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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eccd9ea --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #53580 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/53580) diff --git a/old/53580-0.txt b/old/53580-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 16bd803..0000000 --- a/old/53580-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6700 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Princess Tarakanova, by G. P. Danilevski - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Princess Tarakanova - A Dark Chapter of Russian History - -Author: G. P. Danilevski - -Translator: Ida De Mouchanoff - -Release Date: November 23, 2016 [EBook #53580] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRINCESS TARAKANOVA *** - - - - -Produced by Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - -Transcriber’s note: normal text within italic passages is indicated -~like this~. - - - - - -THE PRINCESS TARAKANOVA - -[Illustration: THE PRINCESS TARAKANOVA. - - _“The only art her guilt to cover,_ - _To hide her shame from every eye,_ - _To give repentance to her lover,_ - _And wring his bosom--is to die.”_] - - - - - THE - PRINCESS TARAKANOVA - - A Dark Chapter of Russian History - - TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN - OF - G. P. DANILEVSKI - BY - IDA DE MOUCHANOFF - - WITH FOUR PORTRAITS - - New York - MACMILLAN & CO. - LONDON: SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - INTRODUCTION ix-xxviii - - Part I. - - _DIARY OF LIEUTENANT KONSOV._ - - CHAP. PAGE - - I. TEMPEST-TOSSED 1 - - II. MY IMPRISONMENT 6 - - III. IMPORTANT NEWS 13 - - IV. I SEE THE PRINCESS 21 - - V. MY INTERVIEW WITH THE PRINCESS 27 - - VI. THE PRINCESS ASKS ME TO ASSIST HER 33 - - VII. I CONVEY A LETTER 41 - - VIII. I DELIVER A LETTER 50 - - IX. WE WILL BEFRIEND HER 60 - - X. IS THE COUNT A TRAITOR? 66 - - XI. THE DEPARTURE FROM ROME 82 - - XII. THE PRINCESS SEEKS MY ADVICE 89 - - XIII. THE “MARRIAGE” 96 - - XIV. TREACHERY 104 - - XV. REMORSE 109 - - XVI. THE BOTTLE CAST INTO THE SEA 114 - - Part II. - - _RAVELIN ALEXEEF._ - - XVII. EKATERINA AT MOSCOW 125 - - XVIII. THE PRINCESS AT ST. PETERSBURG 129 - - XIX. THE HISTORIOGRAPHER MILLER 137 - - XX. MILLER’S REPLY 144 - - XXI. ORLOFF AND THE PRINCESS 152 - - XXII. ORLOFF’S INTERVIEW WITH THE PRINCESS 159 - - XXIII. ORLOFF AT MOSCOW 168 - - XXIV. THE PRINCESS WRITES TO THE EMPRESS 177 - - XXV. FATHER PETER ANDRÉEF 183 - - XXVI. THE VISITORS’ QUEST 188 - - XXVII. A LATE VISITOR 196 - - XVIII. BAPTISM 202 - - XXIX. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION 208 - - XXX. “WHAT IF THE CAPTIVE BE INNOCENT?” 213 - - XXXI. RELEASE 218 - - XXXII. “A ROSE AND A MYRTLE” 227 - - XXIII. PAVEL PETROVITCH AND THE ENCHANTER 237 - - XXXIV. A MYRTLE LEAF 243 - - XXXV. FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER 249 - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -_Gregory Petrovitch Danilevski was born at Danilovki, an estate in the -government of Kharkov, on April 14th, 1829. He died last winter at St. -Petersburg, on December 6th. His childhood over--it was spent partly -on the estate of his grandfather, near Dontsov, partly on the estate -of Petrovski--he became a student first of the Muscovite Institute for -the nobility, afterwards of the University of St. Petersburg, leaving -the latter, in 1850, as graduate in jurisprudence. In 1848, during his -studentship, he was presented with a silver medal at the meeting of the -Philological Institute for his composition on Poushkin and Kriloff._ - -_From 1850 to 1857 he served in the ministry of public instruction, -at first under Noroff, afterwards under Prince Viazimski. During this -period he visited Finland and the Crimea, and worked, by commission -from the Archæological Society, on the archives of the monasteries -of the governments of Kharkov, Koursk, and Poltava, and, at the -suggestion of the historian Oustrialoff, wrote a description of the -famous battlefield of the last-named place. In 1856, at the instance -of the Imperial admiral, Constantine Nicolaievitch, he was sent to -the south of Russia to write a description of the Sea of Azov, the -Dnieper, and the Don. In the following year he resigned his official -appointment. Thereafter, for twelve years, he lived at Petrovski, -his own favourite estate in Kharkov, from time to time, however, -paying visits to Poland, White Russia, Volhynie, and Podolia, and -sailing down the Volga, Don, and Dnieper. Made in 1859 deputy of the -committee of Kharkov for improving the condition of the peasantry, he -was instructed four years later, by Golovinin, the minister of public -instruction, to inspect and to report on the condition of 200 national -schools in the government of Kharkov. During the first three years of -the establishment of the rural police courts he served by election. -Despatched to St. Petersburg in 1868 as a deputy by the government of -Kharkov, he had the honour of being presented to the emperor. From 1867 -to 1870 he held the post of honorary justice of the peace. Finally, -in 1869, on the institution of the official organ, “The Government -Herald,” he was appointed senior assistant to the chief editor. This -post he occupied eleven years._ - -_His historical novels have created quite a sensation in Russia by -reason of their originality, their fascination, and their truthfulness -to history and to nature. Among the more celebrated of his numerous -works, besides the novel of which a translation is here presented, are -“Merovitch” and “Freedom.” As Danilevski has, hitherto, been unknown in -England, some remarks on his writings will be of interest._ - -_With regard to the sad history contained in this book, it is evident -that the author had exceptional information on the subject of his -narrative, for he is not over-careful to conceal his opinion of the -strong probability of the Princess Tarakanova’s claims being legitimate -as well as ~bonâ-fide~, and of Orloff’s real character being greatly -different from the popular estimate of it as expressed in the lines -under the count’s portrait. It is not known how the remarkable diary -which constitutes Part I. of this work came into Danilevski’s hands; -but there is ground for the conjecture that it came to him, with other -papers, from his grandmother. A curious fact, too, is the circumstance -that Danilevski’s governess was a lady of the name of Pchelkina. -However this may be, my husband, Colonel de Génie de Mouchanoff, was -informed by Danilevski himself that the diary as published is almost -word for word as written by Konsov, and that the details concerning -the subsequent history of the captive were obtained by him from -authentic official documents._ - -_Nevertheless, Danilevski’s view is not the popular one. Schébalski and -Solovieff in dealing with this subject write as follows:--_ - -_“When Russia was involved in the war with Turkey some evil-minded -persons availed themselves of the opportunity to bring forward -pretenders to the throne. They set rumours afloat to the effect that -Elizabeth, after her secret marriage with Count Razoumovski, had a -daughter, and that this child was she who was known by the name of -Princess Tarakanova._ - -_“The adventures of this Pretender form a very interesting page in -Russian history, and have given rise to many novels and tales. They -have now, however, lost much of their mysterious interest, thanks to -the extracts printed from the procés of Princess Tarakanova, not long -since published in one of our historical reviews. Still, it is an -ascertained fact that the Princess spent several of the years of her -youth abroad, and that she led a luxurious though retired life. Very -likely the tie between this person and the Russian Empress may have -been known to political intriguers, and have suggested to them the idea -of using this Pretender as an instrument for raising a revolution -in Russia. There is every reason to believe that Prince Radzivill, -the leader of the confederation of Radomski, educated a young girl -with this object in view; but whether this girl became the future -Tarakanova, or some other person, is to this day, and most probably -will remain eternally, unknown._ - -_“What is really ascertained is that a young girl of very humble -origin, a native of Prague or Nuremburg, endowed with the most -marvellous beauty, clever and enterprising, but of extremely equivocal -conduct, shone from the end of the year 1760 till the beginning of -1770 at Berlin, London, and Paris, lavishly spending on her dress and -pleasures the money which she had levied on her admirers. With every -new residence she changed her name. In Paris she was the “Princess -Wladimirskaya,” a native of Russia, but brought up, it was said, in -Persia, as mischief was feared at the hands of her enemies in Russia, -where, so she alleged, she had great possessions. We are bound, indeed, -to believe that her charms were extraordinary; for notwithstanding -her conduct, several highly placed personages, in both France and -Germany, sought her hand. One of these was actually a reigning Prince -of the German Empire. In 1773, the mysterious adventuress was on the -point of accepting the hand of this prince, but postponed the matter -under pretence of starting for Russia to arrange her affairs, and then -suddenly disappeared. In the spring of 1774 she turned up at the other -side of Europe--at Venice._ - -_“It was then that her political ~rôle~ really began. As early as 1773 -she had had relations with several Poles, who had left their native -land shortly after the conspiracy of Baski, and it is not unlikely -that it was at this time that the programme of her future actions -was arranged. The Princess Wladimirskaya was to take the name of the -“Princess Tarakanova,” set sail for Constantinople on a ship which -Radzivill had offered to equip, and there explain to the Sultan her -pretensions to the Russian throne. It was evidently the opinion of her -advisers that her appearance on the Danube at the very moment when -Pougachoff was raising a rebellion on the Volga would increase the -difficulties of Ekaterina’s position, and would be taken advantage of -by Turkish politicians. As a matter of fact, in the summer of 1774, the -Princess Tarakanova and Prince Radzivill, accompanied by a numerous -suite, did set sail for Constantinople. But they stopped at Ragusa, -wishing to ascertain beforehand what kind of reception they were likely -to meet with at the hands of the Sultan. Unfortunately for them, great -changes had taken place. The overtures of the Princess were not only -declined: she was even invited to give up all thought of her visit._ - -_“Separated from Radzivill, but not from her political ~rôle~, the -Princess went first to Naples and then to Rome. At the latter city she -tried to bring to her side all the most influential cardinals, and even -the Pope himself, promising that in the event of her accession to the -throne she would do all in her power to establish the Catholic faith in -Russia._ - -“_During all these ~péripéties~ Count Orloff Chesmenski was, as we all -know, in Italy. Of course he lost no time in writing full particulars -concerning the false Tarakanova to Ekaterina, from whom he received -orders to steal the Pretender, and so cut off the intrigue at the -very outset. Orloff surrounded the Princess with spies, and, through -his emissaries, tried to inspire her with confidence in himself. -The words of the emissaries seemed very credible to the Princess. -Gregory Orloff was then in disgrace, and it would be no very unlikely -circumstance if his brother turned into a secret enemy of the empress, -and joined in the intrigue. Orloff placed boundless credit at her -disposition; and by giving himself out as a man deeply outraged by the -government, persuaded the “Countess Selinski,” as the Princess then -called herself, to come to a ~rendezvous~ with him at Pisa. Here he -surrounded her with all possible homage. Balls and ~fêtes~ succeeded -each other in swift succession. He made believe to fall in with her -plans, and eventually offered her his hand. Nevertheless, he was only -awaiting an opportunity to arrest her, without causing any scandal. He -had not long to wait. One day the Countess Selinski expressed a wish -to visit the Russian squadron, then stationed at Livorno. Orloff gave -orders for preparations to be made for a magnificent reception of the -countess, and arranged splendid naval manœuvres. He himself, with her -suite, accompanied her on board the man-o’-war. The manœuvres began; -the cannon fired; sails were unfurled; the ships sailed out into the -open sea; and the unfortunate Pretender, at the end of a journey, found -herself shut up in the fortress of Petersburg. Here, it is said, she -languished till 1776, when she was drowned by the rushing of the waters -into her prison. But this is not true. Historical documents prove that -she died of the same illness from which she was suffering when she -came to Russia, and which, of course, made rapid strides during her -confinement in the damp dungeon._” - -_Remarkable as is “The Princess Tarakanova,” it is not regarded in -Russia as so fine a work as “Merovitch.” This work has attracted -universal attention, for it describes one of the most interesting -epochs of Russian history. The mysterious and melancholy account of the -unfortunate prince-martyr, the victim of troublous times, is all the -more interesting as it is founded on historical documents. Written with -great ~entrain~ and truthfulness, the novel on its publication created -quite a sensation. It originally appeared in 1875, under the title, -“The Imperial Prisoner” but its sale was prohibited. In 1879 it was -again printed, by order of the emperor._ - -_“The whole canvas of the novel,” says Danilevski, “such as the life -and infatuation of Merovitch, the customs and manners of the period, -many details of the reign of Ekaterina and the attempt of Merovitch, -are taken from the diary and reminiscences of my great-grandmother, -and of my grandmother, who was ~Fräulein~ at the court of Peter III. -Many things I took down from the lips of my uncle, the eldest son of -my father’s mother,--a born Rosslavleff, who, together with Orloff, -as every one knows, played so conspicuous a part in the ~Coup-d’État~ -which placed Ekaterina on the throne. But in all that belongs to -history, I have, of course, strictly adhered to authentic documents -from the Imperial archives. I have also had access to the archives -of the citadel of Schlusselburg, to the official documents of the -council of Archangel, and I have visited the celebrated dungeon of -the unfortunate Prince Johann Antonovitch, and the birthplace of -‘Merovitch.’”_ - -_“Merovitch” is thus a detailed account of the ~Coup-d’État~ which -placed Ekaterina on the throne of Russia, and of the conspiracy and -attempt to put Johann Antonovitch on the throne, which was his by -right._ - -_An officer named Merovitch penetrated into the citadel above referred -to, and hoping to surprise the sentinels and throw them off their -guard, read a proclamation, trusting to be able in the confusion to -facilitate the escape of the unfortunate prince. But long before strict -orders had been given (it is supposed by Ekaterina) that at the first -attempt at escape on the part of the prince he was to be killed on the -spot. This command was strictly carried out. When Merovitch entered the -prince’s cell, he found only the dead body of the unfortunate martyr._ - -_Ekaterina II. plays so important a part in the events described in -these novels that some particulars of her life and character may not be -out of place._ - -_She was born in the year 1729, at Stettin. Her father, a general in -the Prussian service, and the governor of this town, inherited by -the death of his cousin, the Prince of Zerbst, a small principality, -situated on the borders of the Elbe, between Prussia and Saxony._ - -_Her mother came of the house of Holstein. Princess Sophie Augusta of -Anhalt-Zerbst was therefore distantly related to her future husband. -She came over to Russia in her fourteenth year with her mother, and -was at once instructed in the Russian faith and tongue. The following -year, 1745, having been baptized into the Greek faith under the name of -Ekaterina Alexéevna, she was united to the heir of the Russian empire._ - -_Her husband on his accession to the throne excited the discontent of -the nation by publishing a great number of ukases, which, although in -themselves most humane and wise, yet, owing to the uncivilized state -of Russia, were in their nature far too premature. Above all, he -outraged the national feeling by the treaty which he concluded with -Prussia on April 24th, 1762, by which Russia returned to Prussia all -forts, citadels, and towns taken in the last war. His Imperial Highness -wished, it was said, to give to the world an example of abnegation and -generosity. It was a marvellous event; but although nations like to -see in their sovereigns high moral qualities, they also desire that -advantages for which they have worked hard and shed their blood should -not be wholly thrown away. By this one act Peter III. raised the whole -nation against him._ - -_Ekaterina, his consort, had won a great many adherents by her beauty, -grace, and accomplishments, and many true friends among the nobility. -Exceedingly ambitious, she had--with the view, as we may suppose, of -one day ascending the throne--made herself thoroughly well acquainted -with Russian legislation and European politics; and being as deeply -devoted as her husband was profoundly indifferent to the Greek Church -and its ceremonies and symbols, and having in this way established -herself in the affections of the Russian peasantry--so superstitiously -reverential to their Church,--she found it no difficult matter to -supplant her less capable and unpopular partner. He, as is well known, -not only ill-used her, but was unfaithful to her. Indeed, it was -rumoured that the fate of the unfortunate Princess Eudoxie (who had -been forced to take the veil) was awaiting her. Her successor was even -named--viz., the niece of the chancellor Vorontzoff, a woman who, as -all contemporary writers say, was not only ugly and deformed, but also -most insignificant and illiterate. Meanwhile, Ekaterina’s conduct had -been wholly irreproachable. She was then at Peterhoff, leading a most -retired life, but sometimes meeting her adherents, especially the two -Orloffs, and the Princess Dashkoff._ - -_The ~Coup-d’État~ was to have taken place on June 29th, at the -patronal ~fête~ of the emperor; but the arrest of Passek, captain -of the regiment of Préobrajenski, together with the order given to -the army to march against Denmark, brought about the crisis. Rumours -had been set afloat that the empress was in danger. The guards, -who were all devoted to the empress--40 officers and about 10,000 -privates--noisily demanded to be sent to Oranienbaum, to the defence of -their beloved empress. One of the privates rushed to Captain Passek, -exclaiming that the empress was in danger, that an ukase ordering her -arrest had been issued. Passek answered that it was all nonsense. The -private, horrified, rushed to another officer, who on hearing the news, -and learning that he had been to Passek, then on duty, arrested him and -led him to Voyeïkoff. And the latter, in his turn, arrested Passek, and -sent a report to Oranienbaum. Of course the arrest of Passek threw the -whole regiment, as well as the conspirators in other regiments, into a -panic. It was decided to send Orloff to Peterhoff to escort the empress -to Petersburg._ - -_It was six o’clock in the morning when Orloff reached Peterhoff. He -knocked at the empress’s door, walked in, and very coolly said, “It -is time to get up; all is ready!” “What! how?” exclaimed Ekaterina. -“Passek is arrested” answered Orloff. Ekaterina asked no more -questions, but, hastily dressing, took her seat inside the carriage. -Orloff sat by the coachman; another officer, Bibikoff, rode at the -door. They made straight for the barracks of Ismaïloff. The alarm was -given. Soldiers ran out, surrounded the empress, kissing her hands, her -garments, calling her their “saviour.” Two soldiers led a priest up, -and all crowded to her to take the oath of allegiance. The empress was -invited to take her place in the carriage again. The priest, with the -cross, went on ahead. Soon they all arrived at the barracks of Simeon, -followed by the two regiments. These accompanied her to the cathedral -of Kazan, where the Archbishop Dimitri met her. The ~Te Deum~ was sung, -and Ekaterina Alexéevna was proclaimed Empress of Russia, and Pavel -Petrovitch, her son, heir to the throne, 28th June, 1762._ - -_On leaving the cathedral the empress was driven to the Winter Palace, -where she took up her residence._ - -_Meanwhile, Peter III. was quite ignorant of these events. At the very -time when Ekaterina was being proclaimed empress, he was preparing -to start with a large and brilliant suite for Peterhoff, where, as -had been before decided, his fête was to be celebrated. An officer, -Goodovitch, who had gone on before, suddenly returned with all haste -and whispered softly to Peter that the empress had left the palace long -ago, and was now nowhere to be found. The emperor, in a passion, jumped -out of his carriage and walked rapidly to the pavilion “Mon-Plaisir,” -but found nothing save his consort’s ball-dress, ready for the ~fête~. -“Did I not tell you she was bold enough for anything?” was Peter’s -first exclamation. Originally, it was the intention of Peter to assert -his rights; but the representations of his friends, the small number of -his followers, and the fervour shown to the new empress, all combined -to shake his resolution, and the same day he signed his abdication._ - -_Seven days later he died in the palace of Ropshoe--poisoned, as it is -supposed._ - -_Ekaterina died on November 6th, 1796, at the age of 67._ - -_In estimating the character of this famous woman, we must not judge -her actions as we should those of a private person. Indeed, in -reflecting on the lives of those who have, it may be said, to answer -for the welfare and prosperity of nations, we should never forget the -fact that these high personages have often, sometimes against their own -feelings, to sacrifice the life of one for the well-being of thousands. -Nor should we fail to take into account the character of the times -in which Ekaterina ascended the throne. When her reign is compared -with the reigns of those who preceded her, it appears in any but an -unpleasant light. Indeed, it is impossible not to admire the empress -for the humanity of her laws, and for the example she set to all her -court in frugality, industry, and simplicity._ - -_The poet Derjavin wrote an ode in her honour, in which he contrasted -her manner of living with that of her courtiers. She rose very early, -was always occupied, devoted several hours every day to new projects, -laws, etc., for different institutions, more often she went on foot -than she drove. Her table was most frugal, although of course she had -every luxury at her command. Cards were all the rage then, especially -the most hazardous game of “Faro,” which as grand-duchess she had -been made to play at court. But after she ascended the throne she -never played at games of chance again. She did not care very much for -masquerade balls, only taking part in them on solemn occasions._ - -_On her accession she found all legislation, all administration of -justice in most frightful chaos, but reduced everything to order. “Of -darkness she made light.” Justice could no longer be bought or sold._ - -_She was never proud: to the meanest of her subjects always easy -of access. Nor was she ever offended at hearing the unvarnished -truth--witness her polemic with Von Viesing. She did not resent the -most bitter criticism._ - -_By an ukase she put down a most horrible institution called -Slovo-i-diélo,[1] which somewhat resembled the Star Chamber. So strict -had the laws been that people could be brought to the torture for -having whispered at their own tables one to another; for not having -drunk the health of the reigning Sovereign; for having scratched out -the Imperial name and rewritten it; for having dropped money on which -was stamped the Imperial effigy. Very differently from one of her -predecessors, Anna Johannovna, she did not exact that her courtiers -should be sitting on baskets in rows along the rooms through which -she had to pass from the chapel to her own rooms, and cackle like -hens. Nor used she to slap her courtiers’ faces. She built no ice -palace to marry her jester and jestress in; she allowed none of her -favourites to blacken with soot the faces of the proud old aristocracy, -“to make an empress laugh.” She was the first to teach her subjects -self-respect. She wrote an excellent moral tale for her grandson, in -which, admonishing him to shun flatterers, she told him that to be -invulnerable to slander, “Do no ill, and the bitterest traducer will -stand before the world a convicted liar.” She abolished torture on -reading the interrogation of Volhynski, a Russian boyar, brought to -torture for supposed treason, and in her testament she willed that her -descendants should read that piece of conviction to stifle in them any -inclination to cruelty._ - -_She was the first to divide the Russian Empire into provinces, and -to give each province self-government. She opened the first national -schools, cadet-corps, and two splendid half-school, half-convent-like -institutions for the education of the daughters of the nobility. She -promulgated an ukase allowing landlords to work the mines of gold and -silver found on their own properties, which before had been strictly -forbidden; and made all the rivers and seas free of access to every -one--~i.e.