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“What can be more serious than a woman’s smile, M. American?”
“A man’s nihilism, mademoiselle, for one thing. But come, here are the papers, M. Boreski. I shall have the pleasure of addressing you as Count, I shall hand to you the consent to your unmercenary marriage, and shall give you the draft for a million roubles as the dowry conferred by a grateful Emperor. Where are the papers for me?”
He put his hand to his pocket.
“I——” he paused suddenly and then said hesitatingly, “I—I will get them. I have your permission to withdraw?”
He had himself in hand again.
“And to return—with the papers. Will you also see that a carriage is ready?”
As he rose I intercepted a very meaning glance between the two, and then once more Helga and I were alone.
All had gone smoothly so far; but there was clearly much that I did not yet understand, and I turned to Helga to question her.
Chapter V—A CZAR DEFIED
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HELGA met my eyes readily with something like a challenge in her own, and as the first question was on my lips, a thought struck me. It was odd that coming to such an interview he had not brought the papers with him. I said so to her.