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Page 17
Stella almost enjoyed her dinner, she was so excited with the
prospect of some unknown coming events, and she had the
satisfaction of observing that once Count Roumovski actually
turned his head in their direction and met her eyes. His were full
of a whimsical smile for the instant he looked, and then he
relapsed into his habitual indifference.
The crowd had begun to thicken when they got to the Embassy, and
they waited among them for the Royalties' arrival; Stella looking
at everything with fresh, interested eyes. When this ceremony was
over people began to disperse about the large rooms, and Miss
Rawson was conscious that her strange secret acquaintance was in
conversation with the Grand Duke and Duchess; she had not seen him
come in. The Aunt Caroline noticed this, too, and drew her
attention to the fact.
"Look, Stella, that dreadful man is talking to Royalty!" she said.
"I suppose he must be a gentleman, after all--one never can tell
with foreigners, as their titles mean nothing, and half of them
are assumed. Your Uncle Carford had a valet once who afterward was
arrested for posing as a Polish count."
"I should think anyone could see this man was a gentleman, Aunt
Caroline," Stella answered, "even without his talking to
Royalties."
They were soon joined by the secretary cousin, who was charmed to
welcome so pretty a relation to Rome, and was profuse in his
apologies for not having been able to do more than leave cards
upon them as yet.
"We should so like to know the names of the celebrities," Mrs.
Ebley said, "especially can you tell us about the very curious-
looking person now conversing with her Imperial Highness; he is at
our hotel."
"That--Oh! that is by far the most interesting man here--it is the
famous Count Roumovski. He is a most celebrated traveler; he has
been all over the world and Africa and Asia in unaccessible
places. He is a fabulously rich Russian--a real Muscovite from
near Moscow, and he does everything and anything he pleases; he
gives enormous sums for the encouragement of science. He is
immensely intelligent--he lunched at the Embassy to-day."
"Really!" said the Aunt Caroline, somewhat impressed. "His
appearance is greatly against him."
"Oh, do you think so?" said the cousin. "I think it adds to his
attraction, it is such superlative audacity. No Englishman would
have the nerve to cut his hair like that."
"I should hope not," said Mrs. Ebley severely, and dropped the
subject.
"To think of this charming rosebud of a girl going to marry
Eustace Medlicott--insufferable, conceited prig, I remember him at
Oxford," the cousin was musing to himself. "Lord Carford is an old
stick-in-the-mud, or he would have prevented that. She is his own
niece, and one can see by her frock that the poor child never even
goes to London."
At this moment they saw the Russian Count putting his heels
together and bowing himself out of the circle of his Royalties;
and straight as a dart he came over to where their group was
standing, and whispered in the cousin's--Mr. Deanwood's ear--who
then asked if he might present Count Roumovski to the Aunt
Caroline and the rest.
When this ceremony was over Mrs. Ebley found herself conversing
with her whilom object of contempt, and coming gradually under the
influence of his wonderful charm, while Stella stood there
trembling with the wildest excitement she had yet known. The words
of Eustace, her betrothed, talking to her, carried no meaning to
her brain, her whole intelligence was strung up to catch what the
others were saying.
With great dexterity the Russian presently made the conversation
general, and drew her into it, and then he said with composure
that the Gardens were illuminated--and, as it was such a very hot
night, would mademoiselle like to take a turn that way, to have
some refreshment? At the same moment, Mr. Deanwood gave Mrs. Ebley
his arm, and they all moved forward--followed by Canon Ebley and
the Rev. Eustace Medlicott, with no great joy upon his face.
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