he left on my mind was perhaps just such as he had designed—that the attempt to trick him was indeed like playing with fire on the top of a powder magazine. And I was profoundly uneasy as I thought of what that might mean to the woman whose safety and success were now infinitely more to me than my own.
At my house a surprise was in store for me. A carriage was at the door, and the servants told me that a lady was awaiting me.
I went to the room at once and found the Countess Bokara. She rose with a smile as she held out her hand.
"You look magnificent in your regimentals, Count. And I suppose you have been too busy with your new duties and new friends to think it worth while to see me. And you don't seem over-pleased that I am here now," she added, for my face clouded at the sight of her. She was a bird of ill-omen, as I knew.
"What is your object in honouring me with this informal visit?"
"Informal! Where is the need of formality between you and me?" she asked quickly.
"In Sofia the tongues of gossip run glibly."
"You have soon developed into an authority on the manners of the people here. Spare me your cant, I beg of you. What do you suppose I should care if all the old gossips in the city talked me over till their tongues ached? You ask why I am here. I wish to see you, that is all."
"I am at your service," I answered, with a bow.
"Are you? That's just what I wish to know," she replied, putting a significant meaning to my conventional phrase. "You have not given much evidence of it as yet. I should rather think you have even forgotten your promise to serve me."
