he present moment it was a visage full of
supplication, and as gentle in its expression as that of a smiling,
roguish infant. Stealthily, she drew me apart from the rest as though
the more completely to separate me from them; and, though no harm came
of her doing so--for it was merely a stupid manoeuvre, and no more--I
found the situation very unpleasant.

The General hastened to lend her his support.

"Alexis Ivanovitch," he began, "pray pardon me for having said what I
did just now--for having said more than I meant to do. I beg and
beseech you, I kiss the hem of your garment, as our Russian saying has
it, for you, and only you, can save us. I and Mlle. de Cominges, we all
of us beg of you--But you understand, do you not? Surely you
understand?" and with his eyes he indicated Mlle. Blanche. Truly he was
cutting a pitiful figure!

At this moment three low, respectful knocks sounded at the door; which,
on being opened, revealed a chambermaid, with Potapitch behind
her--come from the Grandmother to request that I should attend her in
her rooms. "She is in a bad humour," added Potapitch.

The time was half-past three.

"My mistress was unable to sleep," explained Potapitch; "so, after
tossing about for a while, she suddenly rose, called for her chair, and
sent me to look for you. She is now in the verandah."

"Quelle megere!" exclaimed De Griers.

True enough, I found Madame in the hotel verandah--much put about at my
delay, for she had been unable to contain herself until four o'clock.

"Lift me up," she cried to the bearers, and once more we set out for
the roulette-salons.

XII

The Grandmother was in an impatient, irritable frame of mind. Without
doubt the roulette had turned her head, for she appeared to be
indifferent to everything else, and, in general, seemed much
distraught. For instance, she asked me no questions about objects en
route, except that, when a sumptuous barouche passed us and raised a
cloud of dust, she lifted her hand for a moment, and inquired, "What
was that?" Yet even then she did not appear to hear my reply, although
at times her abstraction was interrupted by sallies and fits of sharp,
impatient fidgeting. Again, when I pointed out to her the Baron and
Baroness Burmergelm walking to the Casino, she merely looked at them in
an absent-minded sort of way, and said with complete indifference,
"Ah!" Then, turning sharply to Potapitch and Martha, who were walking
behind us, she rapp