The Price of Things | Page 3

earnest work, but now ambition is no more. He is tired, he has ceased
to struggle; she rules and eats his soul as she has eaten the souls of
others. Shall I present her to you? As a type, she is worthy of your
attention."

"It sounds as if she had the evil eye, as the Italians say," Amaryllis
shuddered.
"Only for men. She is really an amiable creature--women like her. She
is so frankly simple, since for her there are never two issues--only to be
allowed her own desires--a riot of extravagance, the first place--and
some one to gratify certain instincts without too many refinements
when the mood takes her. For the rest, she is kind and good-natured
and 'jolly,' as you English say, and has no notion that she is a road to
hell. But they are mostly dead, her other spider mates, and cannot tell
of it."
"I am much interested. I should like to talk to her. You say that she is
happy?"
"Obviously--she is an elemental--she never thinks at all, except to plan
some further benefit for herself. I do not believe in this life that she can
obtain a soul--her only force is her tenacious will."
"Such force is good, though?"
"Certainly. Even bad force is better than negative Good. One must first
be strong before one can be serene."
"You are strong."
"Yes, but not good. Hardly a fit companion for sweet little English
brides with excellent husbands awaiting them."
"I shall judge of that."
"_Tiens!_ So emancipated!"
"If you are bad, how does your theory work that we pay for each action?
Since by that you must know that it cannot be worth while to be bad."
"It is not--I am aware of it, but when I am bad I am bad deliberately,
knowing that I must pay."

"That seems stupid of you."
He shrugged his shoulders.
"I take very severe exercise when I begin to think of things I should not
and I become savage when I require happiness--now is our chance for
making you acquainted with Harietta, she is moving our way."
Madame Boleski swept towards them on the arm of an Austrian Prince
and the Russian Verisschenzko said, with suave politeness:
"Madame, let me present you to Lady Ardayre. With me she has been
admiring you from afar."
The two women bowed, and with cheery, disarming simplicity, the
American made some gracious remarks in a voice which sounded as if
she smoked too much; it was not disagreeable in tone, nor had she a
pronounced American accent.
Amaryllis Ardayre found herself interested. She admired the superb
attention to detail shown in Madame Boleski's whole person. Her face
was touched up with the lightest art, not overdone in any way. Her hair,
of that very light tone bordering on gold, which sometimes goes with
hazel eyes, was quite natural and wonderfully done. Her dress was
perfection--so were her jewels. One saw that her corsetière was an artist,
and that everything had cost a great deal of money. She had taken off
one glove and Amaryllis saw her bare hand--it was well-shaped, save
that the thumb turned back in a remarkable degree.
"So delighted to meet you," Madame Boleski said. "We are going over
to London next month and I am just crazy to know more of you
delicious English people."
They chatted for a few moments and then Madame Boleski swept
onwards. She was quite stately and graceful and had a well-poised head.
Amaryllis turned to the Russian and was startled by the expression of
fierce, sardonic amusement in his yellow-green eyes.

"But surely, she can see that you are laughing at her?" she exclaimed,
astonished.
"It would convey nothing to her if she did."
"But you looked positively wicked."
"Possibly--I feel it sometimes when I think of Stanislass; he was a very
good friend of mine."
Sir John Ardayre joined them at this moment and the three walked
towards the supper room and the Russian said good-night.
"It is not good-bye, Madame. I, too, shall be in your country soon and I
also hope that I may see you again before you leave Paris."
They arranged a dinner for the following night but one, and said au
revoir.
An hour later the Russian was seated in a huge English leather chair in
the little salon of his apartment in the rue Cambon, when Madame
Boleski very softly entered the room and sat down upon his knee.
"I had to come, darling Brute," she said. "I was jealous of the English
girl," and she fitted her delicately painted lips to his. "Stanislass wanted
to talk over his new scheme for Poland, too, and as you know that
always gets on my nerves."
But Verisschenzko threw his head back impatiently, while he answered
roughly.