M.Vassili's weakest link will be touched by your gorgeous note-paper.

If ce cher prince and la charmante princesse are gracious to him, Vassili is already robbed of half his danger." Paul laughed.

It was his habit either to laugh or to grumble at Karl Steinmetz's somewhat subtle precautions.

The word "danger" invariably made him laugh, with a ring in his voice which seemed to betoken enjoyment.
"Of course," he said, "I leave these matters to you.

Let us show Vassili, at all events, that we are not afraid of him." "Then sit down and accept." That which M.Vassili was pleased to call his little dog-hole in the Champs Elysees was, in fact, a gorgeous house in the tawdry style of modern Paris--resplendent in gray iron railings, and high gate-posts surmounted by green cactus plants cunningly devised in cast iron.
The heavy front door was thrown open by a lackey, and others bowed in the halls as if by machinery.