amusing."

"Think of the travelling and my old bones!" And Stephen Strong smiled.
"But since it is your wish, dear Princess, of course I must come."

They were old and very intimate friends these two, and with him the
Princess was accustomed to talk over most of her plans.

He got up and lit a cigarette, then he walked across the room and came
back again, while his hostess surveyed him with surprise. At last he
sat down.

"Vera, tell me the truth," he said. "How are things going? I confess
last night gave me qualms."

The Princess gazed at him inquiringly.

"Why qualms?"

"You see, Gritzko is quite an exceptional person, he is no type of a
Russian or any other nation that one can reckon with, he is himself,
and he has the most attractive magnetic personality a man could have."

"Well, then?"

"And if you knew the simple unsophisticated atmosphere in which your
godchild has been brought up----."

"Stephen, really,"--and the Princess tapped her foot impatiently.
"Please speak out. Say what you mean."