~, every one might sail on them, use them for mills, etc. She -tried to encourage weaving, spinning and sewing, science and commerce, -and gave permission to all her subjects to travel--then an unknown -liberty. It is the boast of Russians that in her reign no beggars were -to be found, owing, no doubt, to her humane laws regarding the serfs. -Every landlord was compelled to keep on his estate, and to provide -for, every serf, whether the serf were able to work or not. It would, -in fact, take too long to enumerate all the numerous acts of clemency, -justice, and wisdom of this wise, prudent, and far-seeing empress. -If her frailty as a woman calls for the world’s censure, no one, on -reading her history, can forbear bringing to her feet the tribute she -so well deserves as an empress._ - -_In the present translation I have tried to preserve, as far as -possible, the quaintness and piquancy of the original Russian, but -I fear that in thus endeavouring to produce a faithful copy of the -author’s work I have often sacrificed elegant and correct English. Only -those who know how terse and vigorous a language the Russian is will -be able to appreciate the translator’s difficulties, which are greater -than those of an author of a new work, so far as the mere writing of -it is concerned. Whilst it is often impossible to adhere strictly to -the author’s words without producing obscurities, the use of lengthy -phrases and even whole sentences to express the full sense of the -original, means, on the other hand, the annihilation of the author’s -style. As a rule, translators of Russian works, in their endeavour to -make their renderings readable, only succeed in producing a tale in -common-place English, with a foreign plot, long drawn out, devoid of -colour, and wearisome to read,--barely recognisable sometimes by those -who are conversant with the original._ - -_To assist those who are not familiar with Russia and Russian history, -I have explained various references in the text by means of footnotes; -and to excite a more lively interest in the characters, I have included -portraits. The frontispiece is a reproduction of an engraving taken -from a celebrated painting which embodies the popular legend concerning -the Princess Tarakanova’s last hours.[2] The portraits of Orloff and -Ekaterina are reproduced from old and rare engravings. Danilevski’s -likeness is from a photograph taken some years ago._ - -_In conclusion, conscious of many faults and oversights in a -translation originally not intended for publication, I have to -acknowledge that I am most indebted to Mr. F. Dillon Woon, of -Wallington, England, for his kind aid and criticism, and to accord him -my best thanks._ - -_IDA DE MOUCHANOFF._ - -_Pskov._ - -[Illustration] - - - - -PRINCESS TARAKANOVA. - - - - -PART I. - -_DIARY OF LIEUTENANT KONSOV._ - - “There can be no doubt she is an adventuress.”--_Letter of - Ekaterina II._ - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -_TEMPEST-TOSSED._ - - - MAY, 1775: ATLANTIC OCEAN, - Frigate _Northern Eagle_. - -A storm has been raging for already three days. We have been so tossed -about that it has been impossible to write. Our frigate, the _Northern -Eagle_, is not far from Gibraltar. We have lost our rudder, and our -sails are all torn, and now the current is carrying us south-eastwards. -Where shall we land? what will become of us? - -It is night; the wind has fallen, and the sea is calmer. I am writing -in my cabin. All that I have time to write of what I have seen and -undergone, I will place in a bottle, and cast it upon the waters; and -you who may chance to find it I entreat, by all that is sacred, to send -it to its address. Ah! all-powerful God, grant me powers of memory; -enlighten my poor soul, so torn with doubt! - - * * * * * - -I am a sailor, Pavel Konsov, an officer in the navy of our most -gracious Majesty, Empress of all the Russias, Ekaterina II. Five years -ago, by the mercy of God, I succeeded in distinguishing myself at the -famous battle of Chesma. All the world knows of our brave companions, -Lieutenant Elien and Lieutenant Klokachov, who, on the night of the -twenty-sixth of June, 1770, with four fire-ships and a few Grecian -boats, hastily equipped, bravely advanced upon the Turkish fleet at -Chesma, and rendered valuable assistance in its destruction. I, though -so insignificant, had the good fortune, under cover of the fire-ships -and the dark, to throw with my own hand, from our ship, _January_, the -first fire-ball at the enemy. It was this fire-ball which, falling into -and igniting the powder magazine, caused the explosion near the ship of -the Turkish admiral from which the whole fleet took fire. - -Next morning, of over a hundred formidable men-of-war, some of sixty -and some of ninety guns, frigates, galliots, and _galères_,--not one -remained! On the surface of the waters were visible only wreckage and -numbers of dead bodies. - -Our victory was sung in odes by the celebrated poet Heraskov, and -several lines were dedicated to my humble self, until then unknown -to the world. This poem was in every one’s mouth. The English in the -Russian service--for instance, Mackenzie and Dugdale, who served on -one of the fire-ships--took to themselves the credit for the greater -part of the glory won at the battle of Chesma. But they did not really -much surpass our own officers and men, who all distinguished themselves -by their courage and gallantry. After this event I was found worthy -of receiving the rank of lieutenant, and the Count Alexis Orloff, the -hero of Chesma, having honoured me by his preference, I became his -aide-de-camp. My career was thus, so far, very fortunate. Life, on -the whole, smiled upon me. But sometimes a fatal destiny pursues man. -Suddenly fortune ceased to favour me, angry maybe, at my abrupt, albeit -forced, departure from my native land. - -Resting on our laurels reaped at Chesma, we led joyous lives. We -received flattering invitations from the French, Spanish, Venetians, -and men of other nations. All at once, upon me, the alien, there fell a -new, unexpected, and very terrible temptation. - -The war continued, but Count Orloff, after many noisy battles, lived -in luxurious ease with the fleet. He was wont to say, “I am as happy -as Enoch, who was taken up to heaven.” But these were mere words, for, -since he had taken an active part in placing Ekaterina upon the throne, -wild and bold ideas were ever coursing through his brain. - -Once, when sailing in the Adriatic with the squadron, he despatched me -on a secret mission to the brave, warlike Montenegros. This was in the -year 1773. The scouts made all arrangements wisely and adroitly; and -at night, taking with me what I required on shore, I landed with great -caution, and speedily conducted my business. But on our return voyage -we were sighted and pursued by the Turkish coastguards. We succeeded -in defending ourselves for a considerable time; but in the end our -sailors were all killed, while I, severely wounded in the shoulder, lay -unconscious at the bottom of the boat, where I was found, and whence I -was removed, a prisoner, to Stamboul. - -I was disguised in a national Albanian costume. Nevertheless, my -captors discovered that I belonged to the Russian navy, and, at first, -thinking no doubt that they would receive a good ransom for me, paid -me great attention. Ah! thought I, as soon as they find out that their -prisoner is no other than Lieutenant Konsov, who threw the first -fire-ball which caused the explosion and destruction of their staffship -at Chesma, what will my lot be then? - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -_MY IMPRISONMENT._ - - -My imprisonment lasted for about two years, coming to an end in the -year 1775. - -At first I was kept shut up in one of the wings of a seven-towered -castle, but afterwards I was chained and confined in one of the three -hundred mecheti (mosques) of Stamboul. I don’t know whether at last, by -some means, the Turks learned that one of their prisoners was Konsov, -or whether, having lost all hopes of a ransom, they resolved to take -advantage of my knowledge and abilities; but this I know, they tried to -convert me to Mohammedanism. - -The mosque in which I was imprisoned is situated on the shores of the -Bosphorus, and through my window-grating I could watch the blue sea -and the vessels sailing to and fro. The mulla who came to visit me was -of Sclavonic origin; he was a Bulgarian from Gabrova. We therefore -understood one another without much difficulty.[3] My visitor set to -work in a roundabout way to convert me to the Turkish faith. He praised -the Turkish people, their customs and morals, and extolled the power -and glory of the Sultan. At first, though very indignant at all this, -I kept silence, but at last I began to contradict. Thereupon, in order -to gain my confidence in himself and his faith, he obtained as a first -step permission for my removal to a more comfortable cell, and for my -being provided with better food. Accordingly I was transferred to the -ground floor of the mosque, part of which the mulla himself inhabited, -and was allowed tobacco and all sorts of sweetmeats and wine. Still, -notwithstanding all this, my chains were left on me. My teacher -(himself a renegade), according to the law of Mohammed, could not drink -wine, but he enticed and tempted me to. “Turn Islamist,” he would say, -“and then how happy you will be: your chains will at once fall off you. -And see how many ships there are: you may enter the Turkish service on -one of them, and in time become one of our captains!” - -I lay on my mat without touching any of the tempting viands, and -scarcely hearing a word that my tempter said, for my mind was filled -with thoughts of my native land. I murmured the names of my friends and -of all dear to me, and pondered over my lost happiness. My heart was -breaking, my soul was torn with uncertainty and grief. Ah! how well I -remember those sad hours, filled with such sorrowful musings! - -As I now recollect, my thoughts then wandered to the far-off village, -my native Konsovka. I was an orphan, and already had obtained my -commission. From the training college I had come straight to the house -of my grandmother, whose name was Agraffena Konsova. Not far from us, -in the town of Baturin, lived Rakitin, a retired brigadier, a widower, -whose estates in the country adjoined ours. Leff Hieraclieovitch[4] had -one daughter, Irena Lvovna. To tell all briefly, what with going to -the church of Rakitin, visiting Irena at her father’s halls, and our -secret meetings and walks together, we fell in love with one another. -My love for Irena was passionate and unrestrained. With her dusky skin -and luxurious black hair, she was charming. She was my life, my idol, -to whom I offered prayers night and day. We confessed our love, and day -by day became dearer to each other. Ah! those moments, those meetings, -those vows! - -We began to send each other love letters, full of passionate avowals of -love. I was always fond of music, and Irena used to play enchantingly -upon the clavichord, and would sing in a lovely voice pieces from -Glück, Bach, and Handel. We met often. In this way the summer passed. -Ah! dear and never-to-be-forgotten days! - -Unfortunately, one of my letters fell into the hands of Irena’s father. -Was Rakitin too stern with his daughter, or did he talk her over, and -so persuade her to give me up, to change me for another?… I know not; -it is all too painful for me even to try to remember. - -It was autumn, and, as I well recollect, a praznik (holiday); we were -preparing for church, when suddenly we heard a carriage drive into -our yard. A footman in splendid livery came forward, and placed in my -grandmother’s hands a packet which he had brought for her. My heart -throbbed; my presentiments were fulfilled: Irena’s father had sent a -firm and decided refusal to my suit. - - “MATUSHKA[5] AGRAFFENA VLASSOVNA,-- - - “Your Pavel Efstafevitch[6] is worthy in every way, but he is - not a fit husband for my daughter; and it is useless for him to - send love letters to her. Let him not be offended; we always - were and always shall be friends. My earnest hope is that your - godson and grandchild may find another bride, a hundred times - more suitable than my daughter.” - -That letter moved me deeply. The light of heaven seemed extinguished: -all that was dearest to me was lost; all my happiness ruined. - -Proud, rich, and related to the Razoumovskis, Rakitin mercilessly -scorned the poor suitor, who also was of noble blood; yea, of nobler -blood perhaps than Rakitin’s own. His pride in his distinguished -relatives, who had been favourites of the late empress, had hardened -his heart. Often had I heard Irena addressed by her father as the -future Fräulein (maid of honour). - -“God forgive him!” I repeated, like one who had lost his senses, as -I strode up and down the rooms which once I had loved so much, but -which now seemed to me so lonely. The day had been very cloudy, with -occasional showers of rain. I ordered my horse to be saddled, and, -in my despair, rode off to the steppes. I did not draw rein until -I reached the borders of the forest which surrounded the estate of -Rakitin. There I wandered through the brushwood like a madman. The wind -whistled through the trees and swept over the bare fields. As night -came on, I fastened my horse to a tree, and, leaving the forest, made -my way through the garden to the window of Irena’s room. Ah! what I -felt at that moment! I remember, it seemed to me that I had only to -call her, and she would throw herself into my arms, and we would go -together to the end of the world. Fool that I was! I hoped to see her, -to exchange thoughts with her, to pour out my heart, so full of bitter -pain. “Leave your father! leave him!” I whispered, gazing in at her -window. “He does not pity you; he does not love you.” But I pleaded in -vain: her window was dark, and nowhere in all the silent house could I -hear one word or see one sign of life. On the following night I again -went through the garden, and watched the well-known window, through -which Irena had often given me her hand or thrown me a letter. Would -she not look out? would she not give me some message? One night, after -sending her a note, to which I received no answer, I even determined to -kill myself before her window, and took my pistol in my hand. - -“But no,” I decided. “Why such a sacrifice? Perhaps Irena has already -bartered me for a richer suitor. Wait a little; I may find out who the -happy rival is.” Afterwards, but too late, I learned that Rakitin, -after writing his refusal of me, had carried his daughter off to a -distant property owned by one of his relations, somewhere on the Oka, -and was keeping her there in strict confinement. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -_IMPORTANT NEWS._ - - -My grandmother was not less struck by this than I. One day, about -a week later, calling me to her, she said: “You have guessed who -your rival is? One distantly related to the Rakitins; a prince and -Kammerherr (gentleman of the chamber). I have found out, Pavelinka, -that they sent for him on purpose, and that he was visiting them all -the time you were looking for her, and that it was he who helped them -to carry her off without leaving any trace. Forget her, _mon ange_, -forget Irena; for no doubt she resembles her father in his pride. -Console yourself. God will send you a better wife.” - -I felt angry and petulant. “My grandmother is right,” I said; and there -and then I determined to strive to forget everything. If Irena had had -any heart, she would have found some opportunity of writing me a line -and sending it. I remember especially how one night I found amongst -some papers a hymn from “Iphigenia,” one of Glück’s operas not yet -produced in Russia, which I had obtained with great difficulty from an -amateur musician for Irena, but which I had been unable to give to her. -With tears in my eyes I burnt it. After long days of sorrowful despair, -I decided to leave my birthplace. The parting with my grandmother was -very touching, for we both felt that we should never meet again. - - * * * * * - -Agraffena Vlassovna, during her retreat in a neighbouring convent, took -cold, and after a short illness, died. I was left alone in the world, -like a forgotten blade of grass in a field. - -Having left Konsovka, I wandered for some time about Moscow, where I -made the acquaintance of Count Orloff. Thence I went to Petersburg, and -tried to get some information concerning the Rakitins, who were still -living on the Oka. Always hoping to get news of my faithless Irena, I -made many inquiries; but no one could tell me what I wanted to know. My -furlough was not yet ended; I was free. But what was left in the world -for me? What could I do? What could I undertake? Meanwhile, from the -south, from over the water, came news that was on every one’s lips. It -was the beginning of the Turkish war. A happy idea flashed through my -mind. I applied to the Board of Admiralty, and begged to be transferred -to the squadron then sailing in Grecian waters. Count Feodor Orloff -helped me very much by giving me a letter of introduction to Count -Alexis, who was at that time admiral of the fleet in the Mediterranean -Sea. How I came there and what I went through, it would be useless to -relate. Always repeating the name that once was so dear to me, I threw -myself into every danger. I courted death at Spezzia, at Navarino, and -at Chesma. “Irisha! Irisha![7] what have you done with me! O my God! -put an end to my life!” I cried. But death did not come. Instead of -being killed, I was taken prisoner soon after the glorious battle of -Chesma, and left in dreary captivity in Stamboul! - - * * * * * - -The mulla who visited me became more and more friendly, but also more -and more persistent. We met every day, and had long conversations -together. Sometimes he made me very angry, even mad, I might say; but -at other times he amused me. Then sometimes I would entice him, for -company’s sake, to defy the command of the prophet, which, perhaps, a -minute before he had been teaching me with much fervour, by taking a -glass of wine with me; and would pour the wine out for him myself. My -teacher could do nothing, of course, but try to please me, and so very -heartily began to partake of the wines of Kioska, and others which he -used to bring me. Our meetings continued. We talked sometimes of the -Orient, of Russia, and many other things. - -One evening--it must have been about the middle of the year 1774--at -the time when the Muezzin[8] from the high tower began the call to -evening prayer, my teacher, with an air of great mystery, and not -without showing some wicked pleasure, asked me whether I knew that -there had appeared in Italy a very powerful aspirant to the Russian -crown, a dangerous rival to the then reigning Empress Ekaterina. I -was very much astonished at the news, and for some time was unable -to speak. The mulla again related his story, and on my asking who -the impostor was he answered, “A secret daughter of the late Empress -Elizabeth Petrowna.” “That is all nonsense and stupid gossip of your -bazaars!”--The mulla was much offended; his eyes sparkled with passion. -“No, not gossip,” he exclaimed, as he took from under his robe a -crumpled piece of one of the newspapers of Utrecht. “You had best be -thinking of what awaits your native land.” - -My heart, which was beating so loyally for the great empress then -ruling over us, suddenly sank. I read the newspaper, and became -convinced that the mulla was right. In Paris first, then in Germany, -and afterwards in Venice, a person had appeared calling herself -“Elizabeth, Princess of all the Russias.” At the time of writing, this -adventuress was preparing to go to the Sultan, to ask him to aid her -with an army then encamped on the banks of the Danube in enforcing -her claims. The mulla remained with me a little longer, and then went -out, casting a side glance at me as he left the room. The news which -I had just heard troubled me very much. “How so?” thought I. “Is it -not enough that fate sent us the horrible insurrection of Pougachoff?” -of which I heard in my prison, “and then the Turks? Are we now to be -troubled with this pretender? The former burnt and desolated the whole -Po-Volga;[9] this one wants to disturb the whole of the south.” I was -quite beside myself, and strode from corner to corner of my cell. In -my anger, I went up to my window, seized hold of the grating, and -shook it with all my might. I was ready to tear it with my teeth. “Oh! -for wings! for wings!” I cried to God. I would have flown to the fleet, -told them everything, and warned Orloff, who was so devoted to the -empress.… My prayers were answered in a most marvellous manner. Never -shall I forget it, though I live for a century. - -Devising a hundred plans for escape, my first idea was to prepare some -kind of key to loosen my chains. On an earthenware pot I succeeded in -sharpening part of an old nail (upon which I used to hang my clothes, -and which I had taken from the wall), and, after much painstaking, -fashioned it into a key. It is impossible to describe my joy when, for -the first night, I took off my chains and went to bed without them. -Next morning I again fettered myself, and carefully hid the key in -a crevice in the wall. My plan was this:--after having very quickly -loosened my chains, I would kill the renegade mulla with them, and run -away from the prison without being seen. But where? Thus I planned; -but God, who holds our hearts in His hand, delivered me from this sin. -The mulla continued to visit me and to drink the wine, which through -his intercession had been provided for me in abundance. At last my -chance came. Having chosen an evening, I decided upon telling the -mulla that, convinced by his wise teaching, I had resolved to embrace -the Mohammedan faith. He was transported with delight, and in his joy -partook so heartily of the wine as to become intoxicated and begin to -doze. I kept refilling his glass. “No,” he repeated continually, “I -cannot. I shall miss the prayers; I shall be denounced.” But I again -filled the glass, and he, blinking at me knowingly, again emptied it, -threw himself on the floor, and beginning to hum a Bulgarian song, was -soon fast asleep. We were both about the same height; my beard, which -during my imprisonment had grown very long, only differed from his by -being of a slightly lighter colour. - -“Oh! good God! is it possible,” thought I, with a thrill of joy, “that -this is liberty at last?” - -Drawing the enormous white turban over my eyes, I devoutly bowed -my head, and with silent footsteps and the rosary in my hand, as -if repeating a prayer, I slowly left the prison, and crossed the -courtyard. The sentinels at the porches and the gates of the mosque -were walking silently backwards and forwards with their muskets; but -as they did not recognise me I escaped detention. For some time the -noise of the street confused me; I quite lost my senses. But I quickly -recovered myself, and hastening my steps, soon reached the sea-shore. -I signalled to one of the boatmen, took my place in the first little -boat that approached me, and, bowing still lower, motioned to the -boatman to row me to one of the nearest ships. It was a foreign one, as -I had already remarked from my windows. I saw now that it was a French -schooner, quite ready to sail, as I could tell by her flag. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -_I SEE THE PRINCESS._ - - -A dark, handsome, spirited Frenchman, the commanding officer of the -schooner, soon showed me that he was a worthy subject of the nation to -which he belonged. Seeing in me a Russian sailor, he looked at me, was -silent a moment, and then whispered, “Are you Konsov?” - -“What makes you think so?” I asked, not without some trepidation. - -“Oh! how glad I should be if it were so!” he answered, “for we all pity -brave Konsov very much, and constantly ask after him. I should be very -happy to be of any service to him.” - -There was nothing to be done; and I concluded it was better to reveal -myself. The captain was overjoyed; he conducted me to his own cabin, -and at once promised to pay the boatman; whom, however, for safety’s -sake, he first ordered to be hoisted on deck with the boat. The sails -were then unfurled, and the anchor weighed. It was night when the -schooner set sail, and by morning we had left Stamboul far behind us. -The mulla must have slept soundly and long, for we were not pursued. My -boatman, who was sent back from one of the villages we passed, having -received all that had been promised him, and the mulla’s clothes in -which I had escaped into the bargain, was only too glad to hold his -tongue. The French officers gave me proper clothing, and generously -furnished me with a sum of money, to which all had subscribed. They -politely offered to put me on board the first Russian vessel we should -meet in the Italian seas. - -Meanwhile, I heard from the captain that the mysterious Russian -Princess was no longer in Venice, but was now at Ragusa, past which -town we should have to sail. I asked to be put on shore, but the French -officers did all they could to dissuade me, pointing out the risk I -should run in being again so near the Turks. This counsel had no effect -on me; I insisted on landing. - -After having thanked my generous preservers (who even refused to take -my signature for their loan), I soon set foot on the shores of the -republic of Ragusa, where I obtained information concerning the lady -who so deeply interested me. - -This mysterious Princess had already conquered the hearts of half the -inhabitants of the town. Much talk was going on. I found a great many -Poles and persons of different nationalities at the hotel I had chosen, -who formed part of the Princess’s retinue. All these personages fought -shy of me at first, and showed great distrust, but on learning who I -was, and that, in my joy at my miraculous preservation, I wished to go -immediately on board the squadron of Count Orloff, they ceased to fear -me, and without reserve began to tell me all about the Princess. They -even offered to procure me an audience, if I wished it. “But who is -she? and where has she lived until now?” I asked some of her followers. - -“She is the daughter of your late Empress Elizabeth, by a secret -marriage with Count Razoumovski,” was the answer. “In her childhood she -was carried to the frontiers of Persia, and has since, under different -assumed names, lived at Kiel, Berlin, London, and many other places. In -Paris she was Dame D’Azov, and in Germany and here in Ragusa she bears -the title of the Countess of Pinneberg. German princes and others have -wooed her, the French Court assigned her apartments at their consul’s, -and were quite ready to give her aid and protection.” - -All this troubled me greatly. “Kiel! Berlin!” thought I. “Kiel is in -Holstein. It played a most important part in the history of Anna and -Elizabeth, the daughters of Peter the Great. Is it possible that in -Petersburg no importance is attached to all this? What will be done -when all is known about this aspirant to the throne?” - -The Poles then offered to take me to be presented to the Countess of -Pinneberg. I dressed myself, trimmed my moustache and beard properly, -and powdered, perfumed, and curled my hair. I met with every attention -at the house of the Countess. The Hofmarshall, Baron Korf, led me into -the reception room. I looked about me, and noticed that the walls -were tapestried with blue silk brocade, and that the furniture was -upholstered in pink satin. All at once I heard steps and a gay voice. - -The Princess Elizabeth entered the room, surrounded by a brilliant -retinue. I learned afterwards who these were. Her very devoted friend, -the celebrated Prince Radzivill, in a blue velvet _kaftan_[10] -literally blazing with diamonds; near him his sister, the beautiful -Countess of Moravia, and the Princess Sangoushko. After these came -Count Pototski, in a beautiful red _kountouska_,[11] all embroidered -with gold. The count was then at the head of the Polish confederation, -our enemy. Next came the proud and rich Starosta Pinski, Count -Prgezdetski, and near him stood the influential young confederate, the -famous duellist, Charnomski, with several of Radzivill’s officers. -Pototski and Prgezdetski wore ribbons and stars. I noticed that the -Princess was dressed in an amazon of yellow silk, with gold embroidery, -and that it was covered with black gauze; that she wore a small white -hat with black ostrich feathers, and a pink mantle trimmed with -blonde, and that at her belt were a pair of very small pistolettes -of magnificent workmanship. She held a riding-whip in her hand, for -she was just going to start for a ride on horseback. The proud Polish -magnates addressed the Princess as “Altesse,” and when she sat down, -remained standing; and in answering her questions bowed so low that -they almost seemed to be kneeling. - -I must confess that the Princess greatly impressed me. I saw before me -a beauty of the first order, between twenty-three and twenty-four years -of age, taller than the generality of people, graceful, slender, with -lovely auburn hair, a very fair skin, beautiful pink cheeks, and a few -freckles, which rather suited her style of beauty. Her eyes were hazel, -very large and open; one of them rather squinted, and thus gave her an -arch and playful look. But, what was far more important, as a child, -and later on as a youth, I had often looked upon the portraits of the -late Empress Elizabeth; and now on examining the Princess closely I was -struck by the likeness to them. - -The Princess noticed my confusion with evident pleasure. Saying a few -gracious words to me in French, she gave me her hand to kiss, and -having received me with all the ceremony etiquette exacted, with a look -dismissed her retinue, and motioned me to a chair. We were alone. