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nothing more to the eye than a black irregular silhouette against
the crimson sky。
〃Before we entered the long； steep avenue of poplars； the early
winter darkness was upon us； rendered all the more depressing by
gray mists which gave a ghostly aspect to such objects as the sheen
of the snow rendered visible。 Once or twice there were feeble
flashes of light looming in iridescent halos as we passed little
clusters of hovels； but for which I should have been induced to
fancy that the great Hof stood alone in the wilderness； such was
the deathly stillness around。 But even as the tall； square
building rose before us above the vapor； yellow lighted in various
stories； and mighty in height and breadth； there broke upon my ear
a deep…mouthed； menacing bay； which gave at once almost alarming
reality to the eerie surroundings。 'His lordship's boar and wolf
hounds；' quoth my charioteer calmly； unmindful of the regular
pandemonium of howls and barks which ensued as he skillfully turned
his horses through the gateway and flogged the tired beasts into a
sort of shambling canter that we might land with glory before the
house door： a weakness common； I believe； to drivers of all
nations。
〃I alighted in the court of honor； and while awaiting an answer to
my tug at the bell； stood； broken with fatigue； depressed； chilled
and aching； questioning the wisdom of my proceedings and the amount
of comfort； physical and moral； that was likely to await me in a
tete…a…tete visit with a well…mannered savage in his own home。
〃The unkempt tribe of stable retainers who began to gather round me
and my rough vehicle in the gloom； with their evil…smelling
sheepskins and their resigned； battered visages； were not
calculated to reassure me。 Yet when the door opened； there stood a
smart chasseur and a solemn major…domo who might but just have
stepped out of Mayfair； and there was displayed a spreading vista
of warm； deep…colored halls； with here a statue and there a stuffed
bear； and under foot pile carpets strewn with rarest skins。
〃Marveling； yet comforted withal； I followed the solemn butler； who
received me with the deference due to an expected guest and
expressed the master's regret for his enforced absence till dinner
time。 I traversed vast rooms； each more sumptuous than the last；
feeling the strangeness of the contrast between the outer
desolation and this sybaritic excess of luxury growing ever more
strongly upon me； caught a glimpse of a picture gallery； where
peculiar yet admirably executed latter…day French pictures hung
side by side with ferocious boar hunts of Snyder and such kin； and；
at length； was ushered into a most cheerful room； modern to excess
in its comfortable promise； where； in addition to the tall stove
necessary for warmth； there burned on an open hearth a vastly
pleasant fire of resinous logs； and where； on a low table； awaited
me a dainty service of fragrant Russian tea。
〃My impression of utter novelty seemed somehow enhanced by this
unexpected refinement in the heart of the solitudes and in such a
rugged shell； and yet； when I came to reflect； it was only
characteristic of my cosmopolitan host。 But another surprise was
in store for me。
〃When I had recovered bodily warmth and mental equilibrium in my
downy armchair； before the roaring logs； and during the delicious
absorption of my second glass of tea； I turned my attention to the
French valet； evidently the baron's own man； who was deftly
unpacking my portmanteau； and who； unless my practiced eye deceived
me； asked for nothing better than to entertain me with agreeable
conversation the while。
〃'Your master is out； then？' quoth I； knowing that the most trivial
remark would suffice to start him。
〃True； Monseigneur was out； he was desolated in despair （this with
the national amiable and imaginative instinct）； 'but it was
doubtless important business。 M。 le Baron had the visit of his
factor during the midday meal； had left the table hurriedly； and
had not been seen since。 Madame la Baronne had been a little
suffering； but she would receive monsieur！'
〃'Madame！' exclaimed I； astounded； 'is your master then married？
since when？'visions of a fair Tartar； fit mate for my baron；
immediately springing somewhat alluringly before my mental vision。
But the answer dispelled the picturesque fancy。
〃'Oh； yes；' said the man； with a somewhat peculiar expression。
Yes； Monseigneur is married。 Did Monsieur not know？ And yet it
was from England that Monseigneur brought back his wife。'
〃'An Englishwoman！'
〃My first thought was one of pity； an Englishwoman alone in this
wildernesstwo days' drive from even a railway stationand at the
mercy of Kossowski！ But the next minute I reversed my judgment。
Probably she adored her rufous lord； took his veneer of courtesya
veneer of the most exquisite polish； I grant you； but perilously
thinfor the very perfection of chivalry。 Or perchance it was his
inner savageness itself that charmed her； the most refined women
often amaze one by the fascination which the preponderance of the
brute in the opposite sex seems to have for them。
〃I was anxious to hear more。
〃'Is it not dull for the lady here at this time of the year？'
〃The valet raised his shoulders with a gesture of despair that was
almost passionate。
〃Dull！ Ah； monsieur could not conceive to himself the dullness of
it。 That poor Madame la Baronne！ not even a little child to keep
her company on the long； long days when there was nothing but snow
in the heaven and on the earth and the howling of the wind and the
dogs to cheer her。 At the beginning； indeed； it had been
different； when the master first brought home his bride the house
was gay enough。 It was all redecorated and refurnished to receive
her （monsieur should have seen it before； a mere rendezvous…de…
chassefor the matter of that so were all the country houses in
these parts）。 Ah； that was the good time！ There were visits month
after month； parties； sleighing； dancing； trips to St。 Petersburg
and Vienna。 But this year it seemed they were to have nothing but
boars and wolves。 How madame could stand itwell； it was not for
him to speakand heaving a deep sigh he delicately inserted my
white tie round my collar； and with a flourish twisted it into an
irreproachable bow beneath my chin。 I did not think it right to
cross…examine the willing talker any further； especially as；
despite his last asseveration； there were evidently volumes he
still wished to pour forth； but I confess that； as I made my way
slowly out of my room along the noiseless length of passage； I was
conscious of an unwonted； not to say vulgar； curiosity concerning
the woman who had captivated such a man as the Baron Kossowski。
〃In a fit of speculative abstraction I must have taken the wrong
turning； for I presently found myself in a long； narrow passage。 I
did not remember。 I was retrac