The kiss was so long, that Tamara with great difficulty and with aversion barely freed herself from the embraces of Emma Edwardovna.

“Well, and now to business.  And so, here are my terms:  you will be housekeeper, I give you fifteen percent, out of the clear gain.  Mind you, Tamara, fifteen percent.  And, besides that, a small salary—­thirty, forty, well, if you like, fifty roubles a month.  Splendid terms—­isn’t that the truth?  I am deeply convinced, that none other than just you will help me to raise the house to a real height, and make it the swellest not only in our city, but in all the south of Russia as well.  You have taste, and an understanding of things! ...  Besides that, you will always be able to entertain, and to stir up the most exacting, the most unyielding guests.  In rare instances, when a very rich and distinguished gentleman—­in Russian they call it one “sun-fish,” while with us, ein Freier,[Footnote:  In English, a “toff”; in American, a “swell.”—­ trans.]—­when he becomes infatuated with you—­for you are so handsome, Tamarochka,” (the proprietress looked at her with misty, humid eyes), “then I do not at all forbid you to pass the time with him gaily; only to bear down always upon the fact that you have no right, owing to your duty, your position, Und so weiter, und so weiter ... aber sagen sie bitte, do you easily make yourself understood in German?”

“Die Deutsche Sprache beherrsche ich in geringerem Grade als die franzosische; indes kann ich stets in einer Salon-Plauderei mitmachen.” [Footnote:  “My mastery of the German language is a trifle worse than that of the French, but I can always keep up my end in parlor small talk.”]

“O, wunderbar! sie haben eine entzuckende Rigaer Aussprache, die beste alter deutschen Aussprachen.  Und also—­fahren wir in unserer Sprache fort.  Sie klingt viel susser meinem Ohr, die Muttersprache.  Schon? [Footnote:  O, splendid! ...  You have a bewitching Riga enunciation, the most correct of all the German ones.  And so, let us continue in my tongue.  That is far sweeter to my ear—­my mother tongue.  All right?”]

 “Schon.” [Footnote:  “All right.”]

“Zuletzt werden Sie nachgeben, dem Anschein nach ungern, unwillkurlich, van der Laune des Augenblicks hingerissen—­und, was die Hauptsache ist, lautlos, heimlich vor mir.  Sie verstehen?  Dafur zahlen Narren ein schweres Geld.  Ubrigens brauche ich Sie wohl nicht zu lernen.” [Footnote:  “In the very end you will give in, as though unwillingly, as though against your will, as though from infatuation, a momentary caprice, and—­which is the main thing—­as though on the sly from me.  You understand?  For this the fools pay enormous money.  However, it seems I will not have to teach you.”]

“Ja, gnadige Frau.  Sie sprechen gar kluge Dinge.  Doch das ist schon keine Plauderei mehr, sondern eine ernste unterhaltung.  “Yes, my dear madam.  You say very wise things.  But this is no longer small talk; it is, rather, serious conversation ...  And for that reason it is more convenient for me, if you will revert to the Russian language ...  I am ready to obey you.”