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -_MY INTERVIEW WITH THE PRINCESS._ - - -After having exchanged a few phrases--we spoke French, but I noticed -that the Princess let fall many Italian exclamations--we both fell into -a most awkward silence. - -“You are a Russian officer--a sailor?” asked the Princess. - -“Just so--Your--Serene Highness,” I answered, hesitating a little, not -knowing how to address her. - -“I know that you have highly distinguished yourself. Your name made a -noise in the world after Chesma,” she continued; “and to crown all, you -have suffered a long imprisonment.” - -I was greatly agitated, and remained silent; she also paused. At last -she began again, and even though so many years have elapsed, I seem to -hear that low, charming contralto voice of hers,-- - -“Listen,”--said she. “I am a Russian princess, the daughter of your -once beloved empress. It is true, is it not, that my mother, the -daughter of Peter the Great, was much loved? I, both by blood and by -her testament, am her only heiress.” - -“Yes. But you know,” I at last ventured to say, “that there now reigns -the no less beloved Empress Ekaterina the Great.” - -“I know, I know,” interrupted the Princess, “how all powerful and -idolized by her people the present empress is; and it is not for -me--poor, weak, and abandoned by all, torn from the Imperial house, and -from the land of my birth--to try to dispute the throne with her. I am -the most devoted of her slaves.” - -“Then what are you seeking? what are you expecting?” I asked with -astonishment. - -“Protection, and that my rights may be respected.” - -“Excuse me,” I returned; “but you must first prove your birth and your -rights.” - -“I have the proofs here,” the Princess replied; and, hastily rising, -she opened the drawer of a Buhl side-table, with silver incrustations. -“Here is the testament of my grandfather, Peter I., and this one is my -mother’s, Elizabeth’s.” - -The Princess tendered me a French version of the papers mentioned. I -looked them over hastily. - -“But these are only copies,” said I; “mere translations.” - -“Oh, yes; but make your mind easy: the originals are in safe hands.… -How would it be possible to carry such important documents about with -me; the risk would be too great,” answered the Princess, turning her -head a little from me. Then she moved to the other side of the room, -where, in heavy gilt frames, hung two oil paintings: one a remarkably -good copy of the portrait of the late Empress Elizabeth Petrowna, -with a small crown upon her head; the other that of the Princess now -standing before me. - -“Do you see the likeness?” she said, looking at me. - -“Well, yes, there is a likeness. I noticed it as soon as I came in,” I -answered. “Allow me to ask how long ago that portrait was taken?” - -“This very year, at Venice.… The celebrated Piacetti painted my -intended bridegroom’s portrait, the Prince Radzivill’s, and begged to -be allowed to paint mine at the same time.” - -“Mysterious coincidence!” I exclaimed, with uncontrollable agitation; -“we see things past all imagining. The dead rise out of their graves. -There beyond the Volga the Emperor Peter III., buried in the face of -all the nation;[12] here, unexpected, undivined, the daughter of the -Empress Elizabeth.” - -“Do not, if you please, confound me with Pougachoff,” answered the -Princess, slightly reddening; “although he gives himself out as the -Emperor, coins his money with the legend _Redivivus et Ultor_ (the -risen Avenger), still, as yet, he is only my lord-lieutenant in that -part of the country.” - -“How so?” I answered, quite astonished. “Then you also confess that he -is an impostor?” - -“Do not ask who he is,” mysteriously answered the Princess; “afterwards -you shall learn all; the time has not yet come. He has already -conquered many towns--Kasan, Orenburg, Saratov--and all the shores of -the Volga. I know nothing of his past. Let God be his judge; but I--I -am really and truly the daughter of the Empress Elizabeth, and cousin -to the Emperor Peter III.” - -“But who was your father?” I ventured to ask. - -“Is it possible that you do not guess?” she answered, slightly -frowning. “Alexis Razoumovski, who was married secretly to my mother. -My childhood I passed travelling from one place to another; but it -is quite indistinct even to me. I remember a retired little village -in the South of Russia, from which I was carried off. They would, if -they could, have effaced from my mind every remembrance of the past; -and to that end they lavished money upon me and took me about from -place to place. Count Shouvaloff, apparently, was acquainted with the -circumstances. Not long ago, when travelling in Europe, he expressed -the wish to see me, and we met secretly.” - -“What! you saw the Count Shouvaloff? Where?” I exclaimed, amazed, as I -recollected that not a few people looked upon him as her father. - -“I met him at the waters of Spa.… Friends warned me of that celebrated -Russian traveller, but I could not refuse him. I found him to be -an elderly person, rather stout, and bearing traces of no common -beauty. His dress was most costly. He came to me under an assumed -name, and when speaking with me sorrowfully fixed his eyes upon me and -attentively examined my features. I could see he was very agitated. -I learned afterwards that he was my late mother’s favourite, Ivan -Shouvaloff. I really cannot tell why he looked so moved. It is not for -me, of course,--as you may well understand,--to say. That secret my -mother took to her grave, with many others.” - -The Princess was silent; I also. - -“Whose protection, whose help, do you seek?” I at last ventured to ask, -troubled with so many impressions. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -_THE PRINCESS ASKS ME TO ASSIST HER._ - - -The Princess locked the paper in a casket, put it away, took up a fan, -and again sitting down, began looking out of the window. - -“Are you willing to help me?” she asked very seriously, instead of -answering my question. - -I knew not what to answer. - -“Are you willing to give me, should I need it, every help in your -power?” - -“But what sort of help?” - -“Well now, you see, should the Empress Ekaterina be willing to act -conscientiously and without strife peacefully to divide the empire -with me,”--the Princess uttered this very slowly and distinctly,--“I -am ready to agree to anything in reason. I will give up to her the -north, with Petersburg, all the Baltic provinces, and all the province -of Moscow. I shall retain for myself the Caucasus--practically all the -south--oh! I love the south--and part of the west. Oh! be quite sure -I shall respect a peaceful division. I shall be quite satisfied with -the arrangement. I shall people my dominions; I shall arrange all in -my own Fatherland. You will see I am a _masteritsa_.[13] First of all, -of course, I shall arrange matters in Oukraine and Poland. Of course -you are from Oukraine?” she asked me suddenly, fixing her eyes on me; -“and I passed my childhood there. In case Ekaterina should not agree,” -continued she, frowning, “of course, nothing remains for me but to try -the force of arms. I intend going to Constantinople, to the Sultan. -He expects me. I shall lead his army on to the Balkans, and on the -borders of the Danube shall meet the army of Ekaterina. Then I will -have my revenge. I shall find enough people willing to help me; all the -discontented--for instance, the commodore of the fleet,--Orloff! Eh! -what do you say to that?” - -“Orloff!” I repeated in amazement. - -“Of course; he himself. You are astonished, eh?” answered the Princess, -fanning herself and looking me boldly in the face. “Yes; what do you -say to that?” - -“Excuse me, Your Grace, but I cannot help speaking out my earnest -conviction that all this is but a child’s dream. On what do you found -your hopes of such--excuse me the expression--such treason from the -count?” - -“Treason!”--cried out the Princess, suddenly reddening; “but, of -course, you must be excused. You were so long a prisoner, there is a -great deal for you to learn”; and she contemptuously smiled, nervously -playing with her fan. “The power and the influence of the Orloffs have -greatly fallen; their sworn and hidden foes, the Pânins,[14] are now -in the ascendency. The empress’s favourite, Gregory Orloff, allow me -to tell you, has been already replaced by another; he, in his anger, -broke off the negotiations begun with the Sultan, and flew from the -banks of the Danube to Petersburg. But he was not received at court, -but exiled to Revel. Ah! you are astonished. Well, learn still further. -Your chief, Count Alexis Orloff, his feelings as a brother insulted, -no longer hides his opinions: he is ripe for revenge; and there is -no doubt, of course, that he can be very useful to me. You see, what -news! I have already sent a letter to the Count Alexis, and a short -manifesto.” - -“A manifesto! but what about?” - -“If Orloff decides on taking my part, I advise him then to proclaim my -manifesto to the fleet, take me on board, and stand up for my rights.” - -“But that is impossible. Excuse me,” I tried to answer; “your actions -are bold, but you have not reflected enough.” - -“Why do you think so?” asked the Princess, astonished. “The malcontents -are seeking revenge, the forgotten recompense for their well-known -services. To Orloff alone--and that every one knows--to him alone -Ekaterina owes her throne.” - -The Princess rose, walked up and down the room, and at last threw the -window open. She was nearly stifled. She began again explaining her -plan in its smallest details: how she hoped, with the aid of the fleet, -to invade Russia. She would listen to none of my arguments. It seemed -as if nothing could convince her. It was plainly visible that this -capricious, spoiled, self-willed woman, whose feelings burst forth like -lava hidden under ashes, thought she could measure her strength with -the most desperate of men. - -“You doubt; you are astonished,” she exclaimed, with a nervous tremor. -“You ask why I believe in the success of my enterprise? Is it possible -that you do not know?… Already many of your countrymen side with me; -I am in correspondence with numbers of them.… But you--are the first -Russian, the first really worthy man, that I see throwing in your -lot with me.… I shall never forget the fact; it is specially dear to -me.… Believe me, I shall rise victorious out of every difficulty; the -darkness _will_ clear away.… Is it possible that you do not know that -Russia is torn asunder by her battles, the pressgang for the recruits, -the fires, the plagues? Is it possible you do not know that the country -is worn out with her taxations, that on the borders of the Volga there -rages a terrible, bloody insurrection? Your army is badly clothed, -and still worse fed; … all are discontented, all grumble.… You are -not going to tell me that you, a lieutenant in the Russian navy, know -nothing of all this? Yes, all the nation will hail me with delight; the -army will meet with joy a Russian-born princess, Elizabeth II., just as -they once met Ekaterina.” - -I was indignant at her childish and blind confidence in herself. - -“Well, let it be so. Do you speak Russian?” I decided on asking her. - -The Princess blushed. “I do not speak it. I have, of course, forgotten -it, unfortunately,” she answered, coughing. “In my infancy, when but -three years old, I was taken from Oukraine to Siberia, where they -nearly poisoned me; from there into Persia, where I was placed with an -old woman in Ispahan, who took me to live in Bagdad, where a certain M. -Fournier taught me French.… So it would have been rather strange if I -did remember my own language.” - -I still continued sitting, my eyes fixed on the ground. I could not -raise them to her face. - -“And Dimitri Tzarevitch,[15] whom all Moscow met so joyfully, did he -speak Russian?” asked the Princess contemptuously. “Besides, what can -languages prove? Children learn and unlearn everything so easily.” - -“Dimitri spoke with a ‘Little Russian’ accent,” answered I. “And then, -after all, he was but--a pretender!” - -“Gran Dio!” she exclaimed; and again coughing, the Princess laughed. -“And you’re not ashamed of repeating those idle tales? Listen to me, -and remember my words.”… - -The Princess threw herself back in her chair. Bright spots appeared in -her cheeks. - -“Dimitri was the real tzarevitch.” She said this in a voice of -conviction. “Yes, the real tzarevitch. He was saved from the hands of -the assassin Godounoff by the cleverness of those around him, almost by -a miracle, just as I was saved from the poison they gave me in Siberia. -Ah! you did not know that? Yes, think about it all a little more. Oh! -Signor Konsov, tell your tales to some one else, but not to me, who -have studied in a strange land the genealogy of our house. The Shah of -Persia offered his hand and his throne to me, but I refused him; he is -the eternal enemy of Russia.… I _shall_ be acknowledged. Do you hear? -They _must_ acknowledge me,” said the Princess, with great dignity. - -Striking her knee with her fan, and beginning again to cough, she -continued,-- - -“I believe in the star of my destiny, and therefore I choose you as my -ambassador to Count Orloff. I do not exact a speedy answer. Think over -it, weigh well my words, and then give me your decision. You, again I -repeat, are the first Russian in an honourable military position whom I -have met abroad. You also have suffered, and also escaped from prison -by a miracle. Who knows? perhaps Heaven saved you, like many others, -and sent you to me.” - -Having said this, the Princess rose, and, with a most majestic salute, -signified that the audience was concluded. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -_I CONVEY A LETTER._ - - -“What does it all mean? Who is she? What is she? A pretender, or a -Russian grand duchess?” thought I, as, full of contending thoughts, I -left the room of the Princess, and with faltering steps passed between -the persons of her suite, who saluted me right and left with the -greatest respect. - -At the _perron_[16] I noticed several carriage-horses, adorned with -velvet and feathers. On entering the hotel I heard the clattering of -horses’ hoofs. Going to the window, I saw the Princess, surrounded -by her courtiers, riding fearlessly on a beautiful white horse. The -cavalcade flew by on the road to Ragusa. - -For several days I could not get rid of the most agitating ideas. -I hardly left my room, walking backwards and forwards, then lying -down, then writing letters, only, however, to tear them up again, and -constantly thinking, “How could I, remembering the oath of allegiance -which I had taken on entering the service? What ought I to do regarding -the proposition of this mysterious Princess?” - -One day her secretary, Charnomski, came to pay me a visit. He was a -smart, elegantly-dressed man of about forty. He had once been very -rich, had been a duellist and a Lovelace, had lost all his fortune at -cards and in the affairs of the Confederation. He had not lost his -fine manners, but was very conceited and insinuating, and--so rumour -said--was serving the Princess because he was deeply in love with her. -The conversation turned on the Princess. He was eloquent on the subject -of her generosity, her fearlessness, and, having assured me on oath -that all she had said of her past life was true, again renewed, in her -name, an entreaty that I would side with her. - -“But whose daughter is she? who was her father?” I asked, rather drily. -“You only speak in her favour, but there must be proofs. Everything is -so very doubtful.”… - -Charnomski reddened, and was silent several minutes. - -It seemed to me at that time that this Princess’s Ganymede curled and -pomatumed in the last fashion, with his diamond ear-rings, was rouged. - -“Good heavens! what doubts! Her father--do you not know it -yourself?--was the Count Alexis Razoumovski,” said this wily -diplomatist, regaining his composure. “But if you desire it, sir -lieutenant, I can give you all the details. You see, the Empress -Elizabeth, after her secret marriage with the count, had several -children----” - -“Oh! all that’s nonsense; no one really knows anything about it,” I -answered. - -“Of course it was a rather delicate affair, and was kept a great -secret,” continued Charnomski. “You are right, how should every one -know? But I relate all this because I have it from a true source. What -became of the other children, and whether any are still living, … is -not known. - -“The Princess Elizabeth, when a child of two years old, was brought to -the relations of Razoumovski, the Cossacks Daragan, to their property -in Oukraine, Daraganovka, which the neighbours, countrymen of the new -_parvenus_, styled, in their own fashion, “Tarakanovka.” The Dowager -Empress Elizabeth, and after her all the court, in fun called the child -the Princess Tmoutarakanova.[17] At first she was not neglected. She -was often inquired after. Everything that she needed was always sent to -her. But afterwards, especially during her travels, she was lost sight -of, and finally quite forgotten.” - -The word “Tarakanovka” made me shudder in spite of myself. It sounded -to me like a voice of the past. It reminded me of my far-off childhood, -of our own little manor, Konsovka, and my late grandmother, Agraffena -Vlassovna, who had known much of the past and present court; of -the wonderful luck which had fallen to the lot of the shepherd of -Lemechevski, who unexpectedly had become, instead of the singer, -Aloshki Razouma,[18] a count, and the privately married husband of -the empress; of the accession to the throne of the new empress; of -the attempt of Merovitch, and of many other events. Through him my -grandfather, Irakli Konsov, who was a neighbour of the Razoumovskis in -the village Lemesha, was loaded with favours, rose in his service, and -died in a very high position. - -I remembered another very hazy circumstance. I went once with my -grandmother to a name’s-sake day party given by some relations. Our -road lay across a village near Baturin, the residence of the Hetman[19] -Kiryl Razoumovski. It was a lovely and calm summer’s evening, and we -were talking together, grandmother and I. From the open carriage, -on both sides of the road, in the twilight we could see the weeping -willows, and, scattered here and there between them, the white cottages -and windmills, and above the willows and the cottages the church -steeple. My grandmother, musing quietly, crossed herself, and then -thoughtfully, gently, as if to herself, all at once pronounced the word -“Tarakanchic.”[20] - -“What did you say, grandmother?” I asked. - -“Tarakanchic.” - -“What is that?” - -“Well, I will tell you, _mon ange_,” she answered. “Here, a long -time ago, in this same village, lived a mysterious person--a lovely, -graceful, and fair child, as fair as a lily; but she did not stay long, -and where she disappeared to no one knows.” - -“But who was it?” asked I. - -“Red Riding Hood,” answered my grandmother, lowering her voice. “I -suppose, as in the fairy tale, the cruel wolves have eaten poor -Tmoutarakanovka.”[21] - -My grandmother after this spoke no more, and I, believing the wolves -had really eaten the child, forbore to ask any more questions. - -But now I clearly remembered that lovely green and willowy Tarakanovka -and the mysterious tale of my grandmother. That century was rich in -fairy-like lore, and one might be pardoned for believing in all sorts -of miracles. - -“Well, have you decided, sir?” broke in Charnomski, seeing that, lost -in thought, I was silent. - -“Explain to me just what the Princess expects of me.” - -“Only one thing, sir lieutenant, only one thing,” answered the wily -envoy, getting up and bowing. “To take this letter of the Princess -to Count Orloff; that is the only thing she asks of you.… Tell the -count how and where you met the Russian Grand Duchess Elizabeth, and -with what impatience she awaits his answer to her first letter and -manifesto. On the result of your mission depends her further course of -action and her departure for the Sultan’s court.” - -Charnomski took from his breast pocket a letter, and handed it to me. - -“That is her only request,” he repeated, bowing again, and -insinuatingly looking me in the face, with a half-look of entreaty in -his large grey eyes. - -After having thought it all over, I felt that I ought not to refuse, -and I took the letter. My duty as an officer demanded that I should let -the count know everything. He must decide what should be done; that -would be his affair. - -“Very well,” answered I. “I do not know who your Princess is, but I -undertake to deliver her letter in safety.” - -Having waited some time, I found an opportunity of sailing to my -destination. I presented myself once more to the Princess, made my -adieux, and left Ragusa. The very same day the Prince Radzivill gave, -in honour of the Princess, his fairy-like and long-renowned fête. -For a long time in Europe the newspapers could talk of nothing else. -The extravagant and generous prince, madly in love with the Princess, -had already been lavishing his wealth upon her, like an Indian nabob; -but this time he surpassed himself. The fête lasted a long time; the -most precious wines flowed like water. There was music, cannon were -fired in the gardens, and a beautiful display of fireworks of more -than 1,000 rockets astonished all the town. At the end of the feast, -the knightly lover suddenly announced that the dances would continue -till the morning, and that at dawn all the revellers, to refresh -themselves, should see a real winter, and should drive home, not in -carriages, but in sleighs. On the morrow, when the guests came out on -the _perron_, the neighbouring streets were really quite white, and to -all appearance covered with snow. During the night busy workers had -spread a thick layer of salt over everything, and the joyous, noisy -crowd of _masques_, amidst repeated salutes of cannon and the shouts -of the newly-awakened citizens, were really driven home to the musical -sound of the sleigh bells. - -I took my departure for Italy, puzzling my brain with various -questions. “Was this Princess really the daughter of the Empress -Elizabeth? Did she believe in the truth of what she said herself, or -did she spread these rumours on purpose?” As far as I could remember -the expression of her face, there appeared from time to time, -especially in her eyes, something it seemed to me almost impossible to -catch--a look of indecision, mingled with a gleam of hope. - -In taking with me her letter and the particulars I had learnt, I was -prompted by feelings of duty, as an officer of Her Majesty Ekaterina, -but I was half won over by pity for the Princess as a lovely and -helpless woman. