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turning； for I presently found myself in a long； narrow passage。 I
did not remember。 I was retracing my steps when there came the
sound of rapid footfalls upon stone flags； a little door flew open
in the wall close to me； and a small； thick…set man； huddled in the
rough sheepskin of the Galician peasant； with a mangy fur cap on
his head； nearly ran headlong into my arms。 I was about
condescendingly to interpellate him in my best Polish； when I
caught the gleam of an angry yellow eye and noted the bristle of a
red beardKossowski！
〃Amazed； I fell back a step in silence。 With a growl like an
uncouth animal disturbed； he drew his filthy cap over his brow with
a savage gesture and pursued his way down the corridor at a sort of
wild…boar trot。
〃This first meeting between host and guest was so odd； so
incongruous； that it afforded me plenty of food for a fresh line of
conjecture as I traced my way back to the picture gallery； and from
thence successfully to the drawing…room； which； as the door was
ajar； I could not this time mistake。
〃It was large and lofty and dimly lit by shaded lamps； through the
rosy gloom I could at first only just make out a slender figure by
the hearth； but as I advanced； this was resolved into a singularly
graceful woman in clinging； fur…trimmed velvet gown； who； with one
hand resting on the high mantelpiece； the other banging listlessly
by her side； stood gazing down at the crumbling wood fire as if in
a dream。
〃My friends are kind enough to say that I have a catlike tread； I
know not how that may be； at any rate the carpet I was walking upon
was thick enough to smother a heavier footfall： not until I was
quite close to her did my hostess become aware of my presence。
Then she started violently and looked over her shoulder at me with
dilating eyes。 Evidently a nervous creature； I saw the pulse in
her throat； strained by her attitude； flutter like a terrified
bird。
〃The next instant she had stretched out her hand with sweet English
words of welcome； and the face； which I had been comparing in my
mind to that of Guido's Cenci； became transformed by the arch and
exquisite smile of a Greuse。 For more than two years I had had no
intercourse with any of my nationality。 I could conceive the sound
of his native tongue under such circumstances moving a man in a
curious unexpected fashion。
〃I babbled some commonplace reply； after which there was silence
while we stood opposite each other； she looking at me expectantly。
At length； with a sigh checked by a smile and an overtone of
sadness in a voice that yet tried to be sprightly：
〃'Am I then so changed； Mr。 Marshfield？' she asked。 And all at
once I knew her： the girl whose nightingale throat had redeemed the
desolation of the evenings at Rathdrum； whose sunny beauty had
seemed （even to my celebrated cold…blooded aestheticism） worthy to
haunt a man's dreams。 Yes； there was the subtle curve of the
waist； the warm line of throat； the dainty foot； the slender tip…
tilted fingerswitty fingers； as I had classified themwhich I
now shook like a true Briton； instead of availing myself of the
privilege the country gave me； and kissing her slender wrist。
〃But she was changed； and I told her so with unconventional
frankness； studying her closely as I spoke。
〃'I am afraid；' I said gravely； 'that this place does not agree
with you。'
〃She shrank from my scrutiny with a nervous movement and flushed to
the roots of her red…brown hair。 Then she answered coldly that I
was wrong； that she was in excellent health； but that she could not
expect any more than other people to preserve perennial youth （I
rapidly calculated she might be two…and…twenty）； though； indeed；
with a little forced laugh； it was scarcely flattering to hear one
had altered out of all recognition。 Then； without allowing me time
to reply； she plunged into a general topic of conversation which；
as I should have been obtuse indeed not to take the hint； I did my
best to keep up。
〃But while she talked of Vienna and Warsaw； of her distant
neighbors； and last year's visitors； it was evident that her mind
was elsewhere； her eye wandered； she lost the thread of her
discourse； answered me at random； and smiled her piteous smile
incongruously。
〃However lonely she might be in her solitary splendor； the company
of a countryman was evidently no such welcome diversion。
〃After a little while she seemed to feel herself that she was
lacking in cordiality； and； bringing her absent gaze to bear upon
me with a puzzled strained look： 'I fear you will find it very
dull；' she said； 'my husband is so wrapped up this winter in his
country life and his sport。 You are the first visitor we have had。
There is nothing but guns and horses here； and you do not care for
these things。'
〃The door creaked behind us； and the baron entered； in faultless
evening dress。 Before she turned toward him I was sharp enough to
catch again the upleaping of a quick dread in her eyes； not even so
much dread perhaps； I thought afterwards； as horrorthe horror we
notice in some animals at the nearing of a beast of prey。 It was
gone in a second； and she was smiling。 But it was a revelation。
〃Perhaps he beat her in Russian fashion； and she； as an
Englishwoman； was narrow…minded enough to resent this； or perhaps；
merely； I had the misfortune to arrive during a matrimonial
misunderstanding。
〃The baron would not give me leisure to reflect； he was so very
effusive in his greetingnot a hint of our previous meeting
unlike my hostess； all in all to me； eager to listen； to reply；
almost affectionate； full of references to old times and genial
allusions。 No doubt when he chose he could be the most charming of
men； there were moments when； looking at him in his quiet smile and
restrained gesture； the almost exaggerated politeness of his manner
to his wife； whose fingers he had kissed with pretty； old…fashioned
gallantry upon his entrance； I asked myself； Could that encounter
in the passage have been a dream？ Could that savage in the
sheepskin be my courteous entertainer？
〃'Just as I came in； did I hear my wife say there was nothing for
you to do in this place？' he said presently to me。 Then； turning
to her：
〃'You do not seem to know Mr。 Marshfield。 Wherever he can open
his eyes there is for him something to see which might not interest
other men。 He will find things in my library which I have no
notion of。 He will discover objects for scientific observation in
all the members of my household； not only in the good…looking
maidsthough he could； I have no doubt； tell their points as I
could those of a horse。 We have maidens here of several distinct
races； Marshfield。 We have also witches； and Jew leeches； and holy
daft people。 In any case； Yany； with all its dependencies；
material； male and female； are at your disposal； for what you can
make out of them。