all eh? Its wicked in your eyes, isnt it? You are perhaps, one of those exemplary people that I heard so much of when in England such an expressive name the Kill-joys!
No, Your Highness, I protested. I really dont think Im a killjoy. If I were, I couldnt very well be a diplomat. I
But all diplomats are trained liars, she asserted with abrupt frankness. The Emperor told me so only the other day. He said they were men one should never trust.
I admit that, without the lie artistique, diplomacy would really be non-existent, I said, with a laugh. But is not the whole political world everywhere in Europe a world of vain promise, intrigue and shame?
Just as our social world seems to me, she admitted.
Ah! Then you are beginning to realise the hollow unreality of the world about you eh? I said.
Dear me! she exclaimed, you talk just like a bishop! I really dont know what has come to my dear old Uncle Colin. You must be ill, or something. You never used to be like this, she added, with a sigh and a well-feigned look of regret that was really most amusing, while at the same time she made eyes at me.
Truly, she was a most charming little madcap, this Imperial Grand Duchess the most charming in all Europe, as the diplomatic circle had long ago agreed.
So she had taken revenge upon me for uttering words of wisdom by telling people that I had flirted with and kissed her! She herself was responsible for the chatter which had gone round, with many embellishments, concerning myself, and how deeply I was in love with her. I wondered if it had reached the Emperors ears?
I felt annoyed, I here confess. And yet so sweet and irresponsible was she, so intelligent and quick at repartee, that next moment I had forgiven her.
And I frankly told her so.
My dear Uncle Colin, it would have been all the same, she declared airily. You shouldnt have lectured me. I assure you I have had enough of that at home. Ever since I came back from England everybody seems to have conspired to tell me that Im the most terrible girl in Russia. Father holds up his hands; why, I really dont know.
Because you are so extremely unconventional, I said. A girl of the people can act just as she likes; but you are a Grand Duchess and you cant.
Bother my birth. Thats my misfortune. I wish I were a shopgirl, or a typist, or something. Then I should be free! she exclaimed impatiently. As it is, I cant utter a word or move a little finger without the whole of Russia lifting up their hands in pious horror. I tell you, Uncle Colin, she added, her fine, big, dark eyes fixed upon me, Im sick of it all. It is simply unbearable. Ah! how I wish I were back at dear old Southdene College. I hate Russia and all her works!