"Hola, Paul! It was not you I came to see," said Palma jovially, in spite of the infelicity of the meeting. "Nor I you." "No, I suppose not," said Palma, with another short laugh. "Moreover, unless I'm mistaken, it is no good our both stopping here at the same time. Is it not so?" Paul regarded him with gloomy annoyance. He was strung to concert pitch himself, and the careless gaiety of the other jarred upon him exceedingly. At the moment he hated Serge Palma most cordially, though as a rule they were on friendly terms enough. "I really don't think you need wait," said Pavlof quietly. "Of course you don't. But then I do, you see, and that makes all the difference in the world." "It will make no difference." "Da! As to that we shall see. But it's no good our waiting together, if you've come, as I imagine you have, to put your fortune to the test." "I suggest then the propriety of your retiring." "Of course you do. But, again, I don't see it, my friend. Why should I leave you a clear field? First come may be first served." "That's as it may be, and since I was first here----" "Tell you what--let the fates decide it," said the other, with that cheerful laugh of his which made Pavlof grind his teeth. And Palma drew a coin from his pocket and spun and caught it. "Heads you stop, tails you go." But Pavlof shook his head with an expression of disgust at such unseemly frivolity in so momentous a matter. Palma laughed and uncovered the coin on the table. "You win," he said, "so I go. If it had been tails I would have stopped in spite of you, my boy. I shall wait till I see you leave, then I take my turn. I'd wish you luck if I had no conscience. As it is----" He nodded and went out, just as old Marya brought in the samovar and teacups. "Nu!" said she, with a wag of the head "That's right. I'm glad he's gone--if he does not meet her on the road." "You don't like Serge Palma, Masha?" said the young man hopefully. "Not in that way, no," with another thoughtful shake of the head. "He is rich, good-looking, good-tempered----" "No doubt, no doubt. But there are better things even than those." Then the door opened and Hope Arskaïa came in, and, to both Masha and Pavlof, the homely casket glowed suddenly radiant with the brightness of its treasure. "Ah, Paul, mon ami! You have come to share a cup of tea with two lonely old maids. That is good of you. Is it all ready, Matushka? I am later than usual." From the sweet, full tones of her voice to the light, firm tread that bore her so rapidly and so gracefully, she was the embodiment of health and energy, and her beauty was very remarkable. But, after the first glow of satisfaction which fineness and regularity and proportion of feature never fail to produce, it was the purposeful soul shining through the eagerness of the beautiful face, and especially through the great dark-blue eyes, which gave her the mastery.