e
is sometimes shame among thieves.

CHAPTER XXVII

IN THE WEB

"What I propose is that Catrina takes you for a drive, my dear baron,
with her two ponies."

The countess had taken very good care to refrain from making this
proposal to Catrina alone. She was one of those mothers who rule their
daughters by springing surprises upon them in a carefully selected
company where the daughter is not free to reply.

De Chauxville bowed with outspread hands.

"If it will not bore mademoiselle," he replied.

The countess looked at her daughter with an unctuous smile, as if to
urge her on to make the most of this opportunity. It was one of the
countess's chief troubles that she could not by hook or crook involve
Catrina in any sort of a love intrigue. She was the sort of mother who
would have preferred to hear scandal about her daughter to hearing
nothing.

"If it will not freeze monsieur," replied Catrina, with uncompromising
honesty.

De Chauxville laughed in his frank way.

"I am not afraid of coldness--of the atmosphere, mademoiselle," he
replied. "I am most anxious to see your beautiful country. It was quite
dark during the last hour of my journey last night, and I had
snow-sleepiness. I saw nothing."

"You will see nothing but snow," said Catrina.

"Which is like the reserve of a young girl," added the Frenchman. "It
keeps warm that which is beneath it."

"You need not be afraid with Catrina," chimed in the countess, nodding
and becking in a manner that clearly showed her assumption to herself of
some vague compliment. "She drives beautifully. She is not nervous in
that way. I have never seen any one drive like her."

"I have no doubt," said De Chauxville, "that mademoiselle's hands are
firm, despite their diminutiveness."

The countess was charmed--and showed it. She frowned at Catrina, who
remained grave and looked at the clock.

"When would you like to go?" she asked De Chauxville, with that complete
absence of affectation which the Russian, of all women of the world,
alone have mastered in their conversation with men.

"Am I not at your service--now and always?" responded the gallant baron.

"I hope not," replied Catrina quietly. "There are occasions when I have
no use for you. Shall we say eleven o'clock?"

"With pleasure. Then I will go and write my letters now," said the
baron, quitting the room.

"A charming man!" ejaculated the countess, before the door was well
closed.

"A fool!