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -_I DELIVER A LETTER._ - - -I landed at Ancona. From there I started for Bologna, which I had -heard the commander had chosen for his headquarters. The Count Alexis -Orloff, although the hero of Chesma, hated the sea from the bottom of -his heart, and having given over the command of the squadron to his -vice-admiral, the first flag-officer, Vice-Admiral Samuel Greig, he -spent most of his time on land. - -To those beneath him he was ever amiable and good. He was very fond -of simple jokes, and surrounded as he was by almost Imperial luxury, -was always attentive and easy of access. The life of the count at -Moscow, before the campaign in the Greek waters, which had covered his -name with glory, had remained graven on my mind. The Orloffs were no -strangers to our family. My late father in days gone by had been their -companion-in-arms, and I, in going backwards and forwards from the -naval schools to my birthplace, used very often to spend long holidays -in their Muscovite house. The Count Alexis especially was a favourite -of bright Moscow; the gigantic and splendid figure of Count Alexana, -as all Moscow called him, full of robust health, his fine Grecian -eyes, his gay and careless manners, his enormous wealth, all tended -to attract to his hospitable halls all that Moscow could boast of as -regards aristocracy, nobility, and also almost all other classes. - -The house of the Count Alexis, as I well remember it now, stood not -far from the gates of Moscow, and not far from the “Crimean Ford,” -and very near to his property in the environs of Moscow, the village -Niaskouchnavo (the “not gloomy” village). - -The Muscovites could admire in the house of the count the splendid -gobelin tapestries on the walls; the marvellous, graceful Dutch-tile -stoves on gilt pedestals; the magnificent collection of old arms and -armour. His town garden was ornamented with ponds, lakes, arbours, -cascades, a menagerie, and an aviary. At the princely gates, in one -of the windows of the lodge-keeper’s cottage, hung a golden cage with -a parrot in it, who would scream at the idlers, “Long live our little -Mother Empress!” At the fabulous feasts of the Count Alexis, very often -under the costly lemon and orange trees, brought from his hothouses, -tables would be spread, at which more than 300 people would sit down. -A true Russian at heart, the count used to like giving his guests the -pleasure of looking on at boxings, wrestlings, minstrelsies, himself -often not disdaining to take part in them. With his hand he could -bend a horseshoe, tie a poker in a knot, or catch a bull by the horns -and throw him down; and to these sights he would sometimes invite all -Moscow. - -On one occasion, to have a good laugh at the rising passion of the -fops for _pince-nez_ and spectacles, on the 1st of May he sent on the -public promenade at Sokolnika one of his attendants, dressed in a -riding costume, and leading amongst the crowd of young dandies a poor, -crippled, and half-blind cur, with great _tin_ spectacles on his nose, -and a card hung round his neck with the following sentence in large -letters, “And look, he’s only three years old!” - -But it was his splendidly arranged hunting meets and horse races which -made him a centre of attraction to all classes of society. Not one -horse in all Moscow could be compared to his “Rissak,”[22] a mixed -breed of Arabian, English, and Frisian horses. At the races held in -front of the house at the “Crimean Ford” I can even now remember how -the Count Alexano, in the winter in his tiny sleighs, and in summer -in his racing _droskies_ would lead with his own hands his spotlessly -white horse “Smitanka,” or her rival, the dapple-grey “Amazonka.” -Crowds would be running after the count when he, gathering the reins -in his hand in his _romanovski touloup_,[23] or his damask coat, would -appear at the gates on his snorting, white-maned beauty, calling out to -his three Simeons--to his first jockey, Sainka the White, to arrange -the bit; to his second, Sainka the Black, to tighten the stirrups; to -his third, Sainka the Dresdenite, to moisten the horse’s mane with -_kvas_. - -The count was also playful in his correspondence. Who does not know the -letter he wrote to his brother Gregory after the celebrated victory of -Chesma? - -“Sir, my brother, good day! We marched on the enemy, we went up to -him, we caught him, we felled him, we broke him, we conquered him, we -drowned him, we burnt him, and turned him into ashes. And I, your -humble servant, am in good health.--ALEXIS ORLOFF.” - -Copies of this letter were in the hands of every one. A born jester, -a reveller, a boxer, this pleasure-loving count in his young years -before the war had never even dreamt of being a sailor. Even to take -the command of the fleet in Italy he went by land! He was very much -talked about on the accession of the empress to the throne; after the -battle of Chesma he was still more talked about; but to a good many he -remained an enigma. At the reviews and parades, at his own princely -_levées_, Count Alexis always appeared surrounded with great pomp, -covered with gold, diamonds, and orders of all sorts; but in his walks -in Paris he would go out amongst the elegant and fastidious crowd of -promenaders sometimes with his head unpowdered, with a little round -_bourgeois_ hat, and a coat of the coarsest and commonest grey cloth. -I, of course, like others, could not very well guess the motives which -prompted him to do all this. Very often even his words would bewilder -you. Yes, he was a man of great mind and subtle wit. I burned with -impatience again to see him, after so long a separation, although the -commission entrusted to me by the Princess troubled me very much. -Before my departure from Ragusa I had let the count know by letter of -my escape from the Turks, and also that I was bringing him news of a -very important person, whom I had discovered by accident and had met. - -My journey through Italy lasted a long time. I managed to get a chill -on the mountains, fell ill, and was obliged to stay for some time at -the house of a charitable magnate. At length I arrived at Bologna. -After having rested from my journey a little, I changed my dress, and, -feeling rather agitated, I approached the beautiful palace of the -count at Bologna. I learnt that the count was at home, and sent to -announce my presence. After my long imprisonment, I had every reason -to expect a warm welcome and reward; but I was rather doubtful how -the count would take my audience and conference with the dangerous -and mysterious pretender, held without the permission of my chief. -There were two sides to the question. If I had been asked to say -conscientiously exactly what I thought of the Princess, I should have -found it very difficult to give a truthful answer. At Ragusa I had -heard many doubtful things of her past life, about mysterious ties she -had formed. But what did her past life matter to any one? Who knows -what ties she might have been induced to make to escape from her gloomy -fate? And who knows if such ties really existed? - -The count received me directly. I was led through a long suite of -richly-decorated drawing-rooms and salons, first on the ground-floor -and then upstairs. - -At this time the handsome hero of Chesma, Count Alexis, was in his -thirty-eighth year. Not only at home, but in a strange land, he loved -to spend his time with doves, being passionately fond of these birds. -On my arrival he was sitting at the very top of his house, where he -ordered the footman at once to bring me. What a sight met my eyes! This -celebrated man--so clever, so strong and so stately, before whom all -other men seemed but pigmies--was seated on a common wooden chair at -the dusty little window. Having run away from the heat, he was seated -with only his shirt on! and was drinking out of a mug some iced wine, -at the same time waving his handkerchief at a brood of doves, who -were pirouetting about the roof. “Ah! Konchic;[24] how are you?” said -he, turning for a minute towards me. “Well, what? run away, eh? Well, -congratulate you, old fellow. Sit down. Oh! look there; are they not a -lovely couple? What do you think of them? Ah! the rascals; there they -are turning and twisting. Ah, _tourmelins_[25] ah!” - -Again he waved his handkerchief, and I, not finding any chair to sit -upon, began looking at him with curiosity. - -The count in these last years of peace had grown stouter, his neck was -quite like a bull’s, his shoulders like Jupiter’s or Bacchus’s, his -face quite striking, with its look of health and dauntlessness. - -“Well! what are you staring at?” said he, standing and looking at me. -“I was amusing myself with birds, while you were sitting with the -Turks. Here they are all clay-coloured and black, but the tuberous -ones, like ours, old fellow, are few, and not common. Yes, they can -take letters for a longer distance than 100 _versts_. Marvellous! If we -could but breed them in Russia! Well now, tell me everything about the -prison and about the travels.” - -I began my narration. The count listened to me at first very -inattentively, all the while looking out of the window, but afterwards -he grew more interested; and when I touched upon the subject of the -person whom I had met at Ragusa, and handed him the letter, the count -threw a handful of seed from a plate at the assembled doves, and when -they all flew off in a crowd up on the roof, stood up. - -“This news, my dear fellow, is such that we must talk seriously. Let’s -get down from this mast into the company cabin.” We went downstairs and -afterwards into the garden. The count on the way had dressed himself, -and given orders that no one was to be received. We walked a long while -backwards and forwards in the avenues. While I answered his questions -I looked attentively into the expressive and often dreamy eyes of the -count. He listened to me with very great attention. - -“Ah! art scheming?” said he, all at once; “why, suppose she is a -pretender, an adventuress. Now explain,” added he, sitting down on a -bench. “Art repeating the words of others or thine own?” - -I felt confused, and did not quite know what to answer. - -“All the tales of her past life are so strange,” said I, “so much like -a fairy-tale--Siberia, poison, escape from Persia, correspondence with -all the crowned heads of Europe--that I have conscientiously acted as -a faithful servant of the empress, looked well about me, as I cannot, I -must say, hide my doubts.…” - -“Agreed,” said the count, “Of course, you can look at it in two -ways; but the most important fact is that _she_ is known of at St. -Petersburg. They have written to me about her, speaking of her as a -‘vagabond,’ who has taken to herself a name and genealogy to which she -has no right.” - -The count was silent for some time. - -“H’m! nice vagabond!” added he, as if to himself. “Puzzling, of course. -Let it be so; I do not dispute it.… But why have they decided on -exacting her extradition? and, in case it should be refused, on taking -her by force, even if it is necessary to bombard the citadel of Ragusa? -No one acts like that with a common vagabond. Such a person you just -catch--a stone on the neck and in the water.” - -I felt as if cold water were running down my back at these words of the -count. I vividly remember that eventful June day.… - -“Well, what, old man--you see yourself it’s no vagabond--what do you -think about it? No, straight out with it, hide nothing.” - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -_WE WILL BEFRIEND HER._ - - -The words of the count filled me with astonishment. Involuntarily I -remembered then the intelligence the Princess had given me of the -fallen favours of the Orloffs, of the exile of the late favourite to -Revel, and of the rising fortunes of their enemies. Was it grief, was -it passion which blinded the count? or did he really believe in the -descent of the Princess? I really did not know, but I could clearly -see that he was not throwing his words to the winds, and that a great -struggle was taking place in his heart. - -“Excuse my impertinence, Your Grace,” said I impatiently, “but if you -bid me, I’ll hide nothing from you. The person I saw, I must say, -resembles very much the late Empress Elizabeth. Who does not know -the portrait of that empress? The same imposing profile, the white, -delicate complexion, the same dark arched eyebrows, the same majestic -figure, and, more important than all,--the same eyes. I cannot help -relating to you what my late grandmother in Oukraine told me about the -relatives of the Razoumovskis.” - -“Ah! bah! But yourself, Konsov--you are from Baturin!” excitedly said -the count. “Well, well, and what did your grandmother tell you?” - -I told him all I knew about Daraganovka, and about the mysterious child -who had once lived there. - -“Ah! that’s where this Tarakanovka comes from,” said the count. -“True! true! Yes! yes! I remember now I heard something about a -Tmoutarakanski[26] princess.” - -He rose from the bench. I could see that he was very much agitated. -Crossing his hands behind his back, and with his head hanging down, he -began walking backwards and forwards on the garden path. I respectfully -followed him at a little distance. - -“Konsov, you are now no longer a boy!” said Alexis Gregorevitch, -turning his keen eagle eyes upon me. “This is a most important State -affair. Be careful, not only of your actions and your words, but even -of your very thoughts. Can you swear to be silent on everything?” - -“Your Grace, I give you my oath.” - -“Well, then, listen, and--remember--you answer me with your head.”[27] - -The count stopped, and his thoughtful gaze seemed to pierce my very -soul; then he added, “Don’t forget; you know me of old--your head!…” - -We crossed the garden, and sat on an isolated bench. - -“Of course it will not be very difficult to catch this calumniated -person,” said the count; “you’re obliged to do a great deal sometimes, -when you are ordered to do it. But would it be honest now? What do you -think about it?--Mysteriously--deceitfully? Ah! and especially with a -woman.--It would be a pity now, wouldn’t it?” - -“Of course it would,” answered I, in my simplicity; “of course we must -conquer our enemies; but then openly--otherwise everybody will have the -right to call us traitors, soul-killers.” - -At this minute the eyes of the count twinkled very curiously. He closed -them quickly, as though something had blown into them. - -“Of course, of course, old man, it would be mean.… You and I are not -executioners,” said he. “Of course they wouldn’t write from Petersburg -for nothing; and then, who knows what they think about us there? But -there now, I’ll be open. I received two secret envoys from over there, -tempting and inducing me to turn traitor.… Could I expect such a thing? -Isn’t it an insult, after all my long years of faithful devotion? Ah! -what think you of that?” - -The frankness of the count struck me with astonishment, and flattered -my vanity. “What a lot falls to the great of this earth!” thought I and -from the bottom of my heart I pitied the count, whose fallen greatness -I knew already. - -Alexis Gregorevitch put several questions to me about the Princess and -her _entourage_, told me he would employ me as adjutant, and dismissed -me with the order to go to Bologna and await his commands. I thanked -him for his attention, and took my leave. - -The next day the count left for Livorno[28] to visit his squadron, and -remained away a whole week. As I was without any money and in great -want of everything, it was not very pleasant for me. I had no one to -write to in Russia. Several more days passed. At last I was summoned. - -The count received me in his study. - -“Can you guess, Konsov, what I’ve to tell you?” he asked me, arranging -some papers. - -“How can I guess the thoughts of Your Grace?” - -“Here’s a note. Go to the purser, get some money, pay your debts. Send -the money to those French creditors. You’ve ruined yourself in the -service. To-morrow you go to Rome.” - -I bowed, and awaited further orders. - -“Do you know why?” asked the count. - -“I cannot guess.” - -“Whilst you wandered about and were ill, this mysterious Princess, -deserted by the volatile Radzivill,” said the count, “left Ragusa. At -first, with a Neapolitan passport, she went to Barletta, lived there -some time. Now she has appeared in Rome as a Polish lady. Do you -understand?” - -I again bowed. - -“Well, now,” continued the count, “I am very culpable in her eyes. -I have not answered her two letters. But how could I, surrounded by -all these spies? Answer? I tried once or twice to send her a faithful -emissary, one of your own companions-at-arms, but she would not -receive him. I pity that poor, young deserted thing, so inexperienced -and without any means. You’ll be able to see her and begin the -negotiations. I have invited her here; at Rome, I have heard, there -are several Russians. Try and get to know everything that’s going -on; but, first of all, shield her from all enemies and all foreign -influence. Let her believe in us alone. We will befriend her. About -your own conscience, be easy; all shall be done in all mercy and -according to the laws of justice.” - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -_IS THE COUNT A TRAITOR?_ - - -I was overwhelmed; I was wonderstruck. - -“Is it possible the count can be a traitor?” The thought flew like -lightning through my brain. Impossible. Celebrated patriot, celebrated -hero of the _Coup d’État_,[29] right hand of Ekaterina? Such thoughts -would be unworthy. But what in the world is he plotting? Agitated by -different doubts, suddenly a bold and almost insolent plan came into -my head--that of learning the most secret designs of the count. It is -true that in these last few days a rumour had been circulated to the -effect that from the north had been received a secret _ukase_, that the -count, for whom the deepest regret was felt, had been recalled, and the -command of the fleet given to another. - -“Excuse me, Your Grace,” said I to the count; “to-morrow I start for -Rome. You have confided to me a mission of the highest importance. In -case the Princess should agree to your conditions, and should accept -your invitation, what will be the result of it all, if I may presume to -ask you?” - -“Oh! what a fireship![30] what a leech!” said Alexis Gregorevitch, with -a curl of his lip. “Yes, and you sailors are all like that. Take out -everything, and spread it on the table. But we diplomâts do not care -for useless prattle. Live, and then you’ll know. This affair will show -itself. But I am the true and faithful servant of our Empress Ekaterina -Alexéevna.” - -“Be generous, and forgive me, count,” said I. “You have confided to me, -not a naval mission, but a diplomatic one. It has never happened to -me before, and therefore I am very doubtful.… And should this person -assert her rights?” - -“Well, that’s just what I’m thinking about. It might easily be that -she is a branch of the Imperial family. In her veins flows perhaps the -blood of our mother Elizabeth. We must be ready for anything. Do all -you can, Konsov; your services shall not be forgotten. But don’t forget -one thing. You must help the Princess with money, as she is a woman. -You must take her out of her humiliating position.… Who knows? perhaps -to her Imperial Majesty it will not be disagreeable. Our reigning -sovereign has a heart. Oh! sometimes it is a stone.… Who knows? perhaps -in time it may be softer.” - -The count astonished me more than ever. - -“Well,” thought I to myself, “what an honour for me to have won the -confidence of such an exalted personage! All is clear now. The count -is no traitor. Although his ambition, perhaps, led him to murmur, -still.--The favour of the Orloffs is fallen, and it’s evident the count -wishes to persuade the Princess to give up her rights.” - -The whole plan, explained to me by the count, became quite clear. -Having prepared everything for my journey, I took my departure, with -the most faithful resolution to fulfil the mission which had been -confided to me. - - * * * * * - -It was in the month of February, 1775, not so very long ago for me -to have suffered and experienced so much. Having reached Rome, I -made inquiries about the emissary of the count who had reached Rome -before me. He was a lieutenant of our own squadron, and, as some -said, a Greek. To me it seemed more likely that he, Ivan Moisaevitch -Christianok by name, was half German and half Jew. I handed over -to him the papers that had been confided to my care, and began -questioning him about our mutual mission. As black as a beetle, small -of stature, restless--in fact, a most repulsive man--Christianok smiled -continually, spoke always in a most insinuating voice, and seemed, with -his shifting glance, to dive at once into one’s soul and one’s pocket. - -I learnt from Christianok that the Princess had taken a few rooms -in Rome, on the first floor of the house of Juani, on the Champs de -Mars. She lived there in the greatest retirement and in great want. -She paid for her apartment fifty _sequins_ a month, and kept only -three servants. She only went out to go to church, and, excepting one -friend, a Jesuit _abbé_, and the doctor who attended her, she saw no -one. The emissary of the count, Christianok, disguised as a beggar, -lounged about the house of Juani for more than a fortnight, trying in -vain to get a glimpse of its fair inhabitant. But he was mistrusted by -every one, and, notwithstanding all his efforts, his entreaties to the -servants, no one would let him in. He took me to the Champs de Mars. - -The house of Juani was very solitary; it was built quite apart, between -a yard and a not very large but very shady garden. I went up to the -door and raised the knocker. First I saw at the window, which was -framed in creeping vines, the maid of the Princess, daughter of a -Prussian captain, Francis Mecèdès, and after her the secretary of the -Princess, whom I had seen at Ragusa, Charnomski. - -“From whom?” asked the latter timidly, looking at me from behind the -half-open door. - -I hardly knew him again. Where was his _aplomb_--his foppery? where had -it disappeared? His clothes were half worn out, his hair was uncurled, -there was no rouge on his cheeks, and he wore only the commonest and -cheapest of ear-rings! - -“From Count Orloff,” answered I. - -“Have you a letter?” - -“Yes; but let me in.” - -“Have you a letter?” repeated the secretary, already taking an insolent -and bragging tone. - -“Yes, in the writing of the count himself,” answered I, handing him the -letter. - -Charnomski tore it out of my hands, glanced at the German -superscription, and, quite bewildered, slowly retreated, and -disappeared. After a few minutes the door was quickly opened, and I was -let in. - -“Ah! _mille pardons!_” said Charnomski, bowing very low; “now just -fancy, I didn’t know you again in your uniform, you are so changed. -Welcome, thrice welcome, long-expected and wished-for guest!” - -He turned and twisted and smirked so much that I could not help at once -pitying and laughing at him. - -The Princess received me in a very small room, the windows looking -out on to the silent and deserted garden. There were now no splendid -damask walls, no gilt furniture, no bronze--in one word, not one of the -luxuries which there had been at Ragusa. She herself, the Grand-duchess -Elizabeth Tarakanova, Princess Wladimirskaya, Dame D’Azow--she who had -captivated the Shah of Persia and German princes--was now lying ill on -a leathern sofa, a blue velvet mantilla thrown over her, and her feet -encased in fur slippers. The room was cold and damp. A log of wood was -flickering dimly in the fireplace, shedding no warmth anywhere. I did -not recognise the Princess. Her thin and wan face, with the hectic -flush in each cheek, seemed more lovely than ever. Her eyes smiled, but -they were not the same; they reminded me of the eyes of a beautiful -wild fawn, mortally wounded, escaping the chase, but feeling that her -end is near. - -“Ah! you are come at last!” said she timidly, smiling. “You have -brought the answer to my letter from the count.… I have read it.… Thank -you.… What have you to tell me?” - -“The count is your most obedient servant,” answered I, repeating the -words that had been said to me. “He is quite at your service and at -your feet.” - -The Princess rose. Arranging her beautiful fair wavy hair, which she -wore without powder, she put out her hand with a timid, friendly -gesture. I ventured to raise it to my lips. - -“Here all, excepting two persons, have deserted me,” said she; but -her strong convulsive cough interrupted her. She put a handkerchief -to her lips,--“and then, added to that, I fell ill;--but all that’s -nonsense,--it’s not worth speaking about. But do you know now that -I’m quite without any means? The Prince Radzivill, his friends, the -French people who helped me, have all deserted me, have all hidden -themselves,--and all that happened so unexpectedly,--so quickly.… -Hardly was peace signed with Turkey when my _complaisant_ Polish -magnates one and all threw me off. Never mind; I’ll pay them out for -that some day. But now, … I must tell you openly,” added she, smiling, -“I am quite, yes, _quite_, without money. I have not one single -_baioch_[31]--I’ve nothing to pay the doctor, or to procure provisions, -with. My creditors give me no peace: threaten me with the police. It’s -awful; I’ve nothing left to live upon.…” - -Having said this, the Princess began again to cough most awfully, and -fixed upon me her supplicating, bewildered glance;--of her former -confidence not a trace remained. - -“Your Highness,” said I, fulfilling my instructions, “the count has -sent you this small sum. How much there is here I know not, but the -count offers it to you with all his heart.” - -I handed to the Princess a small packet, sealed with the count’s crest, -and containing a cheque on a Roman banker, Jenkins. She read the paper, -passed her hands over her eyes, looked me in the face, and again began -coughing. - -“Is it possible?” she exclaimed, with a happy smile, pressing the paper -to her heart; “it is true then--it is not a hoax?” - -“Such exalted and important personages as His Grace the Count Orloff -never joke on such subjects,” answered I. - -The Princess all of a sudden jumped up from the sofa, clapped her hands -like a child, and with tears and smiles threw her arms round my neck, -screamed out something I could not make out, and ran out of the room. - -From there I could hear her scream, “Unlimited credit!” and then, all -at once, I could hear her hysterical sobs. The servants began running -to and fro; Charnomski, pale and agitated, came into the room. - -“Her Highness is so grateful to you,” said he, pressing my hand with -emotion. “You are the first to help her, the first who has kept his -word. It is so rare now: the Princess had every reason to hesitate; she -has been so often deceived. Yes, my countrymen enticed her here, and -then deserted her.… The count invites her to come to Bologna. Whether -she will consent or not, I do not know; but we must hope that she -will decide to accept the invitation of the count. She is fearless, -enterprising, as brave as a chevalier; and to reach the aim so dear to -her heart, believe me, she will fear nothing.” - -“May I let the count know this?” I asked. - -“Wait a short time--in her position--and then, as you see, ill,” -answered Charnomski; “pass again in two or three days, we will let you -know. _En attendant_,[32] keep all secret.” - -“But there are other Russians here,” I answered, “who see the Princess. -They may injure her. Who are they?” - -Charnomski flushed to the very roots of his hair, looked embarrassed, -gave me a side-long glance, and answered that he knew nothing about -that. - -I took my departure. Several days passed, but still I knew nothing of -the Princess. We took it by turns, Christianok and I, to watch the -house from one of the neighbouring restaurants, noticing who went in -and out, and awaiting further events. - -For the first two or three days all in the house was as quiet and -solitary as usual. The doctor came several times, then a woman dressed -all in black, covered with a long black veil, to all appearance a -nun. She always used to remain a considerable time with the Princess. -One evening a servant of the house brought up to the _perron_ a very -handsome hired carriage; a woman wrapped in a blue velvet mantilla came -out with tottering steps, and took a seat in the carriage. - -“The Princess!” said I, to Christianok. “We must follow and find out -where she goes.” - -We called a cab,[33] and followed her. The carriage, its blinds drawn -down, rapidly passed through several streets, bowled out into the -Corso, and drew up at the door of the banker Jenkins. All was clear -now; the magical key, the count’s cheque, had opened the door to the -confiding and fearless beauty. - -Another week passed, and still no news of the Princess. I had caught -cold, and was obliged to keep indoors, but Christianok, who alone now -watched the house, told me with great indignation that we had been made -fools of, and nothing else; the Princess did not even think of going -to Bologna. She had, as the emissary learnt, paid all her debts; the -creditors and the police, who had threatened her with arrest, had been -tranquillized, and had therefore left her at peace. - -The house of Juani had wonderfully altered. Before the _perron_ all day -and late at night stood a whole crowd of carriages. The retinue of the -Princess had again increased; she had taken the two floors of the vast -house of Juani, and had ordered herself splendid toilettes. Again, as -before, she was to be seen constantly driving out, visiting museums, -galleries, paying and receiving visits: she kept open house. - -At this very time Rome was especially lively; the new Pope was to be -chosen in place of the late Clement XIV. In the evening the salons of -the Princess were filled with the most celebrated painters, musicians, -_littérateurs_, and high clergy. The “Unknown” in the black dress had -not been seen for a long time. Once I had met her at the door of the -house of Juani. On seeing me, she turned away impatiently, and, did -I dream it?