-
Articles/Ads
Article PRINCE BOLTIKOFF: ← Page 3 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Prince Boltikoff:
After lunch I produced cigars . He looked at the tobacco ravenously . « It is my passion . I did not think I could have existed so long without it . " He lay back in an arm-chair and smoked half a-dozen cigars one after the other ,
apparently with the most intense gratification . Meanwhile we talked . The prince was a most agreeable companion , his experiences were varied ; he had travelled far and wide , had seen many cities , and ] mew ffle 11 an < ^ manners . It was delightful to listen to him . But he was far too
well-bred to monopolise the conversation . He also could listen , and did so with courteous , unflagging interest as I enlarged upon the subjects I had most at heart—he even led me on to talk quite familiarly and freely of my regiment ; my comrades ;
my life and prospects ; everything , in short , which interested me . In this way the hours passed , till suddenly the prince jumped up . " You have been most good , M . Carruthers . I can never repay your kindness .
But now , the day is advancing , I must be moving on . " "Pray do not think of it . You will surely stay and dine ? To-morrow or next day will be time enough to travel ; by then you will be refreshed and recruited in
strength . " " I hardly dare take advantage of your good nature . I know not what to say . But your , pleasant society draws me towards you ; I will stay . Suffer me only to write a few letters . I must
communicate with the Russian Embassy ; I should send to my bankers , and to my London hotel for clothes and necessaries . " I sat him down at once to my writingdesk , a piece of portable barrack furniture limited in dimensions , very much littered with
old letters , books , and stray papers ; tradesmen ' s bills , an army list , Bradshaw , officials' reports and returns , some in my own handwriting and bearing my signature . But from among these I cleared sufficient space , and left the prince to write his fetters
alone . It was quite an hour before I returned . H -e started rather as I re-entered the room , out explained that his recent narrow escape j > ad shaken his nerves . He had been j > % : several letters were lying on the able > tneh . ' addresses uppermost , and , for
the life of me , I could not help seeing that one was to a secretary of the Russian Embassy , another to someone at Claridge ' s Hotel , a third to Messrs . Coutts ; of a fourth I read only a part . It looked like
" Jemmy Haw Seven Di . ' But the moment my somewhat surprised and curious eyes had read thus far , the prince took up alL his correspondence , put the letters in his pocket , and rose to greet me with a pleasant smile .
" There ! So much for business . This contretemps will alter all my plans . But what matter ? I am still alive . Shall we take a breath of air ? Outside , after a few turns upon the shorehe said :
, " Is your post-office far ? We might drop these in as we passed . " I said I sent an orderly with the letterbag as far as Silverburn , the nearest village and railway station : three miles or so . He would start in an hour .
" Now confess—you are sending on purpose 1 I should be truly grieved to derange you . Your soldier would hate me . What say yon ; shall we walk to the post ourselves ? I should like it , and it would do you good too ; you are lazy , mon lieutenant , you will grow fat . Say thenshall we
, walk to Silverburn ?'' I excused myself . The fact was I wished to stay at the fort to attend to household affairs . I did not often entertain a prince , and I was somewhat anxious about the dinner which was being prepared by my
inexperienced soldier cook . " You will not ? You are wrong . You should walk more . It is excellent exercise . I find the benefit and need it much always , os now . But I see you will not be persuaded . Au revoir then—till 1 "
" Dinner at half-past six . That will g ive us a nice long evening . " " Yes ; a nice long evening , " he repeated after me in a strange mocking tone . If he had not been a prince I might have considered his conduct rude ,
We parted . He walked on at a very brisk pace ; I returned slowly to the fort . For the next few hours I was busy superintending the operations in the kitchen , assisting to lay the table , drawing wine , and making ready for the feast . About six P . M . I dressed in mess uniform to do honour to my foreign guest , and
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Prince Boltikoff:
After lunch I produced cigars . He looked at the tobacco ravenously . « It is my passion . I did not think I could have existed so long without it . " He lay back in an arm-chair and smoked half a-dozen cigars one after the other ,
apparently with the most intense gratification . Meanwhile we talked . The prince was a most agreeable companion , his experiences were varied ; he had travelled far and wide , had seen many cities , and ] mew ffle 11 an < ^ manners . It was delightful to listen to him . But he was far too
well-bred to monopolise the conversation . He also could listen , and did so with courteous , unflagging interest as I enlarged upon the subjects I had most at heart—he even led me on to talk quite familiarly and freely of my regiment ; my comrades ;
my life and prospects ; everything , in short , which interested me . In this way the hours passed , till suddenly the prince jumped up . " You have been most good , M . Carruthers . I can never repay your kindness .
But now , the day is advancing , I must be moving on . " "Pray do not think of it . You will surely stay and dine ? To-morrow or next day will be time enough to travel ; by then you will be refreshed and recruited in
strength . " " I hardly dare take advantage of your good nature . I know not what to say . But your , pleasant society draws me towards you ; I will stay . Suffer me only to write a few letters . I must
communicate with the Russian Embassy ; I should send to my bankers , and to my London hotel for clothes and necessaries . " I sat him down at once to my writingdesk , a piece of portable barrack furniture limited in dimensions , very much littered with
old letters , books , and stray papers ; tradesmen ' s bills , an army list , Bradshaw , officials' reports and returns , some in my own handwriting and bearing my signature . But from among these I cleared sufficient space , and left the prince to write his fetters
alone . It was quite an hour before I returned . H -e started rather as I re-entered the room , out explained that his recent narrow escape j > ad shaken his nerves . He had been j > % : several letters were lying on the able > tneh . ' addresses uppermost , and , for
the life of me , I could not help seeing that one was to a secretary of the Russian Embassy , another to someone at Claridge ' s Hotel , a third to Messrs . Coutts ; of a fourth I read only a part . It looked like
" Jemmy Haw Seven Di . ' But the moment my somewhat surprised and curious eyes had read thus far , the prince took up alL his correspondence , put the letters in his pocket , and rose to greet me with a pleasant smile .
" There ! So much for business . This contretemps will alter all my plans . But what matter ? I am still alive . Shall we take a breath of air ? Outside , after a few turns upon the shorehe said :
, " Is your post-office far ? We might drop these in as we passed . " I said I sent an orderly with the letterbag as far as Silverburn , the nearest village and railway station : three miles or so . He would start in an hour .
" Now confess—you are sending on purpose 1 I should be truly grieved to derange you . Your soldier would hate me . What say yon ; shall we walk to the post ourselves ? I should like it , and it would do you good too ; you are lazy , mon lieutenant , you will grow fat . Say thenshall we
, walk to Silverburn ?'' I excused myself . The fact was I wished to stay at the fort to attend to household affairs . I did not often entertain a prince , and I was somewhat anxious about the dinner which was being prepared by my
inexperienced soldier cook . " You will not ? You are wrong . You should walk more . It is excellent exercise . I find the benefit and need it much always , os now . But I see you will not be persuaded . Au revoir then—till 1 "
" Dinner at half-past six . That will g ive us a nice long evening . " " Yes ; a nice long evening , " he repeated after me in a strange mocking tone . If he had not been a prince I might have considered his conduct rude ,
We parted . He walked on at a very brisk pace ; I returned slowly to the fort . For the next few hours I was busy superintending the operations in the kitchen , assisting to lay the table , drawing wine , and making ready for the feast . About six P . M . I dressed in mess uniform to do honour to my foreign guest , and