Soon after this Spernow came to me and said that the Princess was anxious that I should be presented to her; and with a fast-quickening pulse I went with him to where she and her companion were sitting.
Almost directly I had made my bow Mademoiselle Broumoff rose and said to Spernow:
"This is our dance, Michel," and as the pair went away I took her place by the side of the beautiful woman who exercised so overpowering a fascination upon me.
"A more conventional meeting than our first, Count," she said.
"A very brilliant scene," I replied naïvely; for now that I was alone with her I felt like a tongue-tied clown. My stupid answer surprised her, as well it might, and I saw a look of perplexity cross her face. After an awkward pause, I added: "Your coming then saved my life."
"Scarcely that; but I have since heard the particulars of that matter, and I have been ashamed that you should have suffered such treatment in my name. I am glad of an opportunity of assuring you of my regret."
"I would gladly suffer much worse on your behalf," I blurted out nervously, and the answer brought another pause, during which I struggled hard to overcome my embarrassment and self-consciousness. I desired above all things in the world to win the favour of my companion, and yet I sat like a fool, at a loss for the mere commonplaces of conversation. She would think me a dolt or an idiot.
How long my stupid silence would have lasted I cannot tell; but the Princess in a movement of her fan dropped her dance card, and, in returning it to her