--said something in Russian. I just caught a glimpse of -golden hair streaked with grey, and the angry flash of splendid grey -eyes. The windows of the Princess were often open, and through them -were heard the strains of the harp, on which she played artistically. -A whole crowd of loiterers and beggars, always expecting her generous -gratuities, surrounded the house from morning to night, and we could -often hear them noisily applauding the splendid cavalcades of the -Princess. I had quite recovered now, and could see for myself the -Princess, as before, heedless, gay, now riding a spirited charger, -flying like the wind along the squares, in the streets, now driving in -an open carriage; always merry, always laughing. Involuntarily I felt -glad for her, poor young thing, having, through me, because of her -sex, found help and support in her dark days. One thing alone vexed -me. Christianok, who had been given to me as an assistant, began to -hint at the possible want of candour of the count towards me. Rome -began to talk of the lovely Princess, just as Venice had talked, -and even--though in the last days so bitter against her--Ragusa. -Christianok, somehow or other, learnt that the banker Jenkins had -paid her in the name of the count 10,000 ducats. The revived beauty -spent the money she received with a lavish hand, never thinking that -some day it would come to an end. I was once invited to one of her -_soirées_; the Princess seemed a radiant sun among surrounding stars. -She played on the harp with such feeling, that I was deeply moved. Of -her departure, however, she said nothing. She merely remarked once, _en -passant_, “Be easy; it will be all right.” - -At the end of a few days, on the advice of Christianok, I wrote her -a letter, reminding her of the count. The answer was very long in -coming. We were lost in conjectures. At last I received a note from -her, inviting me to meet her in the Church of Santa Maria dell’ Angela. - -It was evening. I went silently into the dim church, which was filled -with the odour of incense. Here and there flickered a taper before the -picture of some saint. A mysterious silence seemed to fill the deserted -obscurity of the columns and _prie-dieux_. In the loneliest corner, -behind a high _prie-dieu_, with a prayer-book in one hand, stood, -wrapped in a very elegant mantilla, a tall slender figure, veiled--I -recognised the Princess. - -“The wish for the welfare and happiness of my fatherland, and future -subjects,” said she, bending her head over her prayer-book, “is so -strong in me that I have decided to accept the invitation of the count. -Before, he frightened me; I did not believe him. Now I have full -confidence. You see, I have kept my word. To all my friends I have said -that I am bidding adieu to the world; that for the rest of my life I am -shutting myself up in a nunnery.--To you I will say something else.…” - -She lingered, as though gathering strength. - -“To-morrow I take my departure,” said she, in a dignified voice; “not -for a convent, but with you for the Count Orloff’s. You will not -deceive me; you will not betray me?” - -I silently bowed. What could I answer? I, the faithful subject of -her Imperial Majesty. The eyes of the Princess were filled with -exultation--with hopes. She knew no doubts, no distrust. Before me -stood a woman deeply convinced. Pity for her involuntarily stole over -me. - -“And so till to-morrow, and then, _en route_.…” - -“Well, thank God, at last,” thought I, “the count will now be able to -convince her; he’ll arrange matters for her.” - -She shook me warmly by the hand; seemed as though she wished to add -something, then rapidly disappeared. I also directed my steps to -the church porch. As I approached the vessel of holy water, a woman -standing there stepped forward and stood in front of me. I recognised -the person in black whom I had seen entering the house of Juani. - -“Konsov,” said she, in an indignant whisper in Russian, pushing me -aside behind one of the columns; “you--you are a traitor.” - -“How dare you say that? Who are you?” asked I. “If you are Russian, -tell me your name?” - -[Illustration: THE COUNT ALEXIS ORLOFF. - - _“He was neither revengeful,_ - _Nor proud, wicked and deceitful._ - _He was beloved by the Nation,_ - _To the Empress true.”_] - -“My name’s nothing to you. You are in a conspiracy against her; -… you have persuaded her to go; … you have enticed her into a -trap”;--whispered, with agitation, the Unknown, gripping my hand. -“Swear! … or you are a monster; just such a ruffian as those who got -others to ruin another innocent--in Schlusselburg!…” - -I remembered my grandmother had told me about the bloody drama of -Merovitch. - -“Fear nothing,” said I; “before you, you see an honest officer.… I am -only fulfilling my duty, and am convinced that only a better future -awaits the Princess.” - -The Unknown raised her hand, and silently pointed to the image of the -Virgin Mary. - -“I can only repeat what I have already said,” I whispered. “The -Princess is safe, and a more happy fate awaits her.” - -She shook my hand, bowed, and silently left the church. - -I followed her as far as I could with my eyes, trying to guess who she -was, and why she took so profound an interest in the Princess. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -_THE DEPARTURE FROM ROME._ - - -It was the 12th of February. The day was very cold and northern-like, -but withal very bright. The Princess, her suite and servants, took -their seats in several carriages. At the Church of San Carlo she -distributed rich alms to the poor, and then, followed by a whole crowd -of artists and nobles, and amidst the cries and shouts of the populace, -who ran after her, waving hats and caps, she left Rome. At the town -gates, she signed her name in the books as Countess Selinski. She took -the Florentine route. - -I galloped in front, while Christianok followed closely behind her. - -On the 16th of February the Princess arrived at Bologna. The count was -not in town; he was awaiting her in his more retired palace of Pisa. - -The noisy train and crowd of servants following the Princess, and -amounting to several dozens of people, exceedingly astonished the -count. However, he received his visitor very respectfully and -cordially, appointed her a splendid apartment, not far from his own, -surrounded her with every comfort possible, and at all times conducted -himself as a most faithful subject, never even, before strangers, -sitting down in her presence. Strange things began to happen. What the -count said to the Princess, what negotiations passed between them, no -one of course knew. We could only surmise--as we did very soon--that a -most hazardous game of love was being played. And, indeed, the Princess -soon afterwards removed from her own apartment to that of the count, -while her retinue and servants remained where they were. Christianok, -ever since the arrival of the Princess, constantly tried to put me in -the shade. He exalted his own services, as though the whole success of -the plot was due to him alone. Of course my pride would only allow me -to look upon all this with contempt. The count could see for himself -that it was to my influence alone that he owed the arrival of the -Princess. - -Rumours began to circulate that Alexis Gregorevitch had made the -Princess many presents; that among other things he had given her -his own miniature, painted on ivory and encircled with precious -stones; that for her he had, even from the very first, deserted his -much beloved favourite, the lovely and amiable wife of the rich -Alexandre Lvovitch Davidoff, a born Orloff. There remained no doubt. -The enchantress had won the heart of the count, our _preux_. The lion -had fallen in love with a gay butterfly. Dazzled by her, the count no -longer made a secret of his passion. He was to be seen openly with her -everywhere--on the promenade, at the opera, or at church: it was all -the same. One day the Princess did me the honour to call me. She began -asking me about this and about that and assured me several times that -she had more confidence in me than in any one else. The count also -was always most amiable. Christianok, seeing me again in favour, had -recourse to a little ruse. The cunning Greek began to complain that -the Princess had been very sparing in her attentions to him at Rome, -and that he could not forget it; she therefore, with the permission of -the count, gave him a colonel’s brevet. I was passed by. I bore this -injustice without a murmur, relying on the confidence reposed in me by -the count and the Princess, of which I was soon to have proofs. - -“Well Konsov!” said the count to me one day, “honour and glory to -you, who have known so well how to procure me the opportunity of -making myself agreeable to such a person. We must prepare for her, in -the future, a quiet and comfortable life. Is she not, truly, a lovely -creature? What a lively and charming character! I must say, candidly, -I’m almost ready to marry her myself, and have done with my bachelor -life.…” - -“Well and why not, your Grace?” answered I. “What should there be to -prevent it?” - -“She won’t consent, old fellow; she says, ‘I’ll consent only when I’m -in my proper place.’” - -“How so? Excuse me, I don’t understand. What proper place?” - -“Oh! well, cannot you understand?… When she will be in Russia, at -home,--well, when the empress will condescend to recognise her rights.” - -“But is there any hope of that?” - -Orloff became thoughtful. - -“Well, I think,” said he, “that it might be possible; I hope her -friends will not spoil everything. They follow her so closely here, all -those Poles, those Jesuits of all kinds. Who knows? They may poison -us. They may shoot us; or give us a stab at the corner of the street -with a hired _Kinjal_.[34] All they desire is a person for their -disturbances.” - -The count seemed very much agitated. His frank, open and intelligent -countenance seemed troubled. The passion of his heart, working as it -were against his will, could be heard in his trembling voice, in each -of his words. - -The day ended. The count did not leave his visitor for a minute. - -“Here’s bad luck! she won’t listen. Really I don’t know what to do,” -said he, one day, having summoned me. “If I could find some one to help -me, … some one who could persuade her.…” - -“Persuade her to what?” I asked. - -“To a private marriage, and then flight.…” - -“But with whom?” - -“With me!…” - -“What! your Grace! but where to?” - -“To the end of the world, if need be.… Ah, yes, while I think of it, -persuade her not to carry pistolets on her person; the other day, in a -passion, she nearly killed her own maid, Francesca.…” - -Having uttered this confession, this athletic, this splendid -Apollo-like count, stood before me as flushed as a schoolgirl, and his -eyes were cast down, just as if he were some love-sick youth awaiting -his sentence. - -What answer could I make him? In my agitation I was silent; but then, -as always, I decided to remain his most devoted and obedient servant. -After all, what was it? A marriage. There was nothing bad in that. In -marrying her the count was only obeying the dictates of his heart, and -while gaining in position by allying himself with Imperial blood, he -was transforming the “Adventuress” into the modest Countess Orloff. - - * * * * * - -Here I must interrupt my narrative, and return to the present--to our -poor frigate. My God! how awful! Tempest-tost, the _Northern Eagle_ -for five whole days was borne no one knew whither. All the reckonings, -all the fathomings were being done in vain. To-day, at dawn, we passed -Spain, not far from the African coast and near some wild stony islands. -We made signals, but in the fog no one could see us. In the daytime, -having finished my watch, I remained on deck. A most unbearable, sultry -coast-wind, a boundless expanse of water, splashing between the rocks, -a ship without mast or compass, universal despair, and not the least -hope of being saved: that is all we have before our eyes. The first -reef, and we are lost. Irena, oh! far-off charming traitress! oh! could -you but see all the torments endured by the poor rejected exile! Night, -again a calm. I’m once more in my cabin. All-powerful God, give me only -the strength to live through this night and finish writing my tale. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -_THE PRINCESS SEEKS MY ADVICE._ - - -The exhausted commander sleeps soundly. Only the sentinels and I are -on watch. I shall begin now to relate the saddest experience of all -my life. This experience is the principal excuse for my writing this -confession. May she who caused me to wander, an exile in a foreign -land, remember that she was the involuntary participator in that action -which will remain a source of regret and reproach to the end of my life. - -It was at Bologna, to which place the count had removed. - -The Princess had desired to see me. She kindly invited me to be seated, -and took a chair herself. I noticed again those two hectic spots on her -cheeks, that her eyes were literally glowing, and that she seemed quite -beside herself. - -“Lieutenant, I sent for you to confide in you a secret,” she said, -throwing an anxious glance around. - -“I am all attention, your Highness, and you may trust me,” I answered. - -“The count starts to-morrow for Livorno. Did you know it?” - -“Yes,” I answered. - -“You see, there has been a quarrel there, and a fight between some -English and Russian sailors, and the count wishes to invite his friend, -the English consul, a Mr. Dickson, to settle the matter.” - -“Well! what about that?” I said. “That’s nothing important; it will -soon be arranged, and the count will return.” - -“He has asked me to go with him.… What if I refuse? If I don’t -accompany him? What do you think? He’ll not desert me, as all the -others have done, and disappear for ever?” - -“Oh! but why not go?” answered I, following the idea of the count. -“It’s a simple promenade. Why not accompany the count? The weather is -splendid. It could only be a pleasure trip for you both.” - -“Yes,” she answered thoughtfully, “I should very much like to see the -town and your fleet; the count praises his sailors so highly.” - -“Well, and what is there to prevent your going?” I said thoughtfully. -“Yes,” I said to myself, “it would seem that the count is very -persistent. He won’t leave her alone for a single instant.” - -“Ah! yes! I was forgetting,” said the Princess, as though collecting -her thoughts. - -Looking at her, I could see that her eyes were full of tears, her lips -trembling, and that, though looking at me, she seemed not to see me. - -“Listen!” she said reluctantly. “You’re an honest man.… The count has -made me an offer of marriage--has proposed to me. What do you think of -it?” - -I rose respectfully. - -“Allow me to congratulate you from the bottom of my heart,” I said -earnestly, bowing. “Your merit has triumphed over everything. But there -is nothing wonderful in that.” - -“But will he not deceive me? Will he not betray me?” whispered the -Princess, again glancing around. - -Her very lips were blanched; she was quite beside herself. - -“Tell me the whole truth, I implore you! You see, following his advice, -I carry no arms upon me; it offends him.…” - -It flashed through my mind that just during this very journey the count -might persuade her to marry him. - -“But, your Highness,” said I, and those fatal words burn now in my -brain like letters of fire, “what do you fear? The count is madly in -love with you, that I know surely. He sleeps but to see you in his -dreams; even, he wanted to fly away with you.” - -“Then it is the truth? Swear by the memory of your mother, of your -father,” said she, squeezing my hand with all her might. - -“In the name of God, it is true! I heard it from his own lips. He -honoured me with his confidence. Besides, what am I in his eyes? -Nothing; the meanest servant, the merest cipher, … and yet he told even -me openly.…” - -The Princess fixed her eyes on the image of the Saviour crowned with -thorns hung up in the corner of the room, and she remained motionless -for several minutes, as though breathing a silent and fervent prayer. - -“The brave alone live!” said she, rising and drawing herself up to her -full height. “Once his wife, he cannot betray me.… I shall go.… But, -remember, I’ll not give up either liberty or heart without a struggle.… -What is to happen will happen soon.…” - -I again heartily congratulated the Princess. - -“Ah! another thing, Konsov,” she said, stopping me. “Tell me truly, in -all conscience, as before God, is it this same Orloff who helped your -empress to obtain the throne?” - -“The very same.” - -“How brave! how gallant! what a hero!” said the Princess, with -animation. “Fearless Cid! Bayard! A spark of God’s Spirit gives such -men their bravery and their fearlessness.” - -I went away full of joy at the successful issue of our plan. Still I -had certain misgivings. “Does the Princess know of his other feat? Why -did I not tell her of that other dark, unpardonable sin?” I was only -faithful to my duty, obeyed the orders of my superior, but could not -help pitying the woman. - -Heavy doubts overwhelmed me, and all night I could not shut my eyes. -“Duty is duty, but, if--? Should I go to-morrow morning,” whispered -my conscience, “and warn her? There’s time; let her think well, weigh -everything, and then decide.” - -When dawn broke, I got up, dressed, and hastened to the house of -the count. Before the house quite a crowd of people had collected. -Carriages were driving to and fro. I made my way through the throng. -The count and Princess had already taken their seats in a carriage. -Christianok was seated in another. Some of the servants occupied a -third. - -“Make haste, Konsov! Take your place. We were only waiting for you!” -Unconsciously almost I took my place by Christianok. - -The train started. After the heavy rain, the morning had emerged into a -beautiful calm. - -“What do you see in all this?” Christianok asked me, when we had fairly -started. - -“In what?” - -“Well, in this little _voyage_?” - -“I really do not know, and dare not guess,” I answered. - -“Well, to-morrow there will be a bridal couple,” he said, and smiled. -“They’ll be married.” - -“But where’s the church?” - -“What is the Fleet church for? They’ll get on the Admiralty ship, and -there be spliced in a trice. But of course it was only for that she -consented to go.…” - -“Then it _is_ true?” - -“Well! don’t you see it yourself? The count seems to be on wings; it -seemed too good to be true. So, you see, the fairy tale will soon -become a true event.” - -At Livorno, the Count Orloff was met by the commander of our squadron, -Admiral Samuel Carlovitch Greig. Afterwards the count and Princess -paid him a visit, and then called on the English consul, drove out with -him, his wife, and a whole circle of visitors into the country, and -then went for a sail in boats with music; everywhere they were followed -by a curious mob. In the evening of the second day of their arrival at -Livorna, the count and the Princess went to the opera. On their return, -I noticed in the vestibule of the splendid marble palace assigned to -the count another intriguing Greek also serving in our fleet, Joseph -Michaelevitch Ribas, or, as he called himself, De Ribas. He also -somewhat resembled Christianok, being as black as a beetle; but being -taller and not so nimble, we used to call the pair of them the Beetle -and Cockchafer. De Ribas, as I afterwards learnt, had been engaged even -sooner than I or Christianok, having been sent to Venice to collect -information about the Princess. - -“Good-bye, priest,” said the count to Ribas, laughing and not noticing -me. “Mind, don’t forget the vestments.” - -“Vestments, … and why priest?” I stood under the marble colonnade -bewildered, lost in thought, hardly seeing the lovely blue boundless -sea and our squadron. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -_THE “MARRIAGE.”_ - - -The 22nd of February was lovely, almost like summer in its warmth, -not a cloud in the skies, the sea calm as a mirror, a holiday feeling -in the air. The English consul had invited the count and Princess, -and all their suite to luncheon. The Princess arrived, splendidly and -tastefully dressed, and, as always, gay and lively. Where was her -illness? She chatted merrily with the other guests. On the terrace, -adorned with flowers, she walked, carelessly laughing and joking. Every -one showed her the greatest attention and respect. - -Count Alexis Gregorevitch was a model _cavalier-servant_ of the -Princess, holding her fan and her gloves, and taking from the hands of -the servants the cool refreshing drinks, to offer them himself to her. -All noticed that his amorous glances followed her everywhere, and that -she seemed born to new life. As by magic her languor had disappeared; -her _preux chevalier_, the tamed lion, was at her feet. - -“Ha! our Celadon, what think you of him?” whispered Christianok. “Yes, -resting on his laurels of Chesma, the hero does not disdain another -conquest!” - -Admiral Greig, by nature of a very taciturn disposition, took no part -in the conversation, but sat a little apart, extremely stern, sad of -countenance, and with downcast eyes, seeming to notice nothing. - -Some one walked up to the window. From there you could see the blue sea -and the Russian flotilla. The ladies began talking of pleasant sails on -the sea. - -“Well, count! show us your ships,” said the Princess. “In Civita -Vecchia you showed them the mock-fight of Chesma; you gave others -pleasure, honour us also.” - -“All is ready,” answered Orloff, bowing respectfully. - -The whole party went down to the sea-shore. Count Alexis Gregorevitch -was specially respectful to the Princess. He himself placed her shawl -on her shoulders, and taking her parasol from the hands of her maid, -opened it, and, walking by her side, shielded her from the sun, all the -while whispering in her ears the most passionate protestations of love. - -The whole crowd of spectators collected on the sea-shore looked -admiringly at his general’s uniform of dark green with red facings, all -covered with gold embroidery, which adorned his splendid figure, and on -all sides we could hear cries of “_Vivat_,” mixed with whispers of “Oh! -what a couple!” - -They all took their places in the boats and barges standing ready -by the sea-shore. The Princess seated herself in a splendid gilded -barge, ornamented and arranged with imperial luxury. The wives of -Admiral Greig and of the English consul took their places by her -side. The count went with the Admiral, and I with the retinue of the -Princess. The barge floated in the direction of the Russian flotilla. -We were received by the squadron with the greatest pomp. Flags waved -everywhere. The officers in their brightest uniforms stood at their -posts; the sailors at the masts. From all the ships floated the most -delicious music. The waves gently rocked us. The receding shore was -covered with spectators. - -As we touched the admiral’s ship, the _Three Hierarchs_, a splendid -gilt arm-chair was let down, in which first of all the Princess was -pulled up, and then the other ladies. We mounted the trap. The ladies -had hardly stepped on deck, when from all sides came cries of “Hurrah!” -and cannon were fired. The sight was splendid. The spectators in the -streets and on shore merrily waved their hats and handkerchiefs. All -were in high expectation that Orloff would conduct the manœuvres, and, -to make the illusion more complete, would burn some old useless ship. A -great many glasses were pointed at us from the shore. Dozens of little -boats, filled with onlookers, started from the shore in the direction -of our ship. On board the _Three Hierarchs_ there seemed to be great -commotion. The whole staff of the admiral’s servants were running to -and fro, with trays loaded with wine, bon-bons, and fruit. There was -dancing in the saloon. The younger gentlemen and ladies were dancing -with all their heart the _contre-danse_ and _cotillon_. The wives of -the admiral and consul surrounded the Princess with little attentions. - -The ladies were soon invited into a special cabin, where presently -they were joined by the count and the admiral, who were busily talking -together. The latter seemed quite out of sorts, and very gloomy. - -“They are going to marry the count and the Princess,” I heard one of -the officers whisper to another. - -I was dumbfounded. - -“But why here?” asked the one to whom the question was addressed. “Why -all this mystery, all this haste?” - -“There’s no Russian church here. The admiral has lent his, and that -accounts for the Princess’s arrival at Livorno, and her presence on -board.” - -After a little while the decks began to be deserted, and many of the -suite, getting into the barges, were rowed back to land, amongst -others, the two cunning and clever Greeks, Ribas and Christianok. - -On seeing them, I do not know why, there flashed through my mind the -words of the count to Ribas,--“Priest and vestments.” In the meantime -there were no clergy to be seen on board. The deck was becoming more -and more deserted. The officers were walking backwards and forwards, -gaily chatting and pointing their glasses at the occupants of the -boats. The band played a very gay march, and then an aria from a -well-known opera. - -What took place below all this while has remained a mystery. Several -asserted afterwards that nothing particular had occurred, but that -at table the betrothal of the count and Princess had been solemnly -announced, and that all had drunk the health of the bridal couple. -Others on oath protested that in another cabin there had been a mock -marriage between the count and Princess, so that Orloff, in her eyes at -least, might seem to be keeping his word, and that in this sacrilegious -ceremony the _rôle_ of Priest and Deacon had been played by Christianok -and Ribas, who were dressed up in the vestments of the clergy of the -fleet, the first acting the part of deacon, and the second that of -priest. - -But I am running on too fast; let us return to the deck of the _Three -Hierarchs_. - -My strength fails me; my heart bursts; the pen falls from my fingers -when I recollect all that I was so soon to see. - -Wherever I shall be,--if I remain, by a miracle of God, alive, or if I -am destined to perish in the waves,--the remembrance of all that I then -saw will only be effaced from my mind with my last dying groan. - -The deck was full of life. All had left the cabins, and were now -sitting in detached groups; there was laughing and talking on all -sides; servants were running to and fro, with cooling drinks and wine. - -The Princess was leaning over the side of the vessel. The wind was -rising; it was getting cool. She called me to her side with a friendly -nod. I helped her to put on her mantilla. - -“If I live a hundred years I shall not forget this,” she whispered, -with a happy smile, shaking me warmly by the hand. “You have kept your -word. All is being fulfilled. I shall soon be in Russia, and once -there--why not hope? They will proclaim the future Empress Elizabeth -II.