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The count burst out laughing. The other guests seeing that

Shinshin was talking came up to listen. Berg, oblivious of irony

or indifference, continued to explain how by exchanging into the

Guards he had already gained a step on his old comrades of the

Cadet Corps; how in wartime the company commander might get

killed and he, as senior in the company, might easily succeed to

the post; how popular he was with everyone in the regiment, and

how satisfied his father was with him. Berg evidently enjoyed

narrating all this, and did not seem to suspect that others, too,

might have their own interests. But all he said was so prettily

sedate, and the naivete of his youthful egotism was so obvious,

that he disarmed his hearers.

"Well, my boy, you'll get along wherever you go-foot or

horse-that I'll warrant," said Shinshin, patting him on the

shoulder and taking his feet off the sofa.

Berg smiled joyously. The count, followed by his guests, went

into the drawing room.