ETHEL.  I hear that Lord Hawcastle has left the hotel.

PIKE [dryly].  Yes; I saw him go.

ETHEL.  He left very quickly?

PIKE.  He did seem to be forgetting the scenery.

ETHEL [decidedly].  He was afraid of Ivanoff.

PIKE.  I shouldn’t be surprised.  Ivanoff wants to thank you.  May I bring him?

ETHEL.  Yes.

[PIKE goes off into the grove.]

[MARIANO and a file of servants enter from the hotel, form a line, and bow profoundly as VASILI enters.  They withdraw at a sign from him.]

ETHEL [making a deep curtsy].  Monseigneur!

VASILI [to ETHEL].  Not you!  You see, I must fly to some place where an incognito will be respected.  If I stay here it will be—­what you call—­fuss and feathers and revolutionary agents.  I have come to make my adieu to your guardian.  Incognito or out of it, he is my very good friend—­no matter if he is an egoist.

ETHEL.  An egoist!  That is the last thing in the world he should be called.

VASILI.  Ah, so; what do you call him?

ETHEL.  I?  I call him—­

[She begins bravely, but at a keen glance from him stops abruptly, blushing.]

VASILI.  Bravo!  I call him an egoist because he is so content to be what he is he will not pretend to be something else!  I respect your country in him, my dear young lady; and he cares nothing whether I am a king or a commoner.  Everywhere the people bow and salaam half on their knees to me; but he—­

ETHEL.  No, I can’t quite imagine him doing that.

[Enter PIKE from the grove, followed by IVANOFF.]

VASILI [to PIKE].  I have come to bid you goodbye, my friend.  Life is a service of farewells, they say; but if you ever come to St. Petersburg when I am there you will be made welcome.  Your ambassador will tell you where to find me.

PIKE.  I know I’d be welcome; and if you ever get out as far as Indiana, don’t miss Kokomo—­the depot hackman will tell you where to find me, and the boys will help me show you a good time.  You’d like it, Doc—­

[He stops, horrified at his slip of the tongue.]

VASILI.  I know that.

PIKE.  I don’t know how to call you by name, but I reckon you’ll understand I do think an awful lot of you.

VASILI [as they shake hands].  My friend, I have confided to you that you are a great man.  But a great man is sure to be set upon a pedestal by some pretty lady. [ETHEL turns away.] It is a great responsibility to occupy a pedestal.  On that account I depart in some anxiety for you.

PIKE.  What do you mean?

VASILI.  Ah, you do not understand?  Then, my friend—­what is it you have taught me to say?—­ah, yes—­then there is sand in your gear-box.

[VASILI gives his hand to IVANOFF quietly, bows deeply to ETHEL, and goes quickly into the hotel.]

IVANOFF [turning to ETHEL].  Dear, kind young lady, your guardian has known how to make me accept the help you granted.  He has known how because his heart is like yours, full of goodness.  I shall go to London and teach the languages.  There I shall be able to repay you—­at least what you have given me in money.