… Oh! now is the time for wonders. The present empress, what was she -a little while ago?” - -Those words filled me with astonishment. I was silent, bewildered by -the wild fantasies of this poor blinded creature. - -On board the _Three Hierarchs_ they hoisted a signal flag. Again the -roar of the cannon was heard, mingled with the cries of “Hurrah!” The -bands on all the ships again began playing; the flotilla was beginning -its manœuvres. Enchanted by all this attention on the part of her -future subjects, the Princess, still leaning against the side of the -ship, seemed plunged in agreeable thought, as her eyes followed the -curling smoke from the shots and the movements of the different ships. - -I see her now, as she then stood, in her blue velvet mantilla, a small -black straw hat, and a white parasol in her hands. - -I also was lost in thought. Yes, all is finished now! The count has -found a companion for life. He will know how to persuade her. Together -they will fly to the feet of a merciful empress. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -_TREACHERY._ - - -“Your swords, gentlemen!” resounded a most loud and commanding voice -near me. - -I glanced round. Captain Litvenoff addressed himself by turn to all the -adjutants and others in the count’s retinue, demanding their swords. -The deck was covered with armed sailors. Admiral Greig, his wife, and -the consul were nowhere to be seen. Quite bewildered, I surrendered my -sword, as did all the others. The Princess, hearing the clatter of arms -and loud words, turned rapidly round. She was as pale as death; she had -taken in the situation at a glance. - -“What does all this mean?” she asked in French. - -“In the name of the empress, you are arrested,” answered the captain. - -“Violence! force!” screamed the Princess. “Help,--here,--to me!” - -She rushed to the trap, forcing her way with her feeble hands through -the ranks of armed men. The sailors, sunburnt and sullen, looked at -her in astonishment. Litvenoff stopped her. - -“Impossible!” said he. “Be calm.” - -“Perfidy! Malediction!” madly cried she. “How dare you--with a -woman--with a Russian Princess. Do you hear? Let me pass,” she cried to -the soldiers in French. “Where is Count Orloff? Call him here. Bring -him here. You shall answer for all this!” - -“The count, by order of the empress and admiral, is also arrested,” -answered Litvenoff, respectfully bowing. “He is arrested just as you -are!” - -The Princess gave a loud scream, and drew back. - -Her reproachful glance fell upon me. It seemed to pierce my heart like -a dagger, as though saying, “It is your fault. You have ruined me.” - -She staggered back a few steps, and then fainted away. - -The sailors carried her into the cabin. All the servants, except her -maid, who remained with her, had been arrested, and under a strong -escort had been transferred to another ship. - - * * * * * - -Shattered in my innermost soul by all that I had seen, I recovered my -senses to find myself in a small dim cabin. Lifting up my head, I saw -that I was shut in with that dastard Christianok, the principal author -of our misery, the perpetrator of the treachery. I cannot say what -astonishment I showed. My comrade, at all events, was very calm. He was -lounging, and eating some bon-bons he had snatched up from the table, -and glancing from time to time at our closed door. - -“You’re astonished?” he asked me. “Is it not true? What wonderful -things! Yes?” - -“Yes, there’s enough to be astonished at!” I answered, concealing my -disgust with difficulty. - -“It was impossible otherwise,” said he. - -“Why?” - -“Because only the bait of marriage could tempt this adventuress.” - -“Yes! but why play with her feelings, with her heart?” said I, -impatiently. - -“We should never have got her on board otherwise.” - -“There were many other ways. I know myself that the count promised -her on his oath to marry her, and that once his wife, she would have -trusted herself with our fleet.” - -“Ah! my dear Konsov, what simplicity!” chuckled the cunning knave. “Is -it possible you have not yet guessed? Why, at the very moment when the -count was playing with the Princess at the most tender protestations of -love, I was writing under his dictation, and in his name, a letter to -the empress, telling her that he had decided to do everything to catch -the adventuress, and even, if need be, to tie a stone to her neck, and -throw her into the river.” - -“And why didn’t you straightway drown her?” I cried out, scarcely -knowing what I said. “It would have been far more merciful than to -deceive the poor unfortunate, consumptive creature.…” - -“She’ll live long enough, yet,” said Christianok. “The orders were to -catch her quietly, cleverly, without any noise. That’s just what we -have done.” - -I heard these cold hard words with the greatest indignation. I was -almost beside myself at the heartlessness of the wily Greek. - -“No! enough, old man. Calm your knightly feelings; that’s all bosh. In -our time, remember, the most important thing is courage, and impudence -itself must be clever and sharp. Success means might and riches; -non-success, poverty, or what is worse, Siberia. No, you had better get -up. Don’t you see that it’s time?…” - -Raising my head, I saw that our door was open, and through it I could -see the whole crew, walking to and fro, and talking gaily. The Greek -and I were taken into the ward-room. There on the table stood a whole -battery of wine bottles. The room was filled with the fumes of tobacco -and punch. We were forced to drink, and then sent on shore. There I -learnt that the count had all this time been with the admiral at the -consul’s, discussing their future movements. - -In the evening the streets of Livorno were filled with turbulent and -indignant crowds. The Russians shut themselves up in their houses. -Involuntarily I grasped my hat and cloak, and taking the most deserted -streets, proceeded to the sea-shore. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -_REMORSE._ - - -I fell down on the shore. Oh! my God! what anguish! Tears blinded me. -Sobs stifled me. I hated, I cursed the whole world. “How,” thought I, -“could such a dastardly, godless deed be perpetrated, and I all the -while a partaker in the crime?” My whole frame shook with indignation, -with madness, as with horror I turned over in my mind every little -detail; thought over all the disgusting and dastardly meanness, the -fiendish calculation, the treachery of him to whom I had been so -faithful and so devoted, and who had not scrupled to sport with that -most sacred feeling--love. I could fancy to myself at that very minute -that poor deserted woman, half killed with misery. I could picture her -in my mind sitting in her dark prison, her soul torn with anguish; who -knows, perhaps chained and watched over by coarse, brutal soldiers. -“And when did all that take place?” I repeated to myself. “When all -seemed so smiling, when all her golden dreams seemed ready to be -fulfilled.” The obscure daughter of the late empress had seen at her -feet the highest dignitary of the new empress. The whole fleet had met -her with cries of joy, with roars of cannon. What must she have felt? -what must she have experienced? From under the rock where I was lying I -could see the lovely sunset, gilding with its last rays the top of the -hills, the crosses on the town churches, and, fading almost entirely, -the outlines of the ships at sea. “Oh! infamy! infamy!” I whispered. -“Count Orloff has sullied his soul with an action still darker than all -the rest. No laurels, not even the laurels of Chesma, will now be able -to shield him from the justice of God or man. And also, according to -our services, shall justice be meted out to us--his accomplices in that -dark deed.” - -My despair was so strong that I was ready to have done with life. - -“No; repent all thy life, repent,” seemed to whisper an inner voice. -“Search for means to redeem thy dark crime.” - -A gun was fired from the flag-ship, and on all the other ships nearer -were heard the strains of the vesper music, and then the prayers rose -on the still air. The sable veil of night descended on the sea; on the -guard-ship, and along the shore, the watch-fires began to be lighted. -I rose, and, hardly able to drag my feet along, crawled home. There I -found the orderly of the count waiting for me. I followed him. - -“Well! Konsov! now confess you were a little astonished,” said the -count coming to meet me. - -My tongue clove to the roof of my mouth. Well, what could I have said -in answer to him? He, gifted with all the blessings of life; this -_preux_ chevalier; this dignitary, brave, bold, daring, courageous, -loaded with honours, a short time ago my idol, was now to me loathsome, -unbearable. - -“Do you think that I don’t remember? that I have forgotten?” he -continued, avoiding looking me straight in the face. “Oh! I know well -that for the most important part I am indebted to you.… Had it not been -her faith in you, and in your interest, it would not have been so easy -to cage the bird.…” - -The words of the count literally stung me. I stood confused, bewildered. - -“But, perhaps you do not know, you have not heard,” as if to console -me, said the count--“do not take on so--we had received from Petersburg -the most formal and detailed instructions concerning this usurper, -this person who had taken to herself a name and lineage not belonging -to her. The order was to arrest her at any cost, and bring her there. -Well, now have you understood?” - -In my confusion and trouble I could make no answer. - -“The Pretender is now in our hands. The will of our Sovereign has been -fulfilled, and the prisoner will soon sail for the north. There’ll be -enough inquiries set on foot; they’ll dig down to the very roots.… All -that’s not the work of foreigners alone. I think there’ll be mixed up -in this not a few of our own travellers. In the papers of that liar -there are not a few well-known signatures.…” - -“Yes, you’re rejoicing; there’ll be again new arrests, again -inquiries,” thought I. “And yourself, what did you do, stony-hearted -man?” - -“Why don’t you say something?” asked the count. - -“The whole town is in agitation; there are mobs, screams, threats. Have -a care, count,” I added, unable to conceal my disgust; “this is not -Russia.… You might get a stab when least expecting it.” - -“Ah, well, my fine fellow,” said he frowning, “whoever touches you or -any other of ours, or even threatens, just point to the sea.… Seven -hundred cannon, all sweeping the whole shore. I’ve only to raise my -hand, and the whole town will be level and clear. There, go now, and -tell every one that, and add that I fear no one.…” - -“Braggart!” thought I to myself, shivering with rage. - -I left the count without opening my mouth, and without even a bow. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -_THE BOTTLE CAST INTO THE SEA._ - - -Several wretched, unbearable days passed. Livorno really rose, and -began to threaten us with an open attack. The indignant populace by -night and by day surrounded the palace of the count, and from time -to time threw stones at the building. The count was protected by a -bodyguard of sailors. Boats filled with ladies and gentlemen were -constantly sailing between the ships to try and catch a glimpse of -the unfortunate prisoner. I was sent on board the _Three Hierarchs_ -with a letter and parcel of books which had been confided to me by the -count, as I learnt afterwards, for the Princess. As I was returning -to the shore I heard a cry, and turning round, was petrified. At the -open window of the _Three Hierarchs_ I could see, pressed to the iron -grating, a pale countenance and a hand waving a handkerchief. I also -answered by waving my hand. Was it noticed or not from the ship, behind -the high waves? I never knew. The sailors plied their oars sturdily; -there was a strong breeze, and the boat flew on the dancing waves. - - * * * * * - -Rumours began to circulate that the fleet would soon set sail. Where -for was not yet known. - -I got ready to go out and learn, if possible, if I was to remain on the -Count’s staff. I was just taking up my hat, when some one entered the -room. I turned round. At the door stood a dark figure. On looking at -her, I recognised the Russian stranger of the Church Santa Maria. - -Her travel-stained dress showed she had just come a long journey. - -“You recognise me,” said she, throwing back her veil, and I could see -that her golden, wavy hair had become grey. - -“What do you want?” I asked her. - -“That’s how you answered for her. Those are your promises,” said she, -advancing a step towards me. “Where are your assurances, your word of -honour as a true man?” - -“Listen to me.… I am innocent,” I began. - -“Dastards! ruffians!” she screamed. “They’ve laid a trap, they’ve -enticed her, they’ve ruined the poor unfortunate, and then, think -_you_, they will all go scot free? You are easy now, you think. You -mistake. The hour of retribution is near; it will come--it will come--” - -She advanced on me so menacingly, that I retreated to the open window. -We were on the second storey, and the window looked out on the garden. -I was very glad that at this minute the garden was quite deserted. The -noise could have attracted eaves-droppers, who might have insulted the -stranger, whose visit I could in no way understand, and who, as it -seemed to me, was quite incapable of being convinced. - -“_You’re_ innocent?” she asked. “_Innocent?_” - -“Yes. I acted honestly. You will see. I’ll show you; I’ll prove it to -you.…” - -“Answer me.--You advised the Princess to come here.--You persuaded her!” - -“I persuaded her.” - -“You convinced her of the possibility of a marriage with Orloff. No -prevarication. You hear; give me a straight answer,” repeated this -woman, trembling with emotion. - -“The count himself assured me, on his word of honour, that he meant -marriage.” - -“Perfidious betrayer! Death to you!” cried the stranger, throwing her -hands wildly about. - -I had no time to step back. A bullet whizzed by me. I was blinded by -the smoke. I caught the mad woman by the wrist. She began struggling -with all her might, her face distorted with passion, and once more -fired at me, luckily with no more success than at the first time. -Wresting the pistol from her hands, I threw it in the garden. The -noise had attracted the servants. I heard knocks at the door. I flew -to open it, and trying to appear as calm as possible, I assured them -that having unloaded my pistol at the window, it had gone off, but -that nothing had happened. They all left me and went away, throwing -side-glances at me. Having shut the hall door, I returned to the -stranger. I was in a state of mind impossible to describe. - -“Ah! ah! what have you done? How could you? And for what? Why?” - -My visitor put her head on the table and sobbed wildly. - -I began to pace the room up and down, and, happening to glance at the -mirror, I saw a face which I could with difficulty recognise as my own. - -“Look here,” at last said I to my visitor, “dry your tears. You must -know that I myself was the victim of the most abominable deceit.” I -began relating to her everything that had passed. “You see,” said I, -finishing, “God is merciful, and I am still alive. Now in your turn; -explain.” - -The stranger could not for a long time utter one word. Having given her -some water, I invited her to follow me into the garden. Here, finally, -she recovered her power of speech. Two or three times she looked at me -humbly, as though asking for pardon, then at length she began. - -“My tale is sadder than yours is,” she said, sobbing, after we had -taken a few turns in the garden, and had sat down; “but I have been so -guilty towards you,” covering her face with her hands, “that you will -never forgive me.” - -“Forget all about that,” said I, recovering my composure. “I am ready -to forgive everything.… All comes from God.… Everything is in His -hands.…” - -The stranger turned towards me her pale, sorrowful countenance, and -taking me by the hand again began sobbing. - -“You are so generous,” she whispered. “Did you ever hear of the fate of -Merovitch?” - -“Oh, yes! of course!” - -“Well! I am--the guilty cause of his tentative.… I was his affianced -bride, Polixena Pchelkina.” - -I was speechless.… All the details of the attempt of Merovitch, which I -had heard ten years ago from my old grandmother, memory brought back -vividly. - -Bending towards her, I took her hand, the one that had just fired at -me, and pressed it with emotion. - -“Speak! speak!” whispered I. - -“I could no longer remain in Russia,” she continued in a strange -hurried voice. “For ten years I’ve wandered in all directions. I lived -in the nunneries of Volhynie and Lithuania. I tended the sick and -afflicted. A year ago, residing on the borders of the Volga, I first -heard about the Princess Tarakanova, Dame D’Azow, and Wladimirskaya. -Persons, quite unknown to me, called me to her side. You can understand -how I longed to be near her. I tried to get an interview with her. -Furnished with means by those same unknown persons, I first made the -acquaintance of the Princess by letter, and then personally at Ragusa. -I instinctively believed her. Oh! I did wish her happiness. Retribution -for the past! I took care of her, taught her her native language and -history, counselled her, informed her on all points. I followed her -everywhere. After her departure from Ragusa to Rome, I wrote to her, -exhorted her to take care. I was so convinced of her high destiny. You -know the rest.… What was my horror when I heard she was arrested! But I -shall remain at Livorno. I shall wait.… Oh! the Livornians will set her -free! But tell me, what do you think of her? Are you also convinced she -is no Pretender, but really the daughter of the Empress Elizabeth?” - -“I can neither affirm nor deny.” - -“But I am convinced. That idea is entwined round my heart, and I cannot -abandon it.” - -My visitor rose. Having thrown her veil over her head, she fixed her -eyes upon me, pressed my hand, and, looking as though she wished to say -something more, with faltering steps she took her leave. - -“You are good; you are compassionate,” said she, turning round on -reaching the garden gate. “Till better times!” - -I saw this mysterious person once or twice. I went to her by -invitation. She was living in a small _asteria_, at the sign of “The -Lily,” within the walls of the convent of the Ursulines, whither she -had taken refuge. She still hoped that the Princess might be saved, in -England or in Holland, which our squadron had to pass. - -“She--the persecuted--she is sent from Heaven to resuscitate her -birthland,” constantly repeated Polixena, at our last meeting. “I -believe in her. She will not be lost. She will be saved!” - - * * * * * - -In the night of the 26th of February, our fleet, under the flag of the -Vice-Admiral Greig, was suddenly ordered to raise anchors and sail for -the West. Christianok, with the report of the count to the empress, -travelled by land. He was ordered to go on to Moscow, where, after the -execution of Pougachoff, the empress had taken up her residence. Count -Alexis Gregorevitch at the same time left Livorno. His residence there -was attended with too much risk. Indignant at his dastardly act, the -sons of the ardent and free Italy became at last so enraged against -him, that the count, notwithstanding his strong escort, dared not leave -the house, and, fearing poison, partook of only bread and milk. - -I started later on. As if at the dictates of a fatal destiny, I was -ordered on board the newly manned frigate, _The Northern Eagle_. This -frigate took not only the sick men of the crew, but also the great -collection which the count had been at so much pains to acquire, -consisting of pictures, statues, bronzes, and other rare things. -They were the fruit of the count’s victories in the Turkish and -Grecian waters. Amongst other things I found several presents made -by the Princess to the count, and, to my astonishment, her portrait, -resembling so much Elizabeth. “But God’s ways are not our ways.” Hardly -had we loaded the frigate with the riches of Orloff, and left the -harbour, when we encountered a most awful storm. I could not say to the -frigate, “You carry Cæsar!” Long were we tossed on the waves, thrown -first on the coast of Algiers, then on that of Spain. Near Gibraltar -our two masts and all our sails were wrenched away. Finally, we lost -our rudder. For more than a week the current and a light breeze have -borne us along the African coast. We have all lost courage, and can but -pray. On the tenth day, that is to say, yesterday, the wind quite fell. -I go on writing--but can we expect to be saved in this condition? The -frigate, like a lifeless corpse, maimed and disfigured in battle, is -borne whither the waves drive her-- - - * * * * * - -Again another hopeless day has passed. The dark terrifying night is -coming on. Clouds are gathering; again the wind is rising; now it is -raining. The coast of Africa has disappeared, and we are carried on -to the West. The waves are lashing against the sides of the ships, -splashing the deserted deck. The leak in the hold is getting larger -every minute. The exhausted sailors can hardly pump any longer. The -cannon have been thrown overboard. At night we fire our muskets, -vainly imploring aid, but there’s not a sail to be seen. We, doomed -to perdition, are alone. No one hears us. Tragic, awful fate. To be -lost on a solitary ship, without hope, and with all the spoils of the -commander-in-chief. When will the end come? On which rock is our ship -destined to be wrecked, on which fated to founder? Fit retribution for -the action of others. The fatal cargo of Count Orloff is hateful to God. - - * * * * * - -Three o’clock in the night. My confession is ended. The bottle is -ready; and if there’s no hope of being saved, I’ll throw it in the sea. - -One word more. I should like to let Irena----my last greeting; my last -wish.--She ought to know--Good God! what is that? Impossible! Already -the end? What an awful crash!--The frigate has struck something. Ah! -screams.--I must run to my crew.--His Holy Will be done. - - * * * * * - -The bottle was thrown overboard, with the diary and a note. The last -was written in French: “Whoever finds this diary is requested to -forward it to Livorno, to the Russian lady, Mistress Pchelkina. Should -she not be found, to Russia, Chernigoff, Brigadier Leon Rakitin, for -his daughter, Irena Rakitin. May 15th, 1775. Pavel Konsov, lieutenant -of the Russian fleet.” - - -END OF PART I. - - - - -PART II. - -_RAVELIN ALEXEEF._ - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -_EKATERINA AT MOSCOW._ - - -The Empress Ekaterina spent the summer of 1775 in the _alentours_ of -Moscow, honouring with her presence the village of Kolomensk, and then -that of Chërnaya-griaz, which she had bought from Prince Kantomir. It -had been named in honour of its new mistress Tzaritzin. She, in buying -it, intended it to take the place of the Muscovite Tzarskoë-selo. - -On the borders of a dark forest, in the midst of fallen maples, -a two-storied wooden palace had been hastily erected, with a few -outhouses, some stables and a poultry yard. - -From the windows of her new palace the empress could admire the -extensive and deep clear lakelets shaded by wooded hills, the boundless -newly-mown plains, with, scattered here and there, the white shirts -of the mowers, and the blue and red _sarafans_ of the hay-makers. -Beyond these plains others could be seen, yet untouched by the sickle, -sparkling in all their emerald beauty; and again, beyond these, the -newly-ploughed corn-fields, and behind these, as far as the eye could -reach, green plains and wooded hills; all this coloured and warmed by a -lovely sun in a blue cloudless sky. - -Life here was simple and free. Through the constantly open windows -the scent of the newly-mown hay and of the forest depths penetrated -everywhere. Often would a blackbird fly in from the river, and from the -plains came the grasshoppers and the moths. From the early morning the -whole Court would be scattered in the forest, picking flowers, looking -for mushrooms, fishing or sailing on the lakes, riding and driving in -the neighbourhood. Ekaterina, for the time being clothed in a simple -white morning robe, and wearing a cap over her simply twisted hair, -would be seated at her writing table, writing out schemes and drafts of -various ukases, or letters to the Parisian philosopher and _publiciste_ -Baron Grimme. She complained to him that her servants would not give -her more than two quills a day, as they knew very well that she could -not regard with indifference a piece of white paper and a well-trimmed -quill, but must sit down and indulge her mania for paper soiling. - -At the very time when all the world were tiring their brains over -the politics of the Russian empress, as to what she would undertake -in regard to Turkey, which she had desolated, or were discussing the -delayed news of that recently-stifled insurrection on the Volga, the -late execution of Pougachoff, and of the mysterious Princess Tarakanova -arrested lately at Livorno, Ekaterina was describing to the Baron -Grimme the lives of her pet dogs. - -These dogs were called at Court “Sir Tom Anderson, and his consort” (by -second marriage) “Mimi, Lady Anderson.” They were such tiny, shaggy -little things, with sharp, intelligent noses, and comical wiry tails, -just like brooms. These dogs had nice little soft mattresses and wadded -silk counterpanes, stitched by the hands of the Empress herself. -Ekaterina wrote to Grimme, how fond she and Sir Tom were of sitting at -the open window, and how Tom, with his fore-paws on the window-sill, -notwithstanding his contemplation of nature, would bark and snarl -at the horses towing the barges up the river. “The views around are -lovely, though a trifle monotonous, and Sir Tom is delighted with -the woods, the hills, and with the lovely quiet gardens and manors, -half buried in bright green, beyond which, in the far-off blue, you -can just distinguish the tops of the golden Muscovite churches. This -village wilderness and solitude just suit the hearts of Sir Anderson -and his consort. Forgetting the noise of the city and its gaiety, -they admire the beauties around them, and it is only at a late hour -that they allow themselves to be persuaded to seek their warm wadded -coverlets. The mistress of the house also likes these solitary Russian -hamlets, forests and plains. I love these unploughed new places,” wrote -Ekaterina to Grimme, “and I must say that I feel from my heart that I -only fit in where all is untouched and unspoilt.” - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -_THE PRINCESS AT ST. PETERSBURG._ - - -The fresh and clear atmosphere of the Muscovite environs began to be -foggy. Clouds were gathering, lightning darting, thunder rolling. The -Court also had its storms. Ekaterina had no easy task in investigating -the insurrection of Pougachoff. He astonished every one by preserving -to the very last minute the firm conviction that he would be pardoned, -that they would never execute him. “The wretch has not much sense--he -still hopes!” wrote the empress, after reading the interrogation of the -Pretender. “Human nature is unfathomable.” - -Pougachoff was executed in January.