He was a plain commoner, while his interlocutor was a baron.

The knowledge of this was subtly conveyed in his bow.
"How can I serve M.le Baron ?" he enquired in a voice which was naturally loud and strong, but had been reduced by careful training to a tone inaudible at the distance of a few paces.
"By following me to the Cafe Tantale in ten minutes," answered De Chauxville, passing on to greet a lady who was bowing to him with the labored grace of a Parisienne.
Vassili merely bowed and stood upright again.

There was something in his attitude of quiet attention, of unobtrusive scrutiny and retiring intelligence, vaguely suggestive of the police--something which his friends refrained from mentioning to him; for this Vassili was a dignified man, of like susceptibilities with ourselves, and justly proud of the fact that he belonged to the Corps Diplomatique.

What position he occupied in that select corporation he never vouchsafed to define.

But it was known that he enjoyed considerable emoluments, while he was never called upon to represent his country or his emperor in any official capacity.