CHAPTER XIV
It was twenty-four hours later. The night of the Ardacheff ball hadcome. The glorious house made the background of a festive scene. Thecompany waited all round the galleries for the arrival of the GrandDukes and the foreign King and Queen.
And Tamara stood by her godmother's side at the top of the stairs, astrange excitement flooding her veins.
Since the night before they had heard nothing of the Prince. And aseach guest came in view, past the splendid footmen grouped like statueson every six steps, both women watched with quickening pulses for oneinsouciant Cossack face.
The Royalties arrived in a gorgeous train, and yet neither Gritzko norCount Varishkine.
It might mean nothing, but it was curious all the same. The opening_contre-danse_ was in full swing, and still they never came, and by thetime of the second valse after it Tamara was a prey to a vague fear.While the Princess' uneasiness grew more than vague.
Tamara could not enjoy herself. She talked at random, she made herpartners continually promenade through the salons, and her eyesconstantly scanned the doors.
The immense ballroom, quite two stories high, presented a brilliantsight with its stately decorations of the time of Alexander I. And allthe magnificent jewels and uniforms, and the flowers. Somehow a riot ofroses takes an extra charm when outside the thermometer measures zero.And no one would have believed, looking at this dignified throng, thatthey could be the same people who could frolic wildly at a Bohemiansupper.
There is a great deal in breeding, after all, and the knowledge of thefitness of things which follows in its train.
Tamara was valsing with Jack Courtray, and they stopped to look at theworld.
"Are they not a wonderful people, Jack? Could anything be more decorousand dignified than they are tonight? And yet if you watch, in the_contre-danse_ their eyes have the same excited look as when we wildlycapered after supper in Prince Milaslavski's house."
"Which reminds me--why is he not here?" asked Jack.
"I wish I knew," Tamara said. "Jack, be a dear and go and forage aboutand get hold of Serge Grekoff, if you can see him, or Mr. Strong, orSasha Basmanoff, or some one who might know--but it seems as if none ofthem are here."
"As interested as that?" and Lord Courtray laughed. "Well, my child,I'll do my best," so he relinquished her for the next turn and left herwith Valonne, who had just arrived.
"Apparently I shall have to go partnerless for the Mazurka," Tamaracarelessly said while she watched the Frenchman's face with the cornerof her eye. "I was engaged for it to Count Varishkine, and he has neverturned up. I do wonder what has happened to him. Do you know?"
"I told you you would be lucky if you got away from here without somerow of sorts, Madame," and Valonne smiled enigmatically.
"What do you mean? Please tell me?" and Tamara turned pale.
"I mean nothing; only I fancy you will only see one of them tonight;which it will be is still on the cards."
A cold, sick feeling came over Tamara.
"You are not insinuating that they have been fighting?" she asked, witha tremble in her voice which she could not control.
But Valonne reassured her.
"I am insinuating nothing," he said, with a calm smile. "Let us haveone more turn before this charming valse stops."
And, limp and nerveless, Tamara allowed herself to be whirled aroundthe room; nor could she get anything further out of Valonne.
When it was over she sought in vain for her godmother or Jack orStephen Strong. The Princess was engaged with the Royalties and couldnot be approached, and neither of the men were to be seen.
The next half-hour was agony, in which, with a white face and fixedsmile, Tamara played her part, and then just before the Mazurka wasgoing to begin Gritzko came in.
It seemed as if her knees gave way under her for a moment, and she satdown in a seat. The relief was so great. Whatever had happened he atleast was safe.
She watched him securing two chairs in the best place, and then hecrossed over to where she sat by the door to the refreshment room.
"Bon soir, Madame," he said. "Will you take me as a substitute for yourpartner, Count Varishkine?" and he bowed with a courtly grace whichseemed suited to the scene. "He is, I regret to say, slightlyindisposed, and has asked me to crave your indulgence for him, and letme fill his place."
For a moment Tamara hesitated; she seemed to have lost the power ofspeech; she felt she must control her anxiety and curiosity, so at lastshe answered gravely:
"I am so very sorry! I hope it is nothing serious. He is so charming,Count Varishkine."
"Nothing serious. Shall we take our places? I have two chairs there notfar from Olga and your friend," and the Prince prepared to lead theway. Tamara, now that the tension was over, almost thought she wouldrefuse, but the great relief and joy she felt in his presence overcameher pride, and she meekly followed him across the room.
They passed the Princess on the way, and as she apparently gave somelaughing reply to the Ambassador she was with, she hurriedly whisperedin Tamara's ear:
"Pour l'amour de Dieu! Be careful with Gritzko tonight, my child."
