lanche
would never consent to wait until the Grandmother was dead, but would
at once elope with the Prince or someone else. So they had all gathered
together--endeavouring to calm and dissuade the Grandmother. Only
Polina was absent. For her part the Grandmother had nothing for the
party but abuse.

"Away with you, you rascals!" she was shouting. "What have my affairs
to do with you? Why, in particular, do you"--here she indicated De
Griers--"come sneaking here with your goat's beard? And what do
YOU"--here she turned to Mlle. Blanche "want of me? What are YOU
finicking for?"

"Diantre!" muttered Mlle. under her breath, but her eyes were flashing.
Then all at once she burst into a laugh and left the room--crying to
the General as she did so: "Elle vivra cent ans!"

"So you have been counting upon my death, have you?" fumed the old
lady. "Away with you! Clear them out of the room, Alexis Ivanovitch.
What business is it of THEIRS? It is not THEIR money that I have been
squandering, but my own."

The General shrugged his shoulders, bowed, and withdrew, with De Griers
behind him.

"Call Prascovia," commanded the Grandmother, and in five minutes Martha
reappeared with Polina, who had been sitting with the children in her
own room (having purposely determined not to leave it that day). Her
face looked grave and careworn.

"Prascovia," began the Grandmother, "is what I have just heard through
a side wind true--namely, that this fool of a stepfather of yours is
going to marry that silly whirligig of a Frenchwoman--that actress, or
something worse? Tell me, is it true?"

"I do not know FOR CERTAIN, Grandmamma," replied Polina; "but from
Mlle. Blanche's account (for she does not appear to think it necessary
to conceal anything) I conclude that--"

"You need not say any more," interrupted the Grandmother energetically.
"I understand the situation. I always thought we should get something
like this from him, for I always looked upon him as a futile, frivolous
fellow who gave himself unconscionable airs on the fact of his being a
general (though he only became one because he retired as a colonel).
Yes, I know all about the sending of the telegrams to inquire whether
'the old woman is likely to turn up her toes soon.' Ah, they were
looking for the legacies! Without money that wretched woman (what is
her name?--Oh, De Cominges) would never dream of accepting the General
and his false teeth--no, not even for him to be her la