When he did see it, he noted that it was as white as marble.
"Aha! Ce bon Steinmetz!" cried Vassili, with less formality, holding out his hand with frank and boyish good humor.
"Aha! Ce cher Vassili!" returned Steinmetz, taking the hand.
"It is good of you, M.le Prince, and you, madame, to honor us in our small house," said the marquise in a guttural voice such as one might expect from within ruby velvet and amethysts.

Thereafter she subsided into silence and obscurity so far as the evening was concerned and the present historian is interested.
"So," said Vassili, with a comprehensive bow to all his guests--"so you are bound for Russia.

But I envy you--I envy you.

You know Russia, Mme.
la Princesse ?" Etta met his veiled gaze calmly.
"A little," she replied.
There was no sign of recognition in his eyes now, nor pallor on her face.
"A beautiful country, but the rest of Europe does not believe it.

And the estate of the prince is one of the vastest, if not the most beautiful.