[35] - -About the middle of May Ekaterina received information that the -squadron under the command of Greig had anchored at Cronstadt. The -empress sent her whole correspondence with Orloff about the Pretender -to the governor-general of Petersburg, Prince Galitzin, and gave him -the following order:--“Have the _voyageurs_ transferred secretly from -the ship, and submit them to the severest interrogation.” - -Prince Alexandre Michaelovitch Galitzin, defeated by Frederick the -Great, and afterwards for his victories over the Turks elected to the -post of field-marshal, seemed a very imposing personage; but in reality -he was the best-hearted and most modest and just of men, and an entire -stranger to all Court intrigues. He was loved and respected by all. - -On the 24th May the prince summoned an officer of the Préobrajenski -regiment, by name Tolstoï, made him take an oath of secrecy, and -ordered him to start for Cronstadt to receive the prisoner who would be -given over to him, and carefully hand her over to the commandant of the -Petropavlovski fortress, André Gavrilovitch Tchernishoff. - -Tolstoï fulfilled his mission on the night of the 25th of May. -In a specially manned yacht, he sailed down the Neva very gently -to the fortress, where he gave up his prisoner. At first she was -lodged hastily in a room just under the apartment of the commandant. -Afterwards she was transferred to the Ravelin Alexéef. Oushakoff, -secretary to the Prince Galitzin, had already prepared a report about -her from the papers sent by the empress. Oushakoff was brisk, paunchy, -stout, and always panting and repeating with a knavish smile in his -eyes--“Oh! my dear fellow, so much to do, so much to do! I only serve -the prince for the honour of it, but I ought long ago to have taken my -_abshiede_,[36] I am literally worn out.” - -The Prince Galitzin pondered long over the report of Oushakoff, drew -up a whole list of questions, and with a very important mien, which -did not in the least become his good-natured face, entered the prison -of the captive. He was very much put out by the news which he had just -heard, that on the journey, not far from England, the captive had -nearly escaped; that at Plymouth she had all at once thrown herself -overboard into a small vessel, which was in readiness for her (as -was easily to be seen), and that it was with great difficulty and -disregard for her cries and groans that they had managed to get her -on board again. The prince was afraid that some one might attempt to -effect her escape here. The captive, terrified, confused by all that -had happened, by her gloomy and dismal prison, did not deny that she -was called and was looked upon as a Russian grand-duchess. She even -went so far as to declare that, recollecting her childhood, she, on the -strength of circumstances, believed herself to be the grand-duchess of -whom mention was made in the will of the Emperor Peter I., which, she -said, she had found among her papers, and which was all in favour of -the late Empress Elizabeth, and by the will of Elizabeth made in favour -of her daughter. A copy of this interrogation was sent to Moscow to -the Empress Ekaterina, who was very indignant at the impudence of the -captive, and especially when she found a letter addressed to herself, -signed “Elizabeth.” “Well, that woman is a _fieffée canaille_,”[37] -exclaimed Ekaterina, crumpling the letter in her hands, after having -read it. Potemkin was at that time sitting in the study of the empress. -“Of whom are you speaking?” he asked. - -“Oh! always about the same vagrant, Batiushka; about that Italian -vagabond.” - -Potemkin,--who really pitied Tarakanova, for two reasons: first, -because she was a woman; and then, because she was the prey of Orloff, -to him hateful,--began to speak in her favour. The empress, without -a word, handed him a whole parcel of German and French newspapers, -and then told him that he would do better to look and see for himself -all the calumnies spread about her and this Pretender; whereupon -he, snuffling and grumbling, began to scan the papers with his -short-sighted eyes. - -“Well!” asked Ekaterina, looking up from some papers she had been -glancing at. - -“Incredible.--So much slander! It’s difficult to give an opinion.” - -“To me, it’s all clear,” said Ekaterina. “Just a second edition of the -Marquis Pougachoff; and you must agree, prince, with me, that it is -impossible to have any pity for this ‘victim,’ if you like, ‘of foreign -intrigues.’” - -Galitzin received another order. He was to put down the impudence of -the adventuress, especially, as in the words of the English ambassador, -“she was no princess, but the daughter of an innkeeper of Prague.” - -The information of the ambassador regarding her was told to the -Princess, at which she was very indignant. - -“If I only knew who slandered me thus,” she exclaimed furiously, “I -would scratch his eyes out.” - -“Good God! what can all this mean?” she would cry out, horrified at -her position. “I so ardently, so blindly believed in myself, in my -mission. Can it be that they are right? Is it possible that under the -load of these horrible proofs which are constantly cropping up, I shall -have to bid adieu to all my convictions, to all my hopes? Never, that -shall never be. I will rise above all; I will never give in!” That her -pride might be taken down, the captive was treated much more severely. -She was deprived for some time of the services of her maid, and of many -other little comforts. Her food was much more simple, almost coarse; -but all in vain. Neither prayers, nor threats to take away from her -her own garments and furnish her with prison clothes could awaken any -repentance in her, or extort from her the confession that she was an -impostor and not a princess. - -“I am not a pretender, do you hear?” she would scream in furious -indignation to Galitzin. “You are a prince; I only a feeble woman.… In -the name of the All-Merciful God, do not torment me; have pity upon me.” - -The prince, forgetting his orders, would begin consoling her. - -“I am pregnant,” inadvertently said the captive, crying. “I shall -perish, but not alone.… Send me where you like--to the Eskimos, to -the snows of Siberia, to a convent.… No, on my word of honour, I’m -innocent.…” - -Galitzin became thoughtful. - -“Who is the father of your unborn child?” he asked at last. - -“Count Alexis Orloff.” - -“Again a lie,” said Galitzin. “And why, what for? Are you not ashamed -to answer like that? To a man whom the empress trusts so highly, to an -old man?” - -“It is only the truth. Before God!” answered the captive, sobbing. “The -admiral, the officers, the whole fleet can bear witness to it.…” - -The bewildered Galitzin put a stop to his interrogation, and sent a -report of the new confession to the empress at Moscow. - - * * * * * - -“Miserable, impudent wretch!” screamed out Ekaterina, after reading -this report to Potemkin. “See how this new edition of Pougachoff, sent -to us by the Poles--how she knows how to slander and calumniate others!” - -“Well; but if there should be some truth in it,” slowly said Potemkin. -“It’s so easy to betray a poor, weak, confiding woman.” - -“Oh, that’s impossible!” answered Ekaterina. “At any rate, Orloff will -soon be here. He’ll soon tell us all about this false Elizabeth.… And -you, prince, in your knightly defence of a woman, do not forget the -most important thing--the peace of the kingdom. We went through enough -in the last insurrection.” - -Potemkin was silent. - -From day to day Orloff was expected. He was hastening from Italy -to be present at the celebration of the peace with Turkey. At this -time Galitzin had received other orders,--to deprive the captive of -everything except what was strictly necessary, to make her put on -prison clothes, and having sent her maid away, to put two sentinels as -a constant watch over her. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -_THE HISTORIOGRAPHER, MILLER._ - - -The obstinacy of the captive astonished and angered Ekaterina very much. - -“How is this?” she reasoned. “I have conquered Turkey; Pougachoff -has been caught, has acknowledged his imposture, and been publicly -executed; … and that miserable, puny woman, that adventuress, … will -not acknowledge anything, and dares to threaten me, from her cellar … -from her den.” - -Potemkin, after having heard from Christianok all the details of the -arrest of the Princess, was very morose and silent. Ekaterina ascribed -it to his frequent fits of melancholy. - -Soon it became known to many of those about the empress, what means -Orloff had employed to entice and then betray the unfortunate captive, -and these were soon communicated to the empress through the medium of -her maid Perekousikhin. At first Ekaterina would not believe any of -these rumours, and severely reprimanded her maid on this account. -The secret report of the honest and incorruptible Galitzin concerning -the position and condition of the captive, all the courtiers had -made known to the empress. The womanly heart of Ekaterina was moved -with indignation. “Not Radzivill,” she said; “he, threatened with -confiscation of his enormous estates, did not betray the devoted woman!” - -“Betrayer by nature!” shot through the brain of Ekaterina, when she -recollected the services of Orloff; … “ready for anything, unscrupulous -in all; stopping at nothing in his own interests,” and then Ekaterina -remembered the phrase, “Matoushka Tzaritza, pardon. You didn’t think, -you did not guess--”[38] - -“Not for nothing do they call him butcher,” contemptuously murmured -Ekaterina. “Oh! he’ll just say that, out of devotion, he ‘oversalted -it.’ … Well! he’ll soon be here. He must be made to mend that affair. -That fallen one, without family, nameless, tribeless; a toy in the -hands of the wicked, in his arms she’ll be powerless.… And she, after -selling beer at Prague, well! how dares she disdain Russian dignitary -or count? Where’s--the _mésalliance_?” - -The calm village scenes of Tzaritzin and Kolomenski, began to weary -Ekaterina. The forests, the lakelets, the birds and the butterflies no -longer brought her peaceful dreams. - -The empress suddenly started for Moscow alone. - -There, in the Chinese city, or Kitaï-Gorod, she visited the archives -of the Minister of the Interior, where several important papers had -been sent for revision. The director of the archives was the celebrated -author of the “History of Russia” and of “The Description of the -Empire of Siberia;” late editor of the academical journal, “Monthly -Compositions;” traveller and Russian historiographer;--the academician -Miller. He was then already seventy. The empress herself was very -fond of history, and knew him very well, having often had very long -conversations with him about his works, and in general about history. -She found him in his room, near the archives, busily turning over a -heap of old Muscovite manuscripts. - -Miller was very fond of flowers and birds. The rooms of his -governmental department, not very lofty, were hung all around with -cages of blackbirds, bullfinches, and others of the feathered tribe, -which quite deafened Ekaterina with their loud whistling and -twittering. A glass door opened from the study of the master of the -house into another room, ornamented with large plants set in green -tubs. The windows were open, but a net which covered them prevented -the birds, which were flying about, from taking their departure. The -neat and pretty, although simple, room was filled with the perfume of -roses and heliotropes. The greatest cleanliness reigned everywhere. The -floors were as polished as a mirror. Miller was writing at his table -near the glass door leading to his aviary. The empress, passing by, -motioned the officious servant away, and came up to him unnoticed. - -“I have come to you, Gerard Feodorovitch, with a request,” said -Ekaterina, on entering the room. - -Miller jumped up, apologising for his morning costume. - -“Command me, your Majesty,” said he, hastily arranging his dress, and -searching with his eyes for his spectacles, which he missed. - -The empress took a seat, invited him to do the same, and the -conversation began. - -“Is it true,” she began, after having made several gracious inquiries -after his health, and that of his large family, “is it true?--it is -said that you have collected evidence, that you are convinced that it -was not a usurper, a pretender who ascended the throne of Moscow; that -Grishka Otropieff was the real Tzarevitch Dimitri? You said something -about it--to the English traveller, Cox.” - -The good-natured, absent-minded Miller, always lost in his researches, -was very much puzzled at this question of the empress. - -“Where on earth could she have heard that?” thought he. “Could Cox have -blundered it out?” - -“Let us be candid; I’ll help you,” continued Ekaterina. “You possess -a wonderful memory, and withal you are so very perspicacious in -deciphering and comparing manuscripts. Give me openly and boldly your -opinion. We are alone; no one can hear us. Is it true that the evidence -for the condemnation of the Pretender was weak, almost nothing?” - -Miller became thoughtful. His grey hair was ruffled, and his -good-natured, intelligent mouth, which just before the entrance of the -empress had held a half-finished cigar in an amber mouth-piece, was now -unconsciously nervously twitching. - -“Yes, it is true,” he answered, hesitating; “but, excuse me, that is -quite my own personal opinion, nothing more.” - -“But if so, then why do you not publish such a very important judgment?” - -“But, your Majesty,” stammered Miller, looking about him with a -bewildered gaze, pulling at his waistcoat, “I read the account of -the researches made by Vassili Shouiski at Ouglitch. He made those -researches by order of Godounoff. It was to his interest to please -Boris, and he did this by bringing to him the evidence only of those -who affirmed that the Tzarevitch had really been killed. Of course, any -one can see that all other evidence which might have been disagreeable -to Godounoff he would suppress.” - -“Which other?” asked Ekaterina. - -“That another one was killed, and that the former was hidden; but -of course, you know yourself, that this very same Shouiski publicly -acknowledged the resuscitated Dimitri.” - -“A very witty proof,” said Ekaterina. “Not for nothing does General -Potemkin, great amateur historian, advise me to have all that -published, if you are really convinced of its truth?” - -“Excuse me, your Majesty,” stammered Miller; “the will of the -empress--is an important guide; but there’s another, a power still -higher--Russia. I am a Lutheran; the body of the recognised Dimitri -lies in the cathedral of the Kremlin. What would become of all my -researches, what would become of my own person, amidst your own nation, -if I dared to assert that not Grishka Otropieff had ascended the -Muscovite throne, but the real Tzarevitch Dimitri?” - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -_MILLER’S REPLY._ - - -The words of Miller disturbed Ekaterina very much. - -“Well, candid at any rate,” thought she; “just like a philosopher.” - -“Very well,” said the empress; “let the dead rest in peace; we will -talk about the living. I think General Potemkin has sent you the -examination, and the evidence taken in respect of that impudent -Pretender, the arrest of whom you have heard about, I suppose?” - -“Yes, he sent them,” answered Miller, remembering at last that the -spectacles for which he had been constantly searching with his eyes -were on his forehead, and wondering how he could have forgotten that. - -“Well, and what have you to say of that worthy sister of the Marquis -Pougachoff?” asked Ekaterina. - -Miller at that very moment caught sight, through the glass door, of -one of his canaries, a very quarrelsome bird, who had just flown into -another’s nest, the mistress of which was twittering, flying round, and -trying to turn her out. His eyes also wandered to a sick blackbird with -its leg bound up. - -Miller, recollecting himself, and colouring at his own timidity and -absent-mindedness, answered,-- - -“The Princess, if she is Russian, learnt Russian history very -insufficiently; that’s the main thing I have to say, after reading her -papers; but of course, that would be more her teacher’s fault.” - -“Well, what do you think? Can it be that there is a spark of truth in -her tale?” asked Ekaterina. “Do you suppose for one moment that the -Empress Elizabeth might have had such a daughter, and hidden her from -all eyes?” - -Miller was just on the point of answering: “Oh! yes, of course; what is -there in all that so very improbable?” but he remembered at that minute -about the mysterious youth, Alexis Shkourin, travelling now in foreign -parts, and in his confusion fixed his eyes on the glass door of his -aviary. - -“Well, and why do you not answer?” said Ekaterina, smiling. “Your -Lutheranism does not stand in the way here.” - -“Well, everything is possible, your Majesty,” said Miller, shaking his -grey curly head. “People do say all sorts of things; some of them may -be true.” - -“Look here--would it not be strange?” said Ekaterina. “The late -Razoumovski was a very good man, and although secretly, still he was -the lawful, husband of Elizabeth. Why trample under foot all the laws -of nature? Why this heartless denial of their own daughter?” - -“Then it was one century, now it’s another,” answered Miller. “Morals -differ; if the new Shouiski-Shouvalovi could hide for so many years in -solitary confinement the, to them, dangerous Prince John, proclaimed in -his infancy emperor, what is there here so very strange, if, in their -thirst after influence and power, they should have sent to the end of -the earth, or, at any rate, hidden another infant, this unfortunate -Princess?” - -“But, Gerard Feodorovitch, you forget the most important thing--the -mother! How could the empress have borne that? You cannot deny her -heart was in the right place; and then, all this was not about a -strange child, like Ivanushka, but about her own forsaken daughter.” - -“Well! oh, it is very simple,” answered Miller. “Razoumovski, I should -think, had nothing at all to do with it. The whole intrigue was -brought to bear on the empress--not on the mother.… Very likely, many -reasons were brought forward, and she consented. This secret daughter -was hidden, sent to the South, and then over the Urals. In the papers -of the Princess she speaks of poison, of flight from Siberia to Persia, -afterwards to Germany, and then to France.… The Shouiskis of our days -have repeated the old tragedy. In guarding the empress, they still -kept in readiness for any emergency, a new refugee, saved by them from -another world.” - -Ekaterina here remembered that Orloff, in one of his letters, had -spoken of a Russian traveller, Ivan Shouvaloff, who was even now in -foreign parts. - -“With you, one might go on talking for ever,” said Ekaterina, rising. -“Your memory in itself is a whole archive, and a priceless one, too; -and Russian history, is it not true? like Russia itself, is richest -virgin-soil. How lovely our boundless corn-fields! But then, again, the -weeds. Ah, _àpropos_! I do always admire your flowers and your birds. -Now, do pay me a visit at Tzaritzin. Grimme has sent me a whole family -of the loveliest cockatoos. One of them is always repeating ‘_où est la -vérité?_’” - -Having with special graciousness thanked Miller for his information, -the empress returned to the palace. Soon after this event, the hero of -Chesma, Orloff, made his appearance. - -Alexis Gregorevitch failed to recognise the court. With new faces, a -new order of things had been introduced. The count did not at once -receive the honour of an interview with the empress. He was told she -was not quite well. This made him feel very anxious. Well versed in -court life, he scented disfavour in the air. It became urgent to take -measures. Very diffidently, Alexis Gregorevitch turned to some of -the courtiers to try and get an audience with the new sun, Potemkin. -The interview took place with great politeness on both sides, but -no geniality. Their old friendship and fraternity had been left far -behind. They conversed till midnight, but the guest felt he had learnt -very little. - -“Yes, now it’s all without measure, all overflowing,” said Potemkin _en -passant_, speaking about something. Orloff long pondered over those -words. “Overflowing!”--well, had not he also filled the measure too -full? - -In the morning he was invited to go to the empress, whom he found -bathing her dogs. “Sir Tom Anderson,” who had already been taken out -of the bath and wiped dry, was warming himself under his coverlet. His -consort, “Mimi,” was still in the water. Ekaterina sat near, holding -ready the warm coverlet. Perekousikhin, in a large apron, her sleeves -rolled up to the elbows, was very energetically rubbing the little dog -with a sponge and soap. Quite wet, and white from the soap, Mimi, on -seeing the big goggle-eyed stranger, began barking most furiously and -straining to get at him. - -“Ah! from water to water,” said Ekaterina jokingly. “Welcome back to -your native land. We shall soon be ready.” - -Having wrapped Mimi up warmly and put her in the basket, the empress -dried her hands, and remarked:-- - -“As you see, friends first of all!” She took a seat, pointed out a -chair to Orloff, and began questioning him about his journeys, about -Italy, and the Turkish affairs. - -“But, oh! Batiushka Alexis Gregorevitch, you oversalted, oversalted -it,” said the empress, producing her snuff-box, and slowly taking a -pinch. - -“In what, your Majesty?” - -“In that certain little affair,” smilingly answered Ekaterina, -menacing him with her finger. - -Orloff noticed the smile, but at the same time, in that very same joke, -he noticed a well-known--to him--bad sign. The round, strong chin of -Ekaterina trembled slightly. - -“In what? Matoushka Tzaritza, and in what is my crime?” he asked, -stammering. - -“_Comment donc, Monsieur?_ Yes, really oversalted it,” continued -Ekaterina, slowly taking another pinch from her snuff-box. - -At this, Orloff, like a child, lost all self-possession; his eyes -wandered timorously round the room. - -“You know; our captive,” said the empress,--“Oh, I suppose you’ve heard -it; she’ll soon be two.…” - -The athlete Orloff knew not what to do in his confusion. - -“I am lost, completely lost!” thought he; and his disgrace, his -downfall arose before his eyes. “Mercy, oh God!” - -“But that we may arrange, matters may be mended,” continued Ekaterina. -“You might go to Petersburg, see the captive. To celebrate the peace, -you have returned to her as her bridegroom.” - -Orloff knit his brows, bent one knee to the ground, kissed the hand -that was held out to him, and silently left the room. At the door, he -regained his self-composure. - -“Well! what! the empress! What did she say?” asked the courtiers. - -“I have been honoured with a special invitation to the fêtes,” answered -the count, “and now I am going to Petersburg to arrange my brother’s -affairs.” - -Count Orloff tried to seem very elated, very proud.… He understood that -it was better for him to make haste. It was clear that the empress -was not joking. Under pretence of an interview with his brother, he -hastened the preparations for his journey, and was soon on his way to -Petersburg. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -_ORLOFF AND THE PRINCESS._ - - -Worn out with her long sea voyage and imprisonment, the captive dragged -on a miserable existence in the fortress. An acute fever, a sharp -cough, accompanied by frequent hemorrhage, had developed into rapid -consumption. - -The frequent visits and questions of the field-marshal Galitzin always -threw the Princess into fits of passion. - -“What right have you to treat me like this?” she would say in an -imperative voice. “What reason have I given for such treatment?” - -“Written orders from a higher power--the will of the empress!” -answered, panting and puffing, the secretary, Oushakoff. - -In the capacity of secretary to the Commission which had been -appointed, he had large means placed at his disposal. Therefore, -continually complaining of fatigue, of a mass of occupations, and even -of pains in his spine, he lingered over the evidence, brought forward -a multitude of facts, began a long correspondence about her affairs, -and in general led the good-natured Galitzin by the nose, and on the -savings made from the money allotted for the keep of the captive -managed to buy a nice little house in the courtyard already belonging -to him in the Gorokhoviya.