"I recognize his good taste," said the countess sarcastically, as she shrugged her pretty shoulders disdainfully. "I would wager the flowers were ordered yesterday morning by some lover who broke off with his mistress during the day, and consequently did not call for them in the evening. The Duke de Riancourt is the only man in the world capable of discovering such bargains!" "Ah! madame, can you believe he would economize to that point?" protested the maid. "He is so rich!" "That makes it only the more probable." A rap on the door of the boudoir adjoining the dressing-room, interrupted the conversation, and the French maid vanished, returning almost immediately with the information that the duke had arrived and was at madame's orders. "Let him wait," observed the countess carelessly. "Is the princess in the drawing-room?" "Yes, madame." "Very well--here Katinka, clasp this bracelet," resumed the countess, addressing the Russian maid in her own language once more, "and see what time it is." Katinka turned to the clock and was opening her lips to reply, when her mistress forestalled her by saying, with a mocking smile: "After all, why should I make such an inquiry. The duke has just arrived, half-past nine must--" The half-hour stroke from the clock on the chimney interrupted her, and she broke into a merry, rippling laugh. "What did I tell you, Katinka," she laughed, "the duke is a veritable clock in exactitude." "It proves his love and devotion, madame," rejoined the maid. "I would prefer a less well-regulated love, Katinka," retorted the countess. "These persons who worship at fixed hours seem to have a watch where the heart ought to be. There now, I am almost sorry to be so completely dressed and ready, and to have no excuse to make that poor duke wait longer to reward him for his pitiless exactitude." "But, madame," remonstrated the maid, "if you dislike him so, why do you marry him?" "Why?" echoed the countess, absent-mindedly, giving another glance at the mirror; "why do I marry M. de Riancourt? Really, Katinka, you are more inquisitive than I am; does one ever know why one marries?" "Everybody seems to think there exist excellent reasons for this marriage, nevertheless," pursued Katinka. "Although M. de Riancourt has no gold mines in Crimea, silver mines in the Ural Mountains, diamond--" "In mercy, Katinka, don't go over the list of my riches!" cried the countess, impatiently. "Well, madame, although the duke has not your immense possessions, he is one of the wealthiest and greatest noblemen in France; he is young and handsome, has never led a dissipated life, and--" "And he is worthy of wearing a wreath of orange blossoms on our wedding day--a right which I have not; but, in heaven's name, spare me his virtues. My aunt sounds his praises loud enough without assistance." "Yes, the princess is very fond of monsieur le duc, and she is not the only one who--"