Pagina 28 di 3800

"How lovely!" said everyone who saw her; and the vicomte lifted

his shoulders and dropped his eyes as if startled by something

extraordinary when she took her seat opposite and beamed upon him

also with her unchanging smile.

"Madame, I doubt my ability before such an audience," said he,

smilingly inclining his head.

The princess rested her bare round arm on a little table and

considered a reply unnecessary. She smilingly waited. All the

time the story was being told she sat upright, glancing now at

her beautiful round arm, altered in shape by its pressure on the

table, now at her still more beautiful bosom, on which she

readjusted a diamond necklace. From time to time she smoothed the

folds of her dress, and whenever the story produced an effect she

glanced at Anna Pavlovna, at once adopted just the expression she

saw on the maid of honor's face, and again relapsed into her

radiant smile.

The little princess had also left the tea table and followed

Helene.