When they were seated waiting for the dance to begin Tamara noticedthat the Prince was very pale, and that his eyes, circled with blueshadows, seemed to flame.
The certainty grew upon her that some mysterious tragic thing had takenplace; but, frightened by the Princess' words, she did not question him.
She hardly spoke, and he was silent, too. It seemed as though now hehad gained his end and secured her as a partner it was all he meant todo.
Presently he turned to her and asked lazily:
"Have you been amused since the Moravian reception? How have you passedthe time? I have been at Tsarskoei again, and could not come to seeTantine."
"We have been quite happy, thanks, Prince," Tamara said. "Jack Courtrayand I have spent the day studying the lovely things in the Hermitage.We must see what we can before we both go home."
Gritzko looked at her.
"I like him--he is a good fellow--your friend," and then he addedreflectively: "But if he spends too much time with you I hope the bearswill eat him!"
This charitable wish was delivered in a grave, quiet voice, as thoughit had been a blessing.
"How horrible you are!" Tamara flashed. "Jack to be eaten by bears!Poor dear old Jack! What has he done?"
"Nothing, I hope,--as yet; but time will tell. Now we must begin todance."
And they rose, called to the center by the Master of the Ceremonies toassist in a figure.
While the Prince was doing his part she noticed his movements seemedlanguid and not full of his usual wild _entrain_, and her feeling ofunease and dread of she knew not what increased.
Tamara was very popular, and was hardly left for a moment on her chairwhen the flower figures began, so their conversations were disjointed,and at last almost ceased, and unconsciously a stiff silence grew upbetween them, caused, if she had known it, on his side, by severephysical pain.
She was surprised that he handed all his flowers to her but did not askher to dance, nor did he rise to seek any other woman. He just satstill, though presently, when magnificent red roses were brought in ina huge trophy, and Serge Grekoff was seen advancing with a sheaf ofthem to claim Tamara, he suddenly asked her to have a turn, and got upto begin.
She placed her hand on his arm, and she noticed he drew in his breathsharply and winced in the slightest degree. But when she asked him ifsomething hurt him, and what it was, he only laughed and said he waswell, and they must dance; so away they whirled.
A feverish anxiety and excitement convulsed Tamara. What in heaven'sname had occurred?
When they had finished and were seated again she plucked up courage toask him:
"Prince, I feel sure Count Varishkine is not really ill. Something hashappened. Tell me what it is."
"I never intended you to dance the Mazurka with him," was all Gritzkosaid.
"And how have you prev
ented it?" Tamara asked, and grew pale to herlips.
"What does it matter to you?" he said. "Are you nervous about Boris?"
And now he turned and fully looked at her, and she was deeply moved bythe expression in his face.
He was suffering extremely, she could distinguish that, but underneaththe pain there was a wild triumph, too. Her whole being was wrung. Loveand fear and solicitude, and, yes, rebellion also had its place. And atlast she said:
"I am nervous, not for Count Varishkine, but for what you may havedone."
He leaned back and laughed with almost his old irresponsible mirth.
"I can take care of my own deeds, thanks, Madame," he said.
And then anger rose in Tamara beyond sympathy for pain.
She sat silent, staring in front of her, the strain of the evening wasbeginning to tell. She hardly knew what he said, or she said, until theMazurka was at an end, all the impression it left with her was one oftension and fear. Then the polonaise formed, and they went in to supper.
Here they were soon seated next their own special friends, and Gritzkoseemed to throw off all restraint. He drank a great deal, and thenpoured out a glass of brandy and mixed it with the champagne.
He had never been more brilliant, and kept the table in a roar, whilemuch of his conversation was addressed to Tatiane Shebanoff, who sat onhis left hand.
Tamara appeared as though she were turned into stone.
And so the night wore on. It was now four o'clock in the morning. Thecompany all went to the galleries again to watch the departure of theKing and Queen. And, leaning on the marble balustrade next the Prince,Tamara suddenly noticed a thin crimson stream trickle from under hissleeve to his glove.
He saw it, too, and with an impatient exclamation of annoyance he movedback and disappeared in the crowd. The rest of the ball for Tamara wasa ghastly blank, although they kept it up with immense spirit untilvery late.
She seemed unable to get near the Princess, she was always surrounded,and when at last she did come upon her in deep converse with Valonne:"Tamara, dear," she said, "you must be so dreadfully tired. Slip off tobed. They will go on until daylight," and there was something in herface which prevented any questions.
So, cold and sick with apprehension, poor Tamara crept to her room,and, dismissing her weary maid, sat and rocked herself over her fire.
What horrible thing had occurred?
What was the meaning of that thin stream of blood?