"The vicomte knew the duc personally," whispered Anna Pavlovna to ofthe guests. "The vicomte is a wonderful raconteur," said she toanother. "How evidently he belongs to the best society," said she to athird; and the vicomte was served up to the company in the choicestand most advantageous style,
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The vicomte wished to begin his story and gave a subtle smile.
"Come over here, Helene, dear," said Anna Pavlovna to thebeautiful young princess who was sitting some way off, the center ofanother group.
The princess smiled. She rose with the same unchanging smile withwhich she had first entered the room- the smile of a perfectlybeautiful woman. With a slight rustle of her white dress trimmedwith moss and ivy, with a gleam of white shoulders,
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newport cigarette, andsparkling diamonds, she passed between the men who made way for her,not looking at any of them but smiling on all, as if graciouslyallowing each the privilege of admiring her beautiful figure andshapely shoulders, back,
cheap newport 100 cigarettes, and bosom- which in the fashion of those dayswere very much exposed- and she seemed to bring the glamour of aballroom with her as she moved toward Anna Pavlovna. Helene was solovely that not only did she not show any trace of coquetry, but onthe contrary she even appeared shy of her unquestionable and all toovictorious beauty. She seemed to wish, but to be unable, to diminishits effect.
"How lovely,
newport cartons!" said everyone who saw her; and the vicomte liftedhis shoulders and dropped his eyes as if startled by somethingextraordinary when she took her seat opposite and beamed upon him alsowith her unchanging smile.
"Madame, I doubt my ability before such an audience," said he,smilingly inclining his head.
The princess rested her bare round arm on a little table andconsidered a reply unnecessary. She smilingly waited. All the time thestory was being told she sat upright, glancing now at her beautifulround arm,
buy newport cigarettes wholesale, altered in shape by its pressure on the table, now at herstill more beautiful bosom, on which she readjusted a diamondnecklace. From time to time she smoothed the folds of her dress, andwhenever the story produced an effect she glanced at Anna Pavlovna, atonce adopted just the expression she saw on the maid of honor'sface, and again relapsed into her radiant smile.