"A duel!" Tamara was startled. "How dreadful, and how silly! But why? I
thought dueling had quite gone out in all civilized countries; and in
any case, why fight about me? And who should fight? Surely you are only
teasing me, Count Valonne."

"Duels are real facts here, I am afraid," he said. "Gritzko has already
engaged in two of them. He is not quarrelsome, but just never permits
any one to cross his wishes or interfere with his game."

"But what _is_ his game? You speak as though it were some kind of
cards or plot. What do you mean?" and Tamara, with heightened color,
lifted her head.

"The game of Gritzko?" and Count Valonne laughed. "Frankly, I think he
is very much in love with you, Madame," he said. "So by that you can
guess what would be any man's game."

"You have a vivid imagination, and are talking perfect nonsense."
Tamara laughed nervously. "I refuse to be the least upset by such
ideas!"

At the moment up came Count Boris Varishkine, and after a while she
went off with him to a sofa by the window, and there was seated in deep
converse when the Prince came in.

He looked at them for a second and then made straight for the Princess
Ardácheff, who was just about to arrange her rubber of bridge.

"Tantine, I want to talk to you," he said.