A Provincial Lady (Malleson)

Daria, wife of Alexei Stupendev, the Town Clerk of a small provincial town near St Petersburg about a hundred years ago, learns that His Excellency Count Nicolai Lubin, with whom she ahd a flirtation some twelve years previously, is visiting the town to discuss some business with her husband. The Count's secretary commands Alexei's immediate attendance on the Count, but Daria, without revealing her identity, sends a message to the Count requesting him to call. Daria enlists the help of her nephew in keeping Alexei out of the way, and, by recalling past memories, all the Count's affection for her is revived. He is prepared to go to any lengths to renew their association, even to the extent of securing Alexei a well-paid influential postition in St Petersburg, which is of course, precisely what Daria has in mind.