Harietta could not think how to cope with this new mood; her weariness with the gloom of England and the absence of amusement seemed to render Stepan more than ever desirable. He represented the wild, the strong, the primitive, the only thing she felt that she desired at that moment--and if she let him go to-day he was capable of never coming back to her again. It was worth using any means to keep him on. She knew that she could obtain some show of love from him if she bribed him with bits of news. It would serve Hans right too for daring to turn up so inconveniently! So she came from behind his chair and sat down on Verisschenzko's knee and commenced to whisper in his ear. "Now I am beginning to think that you love me again," he announced presently,--"and of course I must always pay for love!" * * * * * They were seated by the fire in two armchairs when Stanislass came in from the Club before dinner at eight. Harietta had not even remembered that she must dress, so intoxicated with re-awakened passion for Verisschenzko had she become. A man for her must be in the room; her affection could not keep alight in absence. She had revelled in the joy of finding again a complete physical master. She loved him as a tigress may love her tamer, the man with the whip; and the knowledge that she was deceiving Hans and her husband and Ferdinand added a fillip to her satisfaction. But how was she going to be sure to see Stepan again--that was the question which still agitated her. Verisschenzko wished to further examine Ferdinand Ardayre, and so decided to make every one uncomfortable once more by staying on. Stanislass, very nervous with him now, talked fast and foolishly. Harietta fidgeted, and in a moment or two Ferdinand Ardayre was announced. He reddened with annoyance to see the Russian had not gone; the flowers which he had brought were in a parcel in his hand. Harietta took them disdainfully without a word of thanks. What a nuisance the creature was after all!--and Stanislass was--and everything and anything was which kept her from being alone with Verisschenzko! "When are you coming to see me again, Stepan?" she asked, determined not to let him part without some definite future meeting settled. "I will come back and take coffee with you to-night," he answered unexpectedly. Harietta was enchanted, she had not hoped for this. "No one bothers so much about dressing now, stay and dine as you are." "Yes, do," chimed in Stanislass timidly in Russian, "we should be so charmed." "Very well--I will dine--but I must change. I shall not be long though. Begin dinner without me, I will join you before the fish." And with no further waste of words he left them. Harietta pushed Stanislass gently from the room with an injunction to be quick--and then she returned and held out her arms to Ferdinand Ardayre.