Leo was indulging himself with a bone under the table, but came instantly to his master's call.
Heliobas took the dog's head between his two hands, and gazed steadily into the grave brown eyes that regarded him with equal steadiness.

This interchange of looks lasted but a few seconds.

Leo left the room, walking with an unruffled and dignified pace, while we awaited his return--Heliobas and Zara with indifference, Prince Ivan with amusement, and I with interest and expectancy.

Two or three minutes elapsed, and the dog returned with the same majestic demeanour, carrying between his teeth my handkerchief.

He came straight to me and placed it in my hand; shook himself, wagged his tail, and conveying a perfectly human expression of satisfaction into his face, went under the table again to his bone.