THE
Playground of Satan
BY
BEATRICE BASKERVILLE
AUTHOR OF
"Baldwin's Kingdom," "When Summer Comes Again,"
"Their Yesterday," "The Polish Jew,"
English Translation Of Gogol's "Taras Bulba," Etc.
NEW YORK
W. J. WATT & COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1918, BY
W. J. WATT & COMPANY
TO
Janina Korsakova
WITH LOVE
Rome, 1917
THE PLAYGROUND OF SATAN
I
Ian went into his mother's sitting-room, carryingan open telegram.
"Roman Skarbek has wired for horses to meetthe express from Posen," he remarked. "He says it'simportant business."
As Countess Natalie looked up from her letter--shewrote hundreds a year--her hazel eyes twinkledwith a mischievous thought.
"Roman and business, indeed! He's after Vanda."
Ian's brows contracted over his clear gray eyes; theywere of the kind you find in outdoor men, used togazing over long distances and watching for wild fowlto come out of the rushes at the dawn of day. Vandawas his cousin, and an orphan; she had lived at Ruvnosince her babyhood.
"Give me a cigarette," said his mother, leaving herletter.
He obeyed, offered one to Minnie, who refused, andlit another for himself. The two smoked on in silencefor awhile. Roman Skarbek was his cousin, too,though not Vanda's.
"I don't think so," he said.
"Why?" asked his mother.
"He's been to Monte Carlo. If he's had any luckhe'll want some horses."
"He never had any luck. No. It's Vanda. She'sin love."
"Vanda in love?" He laughed. "Nonsense!"
"Why not?" put in Minnie, the English girl, fromher seat in the window.
He did not answer. His mother went on:
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