ballet's second act!

For the interval after it, the two ladies got up and went into the
little ante-chamber beyond the box. Tamara was glad. There she could
not see what this annoying Prince would do.

What he did do was to open the door in a few minutes and saunter in. He
greeted Tamara with polite indifference, and having calmly displaced
Count Valonne, sat down by the Princess' side.

Valonne was a charming person, and he and Tamara were great friends. He
chatted on now, and she smiled at him, but with ears preternaturally
sharpened she heard the conversation of the other pair.

It was this.

"Tantine, I am feeling the absolute devil tonight. Will you come and
have supper with me after this infernal ballet is over?"

"Gritzko--what is it? Something has disturbed you!"

He leant forward and rested his chin on his hands. "Well, your haughty
guest touched me with too sharp a spur, perhaps," he said, "but she was
right. I do waste my life. I have been thinking of my mother. I believe
she might not be pleased with me sometimes. And then I felt mad, and
now I must do something to forget. So if you won't sup--"

"Oh! Gritzko!" the Princess said.

"I telephoned home and ordered things to be ready. I know you don't