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" Yes," she said, " you would, dear general, and in so do- ing show your appreciation of the fine character and domes- tic instincts of the Czarovna Jew I am sure you did. It was like you, like Russia, like our holy father the Czar ! Do you remember the name of Klosstock ? My dear dead Count Stravensky, I remember, mentioned him to me as a very worthy man ; I think he had some business dealings with him.'
" No, I don't remember," said the general, a little out of patience with the direction in which the countess forced the conversation. " It was so long ago, and so many events have happened."
" You do not care to talk of these things," she said. " I am very sorry.'*
He felt that she drew herself from him, and no longer responded to his attempted embraces.
" My dear countess, I care to talk of anything that may interest you. Believe me, I have no other desire than to be your slave."
"There was a young woman in Czarovna I think it must be talking of Desdemona and her father that has made me recall some strange circumstances which came to the knowledge of my dear dead husband, Count Stra- vensky they called her l Queen of the Ghetto,' do you remember ? "
" Yes," he said, " I think I do j but as I said before, it is so long ago, and so many things have happened in the time that has passed between then and now."
" Oh, no," she said, " it is not so long ago, my dear general ; not to her, at least, nor to her father, nor to the rabbi to whom she was betrothed ! "
Petronovitch felt an increasing resistance of his blan- dishments, as the countess recalled to his mind the tragedy of Czarovna, which he now bega.n, himself to re- member with unwelcome distinctness,
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