Reginald in Russia | Page 3

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This etext was prepared by Jane Duff; proofed by David Price, email
[email protected] from the 1910 Methuen and Co. edition.

REGINALD IN RUSSIA AND OTHER SKETCHES

Contents:
REGINALD IN RUSSIA THE RETICENCE OF LADY ANNE THE
LOST SANJAK THE SEX THAT DOESN'T SHOP THE
BLOOD-FEUD OF TOAD-WATER A YOUNG TURKISH
CATASTROPHE JUDKIN OF THE PARCELS GABRIEL-ERNEST
THE SAINT AND THE GOBLIN THE SOUL OF LAPLOSHKA THE
BAG THE STRATEGIST CROSS CURRENTS THE BAKER'S
DOZEN THE MOUSE

REGINALD IN RUSSIA

Reginald sat in a corner of the Princess's salon and tried to forgive the
furniture, which started out with an obvious intention of being Louis
Quinze, but relapsed at frequent intervals into Wilhelm II.
He classified the Princess with that distinct type of woman that looks as
if it habitually went out to feed hens in the rain.
Her name was Olga; she kept what she hoped and believed to be a fox-
terrier, and professed what she thought were Socialist opinions. It is not
necessary to be called Olga if you are a Russian Princess; in fact,
Reginald knew quite a number who were called Vera; but the
fox-terrier and the Socialism are essential.
"The Countess Lomshen keeps a bull-dog," said the Princess suddenly.
"In England is it more chic to have a bull-dog than a fox-terrier?"
Reginald threw his mind back over the canine fashions of the last ten
years and gave an evasive answer.
"Do you think her handsome, the Countess Lomshen?" asked the
Princess.
Reginald thought the Countess's complexion suggested an exclusive
diet of macaroons and pale sherry. He said so.
"But that cannot be possible," said the Princess triumphantly; "I've seen
her eating fish-soup at Donon's."
The Princess always defended a friend's complexion if it was really bad.

With her, as with a great many of her sex, charity began at homeliness
and did not generally progress much farther.
Reginald withdrew his macaroon and sherry theory, and became
interested in a case of miniatures.
"That?" said the Princess; "that is the old Princess Lorikoff. She lived
in Millionaya Street, near the Winter Palace, and was one of the Court
ladies of the old Russian school. Her knowledge of people and events
was extremely limited; but she used to patronise every one who came
in contact with her. There was a story that when she died and left the
Millionaya for Heaven she addressed St. Peter in her formal staccato
French: 'Je suis la Princesse Lor-i-koff. Il me donne grand plaisir a faire
votre connaissance. Je vous en prie me presenter au Bon Dieu.' St.
Peter made the desired introduction, and the Princess addressed le Bon
Dieu: 'Je suis la Princesse Lor- i-koff. Il me donne grand plaisir a faire
votre connaissance. On a souvent parle de vous a l'eglise de la rue