Here the really beautiful, though rather florid Alexander I. style
struggled from the walls with an appalling set of furniture of the
period of Alexander II. But the whole thing had an odd unfinished look,
and a fine portrait of the Prince's grandfather in one panel was
entirely riddled with shot!
Some splendid skins of bears and wolves were on the floor, and there
was a general air of the room being lived in--though magnificence and
dilapidation mingled everywhere. The very rich brocade on one of the
sofas had the traces of great rents. And while one table held cigarette
cases and cigar boxes in the most exquisitely fine enamel set with
jewels, on another would be things of the roughest wood. And a cabinet
at the side filled with a priceless collection of snuff boxes and
bon-bonnières of Catherine's time had the glass of one door
cracked into a star of splinters.
Tamara had a sudden sensation of being a million miles away from
England and her family: it all came as a breath of some other life. She
felt strangely nervous, she had not the least notion why. There was a
reckless look about things which caused a weird thrill.
"If it were only arranged, what capabilities it all has," she thought;
"but as it is, it seems to speak of Gritzko and fierce strife."
Tea and the usual quantities of bonnes bouches and vodka waited
them and a bowl of hot punch.
And all three English people, Stephen Strong, Tamara and Jack, admired
their host's gracious welcome, and his courtly manners. Not a trace of
the wild Gritzko seemed left.
Tamara wondered secretly what their sleeping accommodation would be
like.
"Tantine, you must act hostess for me. Will you show these ladies their
rooms," the Prince said. "Dinner is at eight o'clock, but you have lots
of time before for a little bridge if you want."
He took them through the usual amount of reception-rooms--a
billiard-room and library, and small boudoir--and then they came out on
another staircase which led to the floor above. Here he left them and
returned to the men.
"This was done up by the late Princess, Tamara," her godmother said.
"Even twenty years ago the taste was perfectly awful, as you can see.
The whole house could be made beautiful if only there was someone who
cared--though I expect we shall be comfortable enough."
The top passage proved to be wide, but only distempered in two colors,
like the walls of a station waiting-room. Not the slightest attempt to
beautify or furnish with carved chairs, and cabinets of china, and
portraits and tapestry on the walls, as in an English house. In the
passage all was as plain as a barrack.