[39] - -In the interval, the false testament found among the papers of -Tarakanova was shown to her. - -“Well, what have you to say to that?” asked Galitzin. - -“I swear by the Almighty God, by eternal damnation, that I am the -author of none of those unfortunate papers. I was told all that.” - -“But they are in your own handwriting.” - -“Perhaps--it interested me.” - -“Then you do not wish to confess to anything, or explain the truth?” - -“I’ve nothing to confess. I lived in freedom, I did harm to no one. I -was betrayed, made prisoner by treason.” - -Galitzin began to lose patience. “What a she-devil they’ve handed over -to me!” thought he. “Extract a secret from a stone like that!” The -prince groaned aloud and rubbed his nose. - -“But, your Grace, recollect,” once whispered the officious Oushakoff, -“your hands are unfettered. In the last ukase it makes mention of the -utmost severity, of investigation without partiality.” - -“Well, of course, one might try,” muttered the bewildered prince, who -was in general averse to any severe measure. “Shall I try? It won’t be -worse than it is.” - -“In the name of the empress,” severely said the field-marshal to -the commandant, in the presence of the captive, “in view of her -obstinacy--deprive her of everything, except the strictly necessary -clothing and bedding. You hear, everything--books, and other things, -there; and then, if that does not answer, put her on common prison -food.” - -The orders of the prince were carried out. The poor, ailing girl, -brought up in luxury and comfort, began to receive nothing but black -bread, soldier’s _kasha_ (porridge), and _schi_ (sour cabbage soup). -Although hungry, she would sit for hours shedding bitter tears over the -wooden bowl, but not touching it. On the way to Russia, near the shores -of Holland, where the squadron had anchored to take in provisions, she -had read in a newspaper, which had fallen by accident into her cabin, -all the past life of Orloff, and trembling with passion, she had cursed -her folly in having believed in such a man. But worse misery awaited -her. Two soldiers were assigned to the captive, and kept watch in her -room, night and day. All this would throw the prisoner into fits of -passion. - -“Repent,” Galitzin would say to her. “I pity you from my heart, but -without repentance, don’t expect forgiveness.” - -“I’ll accept every torment, even death, Sir Marshal; I’ll accept -everything,” said the captive. “But you are mistaken.… Nothing can make -me withdraw my evidence.” - -“Think over it.…” - -“God is my witness.… My torments will fall on the heads of my -tormentors.” - -“She’ll think over it, your Grace!” whispered Oushakoff, turning over -some papers. “One more experiment. She’ll come round all right.” - -The experiment was tried. Her Venetian silk nightdress was exchanged -for one of sackcloth. - -“Almighty God! be witness of my most secret thoughts,” prayed the -captive. “What am I to do, what shall I undertake? I believed in my -past. It all seemed so plain. I was accustomed to think of it all, -to live in that idea. Neither the treason of that monster, nor my -captivity, has been able to shake my conviction. No, and not even this -iron dungeon, which seems to crush me, can do that. Death is not far -off. Oh! Mother of God, oh! lowly Jesus, help me. Who will give me -strength, who will guide me, who will save me--from all these horrors, -from this prison?” - - * * * * * - -One cold rainy evening, a hired carriage with the blinds drawn -down drove up to the _perron_ of the commandant of the fortress -of Petropavlovski, André Gavrilovitch Tchernishoff. Half an hour -afterwards, Orloff and the commandant walked in the direction of the -Ravelin Alexéef. - -“Failing,” said the commandant, walking on, “failing rapidly, -especially with this dampness. Yesterday, your Grace, she begged for -her own clothes and books; they were returned to her.” - -The sentinels were called out of the room of the Princess. Orloff -entered the room alone. Tchernishoff remained outside the door. In -the dusk, the count could hardly see the low-ceilinged room, with two -deeply set windows with thick iron gratings. Between the two windows -stood a small table with two chairs. A few books were scattered on the -table together with some other things, and, covered with a coarse -cloth, stood the untouched food. On the right-hand side stood a screen. -Behind the screen was a small table with a water-bottle, a glass, and a -cup, and surrounded by chintz curtains, a small iron bedstead. On the -bed, in a white dressing gown and cap, lay a girl, so pale, one might -think she was dead, covered with a blue velvet mantilla. - -Orloff was struck by the frail look of her, who such a short time ago -had been so stately, and so charmingly beautiful. There flashed across -his mind remembrances of Italy, tender letters, the ardent courtship, -the journey to Livorno, the feast on the ship, Ribas and Christianok -travestied in the old clerical vestments. “Oh! why did I play that -comedy with the marriage ceremony?” thought he. “She was really on -board my ship, in my hands.” And vividly there flashed through his mind -the picture of the arrest of the Princess. He remembered her cries on -deck, and the next day his message to her through Konsov, a letter in -German, describing his own false sorrow, oaths of faithfulness till -death, and assurances of love. “What sorrow has fallen upon us”--trying -to write the most tender words, he had said. “We are both arrested, in -chains; but God, the All-merciful, will not forsake us. Let us put our -trust in Him. As soon as I get my liberty, I’ll search the whole world -till I find you, to guard and serve you all my life.” “And I have found -her; here she is!” thought Orloff, involuntarily shuddering, not daring -to cross the threshold. At last he ventured near her, close to the -screen. At the sound, the unfortunate girl opened her eyes, looked at -her visitor, and rose. Her auburn hair, at one time so luxuriant, fell -from under her cap, and half-covered her poor pale face, distorted by -illness and passion. - -“You? You--in this room--near me!” screamed out the Princess, -recognising her visitor, and stretching out both her hands in front of -her, as though driving away some awful apparition. - -Orloff stood motionless. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -_ORLOFF’S INTERVIEW WITH THE PRINCESS._ - - -The words seemed to burst from her throat, and die upon her lips. She -threw herself back on the bed to the farthest side of the wall, where -with flaming eyes she looked ready to devour Orloff, who stood gazing -at her horror-stricken. - -“Yes! we are married, are we not? Ha, ha, ha! we are man and wife?” -said she, but a convulsive cough cut short her indignation for the -moment. “Where have you been all this time? _You_ promised, _I_ waited.” - -“Look here,” gently said Orloff, “let us forget the past, let us play -comedy no longer. You must realize by this time that I was the faithful -slave of my sovereign, and that I only obeyed her commands.” - -“Treachery, deceit!” screamed the unhappy girl; “never will I believe -it.… Do you hear me? The great and powerful Russian empress would never -have had recourse to such perfidy.” - -“I swear to you they were her orders.…” - -“No, I do not believe one word of it, traitor,” screamed the -unfortunate girl, shaking her fists at him. “Ekaterina could command -anything--demand my surrender, burn down the town that gave me refuge, -take me by force, but not that. But _you_, you yourself, might have -pierced me with a dagger, poisoned me. You knew of poisons,--but what -have you done with me? what?” - -“One moment of calmness, I implore you,” at last said Orloff. “Answer -me one word, only one--and I promise you, on my word of honour, that -you shall be set free immediately. - -“What new invention is that, monster? Speak, traitor,” said the -Princess, recovering some composure, as shudderingly she drew the blue -mantilla, so well known to the count, closer around her. - -“You have been questioned so long, and with such persistency,” began -Orloff, trying to give his voice a tender and convincing tone, “tell me -now all--we are alone; God only can see and hear us.” - -[Illustration: - - _“Peter created Russia,_ - _Ekaterina gave her a soul!”_] - -“_Gran Dio!_” said the unfortunate girl, “he invokes the name of God,” -added she, raising her eyes to the image of the Saviour which hung on -the wall over the head of her bed; “he! Very likely you have arranged -this slow torture, this torment! and yet you boasted that torture was -abolished here. The empress, I am sure, knows nothing of all this. In -this matter she has been deceived, as in everything else.” - -“Be calm, be calm.… Tell me, who are you?” continued Orloff; “hide -nothing. I’ll implore the empress; she will be merciful to you and to -me.…” - -“_Diavolo!_ he asks, ‘Who am I!’” she stammered, half stifled by a -new fit of anger. “But cannot you see I have done with the world? I -am dying; then to what end all this?” She again began to cough most -awfully, and leaning her head against the wall, was silent. - -“There,--she’ll die without having confessed anything,” thought Orloff, -as he stood by her. - -“In riches and in happiness,” said she, coming to herself, “in -humiliation and in prison, I repeat constantly the same thing--and you -know it well. I am the daughter of your late empress,” proudly said -she, rising. “Do you hear me, miserable, wretched slave, I am your -born grand-duchess.…” A bold idea flashed through Orloff’s mind.… “Ah! -what’s in a word?” thought he; “she won’t live long, and at one stroke -I’ll please them both.” - -He bent on one knee, grasped the frail pale hand of the captive, and -ardently pressed it to his lips. - -“Your Highness!” stammered he. “Elise! pardon, I swear--yes, I am -guilty,--but those were the orders. I myself was arrested. Only now -have I received my liberty.…” - -The poor girl raised her big, astonished eyes to his face, covering her -mouth with her handkerchief to stop the blood. - -“I implore you, I promise you, we will be really solemnly married,” -continued Orloff. “You shall be my wife--and then, your Highness--my -darling, … my own Elise, rank, riches, faithfulness, life-long -devotion.…” - -“Out! away! monster!” screamed the captive, jumping up. “This bruised -hand princes, kings sought--it’s not for you to touch it, branded -traitor, inquisitor.” - -“Well, she doesn’t choose her words,” thought to himself the Commandant -Tchernishoff, who, standing outside the door, could easily hear the -French abuses and the curses of the prisoner; “better take myself off. -If the count knows all this has been heard, his little vanity will -be pricked, and it is just possible he may take his revenge.” The -commandant walked off. - -The jailer, standing in the long corridor, with his keys, and also -hearing the, to him, quite unintelligible cries, the stamping of -feet, and, as it seemed to him, the noise of things being thrown at -the visitor, also walked off into a corner, thinking to himself: “Ha, -ha, Mamzoulka (Mademoiselle), it seems, is asking for better food; it -seems it’s not in the articles. She’s screaming at the general, oho! -Of course it’s not for such as she, so thin, to eat _schi_ and _schi_. -Yesterday, for the first time, they gave her milk.” The furious screams -continued. Then came the sound of broken glass. The door of the dungeon -was flung open rapidly, and Orloff, humbly bending under the door, too -low for his tall person, came out. His face was purple; he lingered -for a moment in the corridor, and stared about him, as if collecting -his thoughts. Having felt under his arm for his cocked hat, passed -his fingers through his hair, and pulled down his coat, he briskly -and smartly drew himself up, and silently walked out in the pouring -rain, jumped into the carriage, and shouted to the coachman, “Général -Procureur.” - -As he left the fortress behind him, Orloff began turning over in his -mind the details of the last interview. - -“Well, she _is_ a serpent, a viper!” he whispered to himself, looking -out into the streets from the carriage window; “didn’t she sting!” - -Very reservedly, and with plenty of self-composure, he entered the -house of the Prince Alexander Alexéeovitch Viazimski. It was already -late. The candles were lighted. Orloff shivered, and rubbed his hands -together. - -“Take a seat,” said the général procureur. “What! cold?” - -“Yes, prince, a little.” - -Viazimski ordered a servant to bring in liqueurs. The servant soon -came, bringing a lovely decanter, and a silver basket containing ginger -biscuits. - -“Pray help yourself, count.… Well! what about our usurper?” continued -the général procureur, putting aside some papers that he had just been -looking over. - -“Impudent beyond all bounds; still persists.…” answered Count Alexis, -pouring himself out a wineglassful of the rich liqueur, and raising it -first to his nose, and then to his lips. - -“Well, of course!” said the prince; “she has no wish to part with her -so-called titles and rights cheaply.” - -“Oh! she’ll give plenty of trouble yet; other measures than those are -wanted,” said Orloff. - -“But what others, Batienka? Her last minutes are drawing near.… You -would not have her strangled?” - -“And why not?” whispered Orloff, as if to himself, dipping a biscuit -into a fresh glass of liqueur. “Pity for such like!” - -The général procureur threw a side-long glance from behind the -green _abat-jour_ on his visitor. “And you’re not joking, Alexis -Gregorevitch? It’s your advice?” - -“Oh! for the good of my country, and like a true patriot--not only -would I advise, but very much recommend,” answered Orloff, walking -backwards and forwards, munching the sweet melting biscuits. - -“_Mais, c’est un assassin dans l’âme!_” thought to himself the great -judge,[40] whose personal appearance was austere and generally gloomy, -as he listened in horror to the soft, cat-like tread of Orloff on the -carpet; “_c’est en lui comme une mauvaise habitude_!” - -Orloff took out his eye-glass, and, biting a fresh biscuit, began to -admire a picture of Psyche and Cupid on the wall. - -“Whence came this picture?” asked he. - -“It is a gift from the empress.… Count, when do you think of returning -to Moscow?” - -“To-morrow morning. I shall not of course delay my information, but -shall instantly report the fresh obstinacy of that impudent liar.” - -Viazimski knit his bushy eyebrows. “Do you know anything about the -information of the prisoner on your own account?” he grunted out, -turning over some papers. - -Orloff let drop his half-eaten biscuit. - -“Yes! Now, just fancy; you’ll not deny all this is disgusting. My -faithfulness, devotion, honour, she has spared nothing.… And let me -tell you what is more astonishing than everything else, that that -she-devil fell over head and ears in love with me, and invented, -goodness knows what; but even just now the hussy has had the impudence -to bid me acknowledge a marriage with her.” - -“Well! I can only wonder,” said Viazimski; “that disguise in clerical -vestments--excuse me, what need for such sacrilege? Oh! you’ll have a -deal to answer for, to God, Batiushka Count.… All that would haunt me.” - -Orloff tried to turn it all off as a joke, tried to go on talking, -but the gloomy silence of the bear-like Procureur showed him that -his credit at court had been long on the decline, and that he, -notwithstanding his late services, might, like useless old rubbish, -hope for only one thing--to be left alone and forgotten. - -“My annals are finishing, it seems. I shall soon be at the bottom of -the river,” thought Orloff, on leaving Viazimski. “They’ll put me under -hatches somewhere in Moscow, or perhaps farther. We are grown old, out -of fashion; we must clear the way for new-comers.” - -He was so much disturbed by his reception at the procureur’s that the -next morning he had a special service celebrated in the Church of the -Holy Virgin Mary, and before his departure for Moscow he even paid a -visit to an Armenian fortune-teller on the Litienaya. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -_ORLOFF AT MOSCOW._ - - -The peace with Turkey was publicly celebrated at Moscow on July 13th. -Galitzin was not forgotten, and, for having cleared Moldavia of the -Turks, received from Petersburg a rich sword studded with diamonds. -Orloff received a testimonial, a rich dinner service, one of the -Imperial properties near Petersburg, and the title of “Chesmenski.” - -“Put up on the shelves of the archives, wholly thrown over!” thought -Alexis Gregorevitch. He was not allowed to follow the court to -Petersburg. From this time Moscow was assigned to him as a residence, -as also to many of the other supporters of Ekaterina. It would have -seemed that the days of Chesmenski flowed on peacefully and pleasantly -in his splendid Muscovite palace; but the retainers of the count began -to notice that he often had fits of melancholy--that very often, -without any reason whatever, he would have funeral masses celebrated, -or a special service with _Acathistus_,[41] or would call in the gipsy -fortune-tellers, and they would hear him often murmur and complain of -the “Traitress Fortune,” who in former times had so spoilt him with her -favours. - -If Count Alexana would drive out his fleet steeds on a beautiful -frosty evening, flying along the streets, glancing at the passers-by -from under his rich fur cap, thickly studded with frosty diamonds, his -thoughts would carry him back to other blue, but warm skies, to the -azure shores of the Morea and the Adriatic, to the Roman and Venetian -marble palaces. If in autumn the sleet were driving, promising a -splendid hunt, the count would ride in the neighbourhood of Otradi or -Niaskouchnavo, and, after having driven the mother hare out of the -birch copse, and started his favourite harehounds on her track, would -gallop on his gallant Kabardinetz furiously in pursuit, but all at -once he would rein in his steed and stop. The rain might brush the wet -branches of the birch in his face, the horse might splash through the -pools and mud, but the count’s thoughts had wandered far away, to that -far-off Italy, to Rome, Livorno, to the unfortunate, by him betrayed, -Tarakanova. - -“Where is she? What has become of her?” he would think. “Has she -survived her child’s birth? Is she still there, or have they hidden her -even farther away?” - -After the fall of the favourite, Prince Gregory, his brother, Count -Alexis Chesmenski, retired so quickly from court that he not only knew -nothing positive, but even dared not try to know anything positive -about the unfortunate beauty whom he had carried off and betrayed. - -That same year, in autumn, rumours were spread in Moscow that a very -important mysterious personage had been brought over from Petersburg, -and sequestered in the Novo Spaski Nunnery; that she had been compelled -to take the veil, and had been named Docifé,[42] and was now locked up -in a secluded cell. - -The Muscovites whispered loudly that the new nun was the daughter of -the late Empress Elizabeth, by her secret husband Razoumovski. - -What emotions the count underwent, are only known to himself. - -“It is she! it is she!” he would murmur in his agitation, not knowing -that his victim, the Princess Tarakanova, still hopelessly languished -in the fortress. “It can be no one else; of course not. She has -renounced everything, she has submitted, she has taken the veil.” - -Thoughts of the newly-arrived captive troubled him so much that he even -avoided driving in the street where the convent was, and if this were -impossible, he would avoid looking up at the windows. - -“Traitor, murderer!” would resound in his ears, on recollecting his -last interview with the Princess. In bitter anguish he would remember -every detail of that interview, when she had loaded him with curses, -stamped at him, spat in his face, and passionately flung at him -whatever came near her hand. Once, when the Prince Volkonski had -paid him an unofficial visit, to see over his stables and horses, -Chesmenski tried to bring the conversation round to the Princess. They -had returned from their walk to the stables, and were taking tea. The -count began in a roundabout way to refer to foreign and home news, and -rumours, and then, as if merely _en passant_, asked who the person was -whom report said had been brought to the convent? - -“Why do you ask that?” suddenly interrupted the prince, Michael -Nikititch. - -“What?” asked the bewildered Chesmenski. - -“Nothing!” answered Volkonski, turning round, and looking aimlessly out -of the window. “I was just recollecting a little Petersburg incident, -that happened last year at Court.” - -“What incident? Honour me, Batiushka Prince!” said the count, with a -smile and a bow. “You see, here I hear nothing and see nothing of the -new, curious, and to us very often incomprehensible occurrences in the -court regions?” - -“Well! as you please,” said Volkonski, clearing his throat, and -continuing to gaze out of the window. “The incident, if you like, is -not very important, rather comical than otherwise. You know the wife -of the General Major Kojin? Marie Dimitrievna, who is so lively, so -beautiful and such a chatterbox?” - -“Oh, of course, who does not know her? I often used to meet her, before -my departure for foreign parts.” - -“Well! you know, she babbled out, it is said, somewhere … that some -one … well! we’ll call them the Abaloshoffs, it’s all the same, I’ve -forgotten who--had decided on patronising the new lucky man, Peter -Modrvinoff.… Of course you know.” - -Orloff silently inclined his head. - -“Patronise … well! you understand, trip him up.…” - -“Who?” asked Orloff. - -“Well! it would seem Gregory Alexandrovitch Potemkin.” - -“Well! and what then?” - -“Well! this,” continued the prince. “In somebody’s private rooms, -Stephan Ivanovitch Sheshkovski was hurriedly called, and the following -orders were given:--‘Batiushka, go immediately, this very minute, to -the masquerade, find out the _Generalsha_ Kojin. Having found her, -carry her off to the secret department, and having given her a slight -taste of corporal punishment, as a small token of remembrance, bring -back the aforesaid little lady, with all honour, and deliver her safely -over to the masquerade.” - -“And Sheshkovski?” - -“Well! he took the little lady, whipped her soundly, and brought her -back, with all honour, to the masquerade, and she, that no one should -get a hint of this curious little incident, said nothing, and very -wisely and assiduously went through all the dances to which she had -been invited--every one to the last--minuet, _cotillon_, and all.” - -Orloff understood well the bitter allusion, and never mentioned Docifé -again. - -Neither did the count find any pleasure in his conversations with his -intendant, Terentitch Cabanoff, who sometimes used to come from Krenova -to Niaskouchnavo. Terentitch was a serf, but knew how to read and -write. He was always dressed in the latest fashion, with a pearl-grey -_kaftan_[43] and waistcoat, shoes with huge steel buckles, ruffles, and -a black silk purse[44] to his powdered pigtail. - -The count would pour out for him a goblet of rich foreign wine, saying, -“Taste that, old fellow.… It’s not wine I’ve poured out, it’s a man’s -life, … elixir.” Terentitch would refuse. - -“No! No nonsense, old man!” would press the count. “Don’t forget the -proverb, ‘Enjoy life while it lasts.’ Be merry, in that alone lies -happiness. Unfortunately, not for all.” - -“Too true, Batiushka Count!” would answer Cabanoff, drinking off the -goblet. “We, well! we are but serfs; … but you, ought you to sigh, -ought you not to enjoy sweet life in your own lovely, beautiful -manors? The sites are so dry, so gay, the sloping fields are so -fruitful; springs of water, forests, groves, everywhere. The serfs so -industrious, so hardy, no beggars, thanks to you, our benefactor. We -have noticed long ago, sir, that you are always very sad, and have -heard something now and then which makes us all very anxious.” - -“Doubt and suspicion, my dear fellow, will constantly exist,” answered -the count. “Last autumn, you yourself wrote to me, when I was in -foreign parts, praising the coming crops, and how did they turn out? -to be of no account at all? No, the proverb says, ‘Don’t count your -chickens before they’re hatched!’” - -“Yes, it’s the truth you’re saying,” answered Terentitch, sighing. - -“And in all other things,” continued the count. “I go about a great -deal, and many come to me, and, would you believe it? I know nothing of -what I used to know before. Phylia was high in favour, every one sought -his patronage, but now, …” the count was silent and thoughtful. - -“See there!” thought Cabanoff, looking at him, “with that strength, -those riches, to be thus slighted.” - -“Ah! yes, old man,” continued Orloff, “hard times are come. I feel as -if between two millstones. My services are ended; no one requires them -any more, and here, at home, there is nothing but _ennui_.” - -“Count, fire purifies gold,” answered Terentitch, “misfortune, man. -Wood won’t burn without shavings.… I might look out for some for you.” - -“What?” - -“Get married, your Grace.” - -“Oh! well, prate about that to others, but not to me,” answered -Chesmenski, remembering that Konsov had given him the same advice not -long before. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -_THE PRINCESS WRITES TO THE EMPRESS._ - - -Meanwhile, the position of the Princess Tarakanova had remained the -same. During the celebration of the peace with Turkey, in Moscow, -she had been forgotten. However, when all had become quiet again, -new points of condemnation were found against her. She was again -cross-examined. Even Sheshkovski was called, and let loose on her, and -the cross-examinations were more frequent. Worn out by her illness and -mental anguish, as well as by her miserable and unusual surroundings, -and by the presence of the two sentinels in her room, she began fading -rapidly. There were even days when her end was expected every minute. -After one of these terrible days, the unfortunate captive seized a pen, -and wrote a letter to the empress. - -“Snatching myself from the arms of death,” she wrote, “I throw myself -at your feet. You ask, who I am? but can the fact of birth be made a -crime of, for any one? Night and day men are in my room. My sufferings -are such that my whole being is shaken. In refusing me mercy, it’s not -to me alone you refuse it.” The empress was very much troubled that -she could not leave Moscow herself and personally see the captive, who -excited in her by turns the deepest anger, and, involuntarily, the most -profound pity. - -In the month of August, Field-Marshal Galitzin paid the Princess -another visit. - -“You called yourself a Persian. Then you said you were born in Arabia; -you gave yourself out next as a Tcherkeshenka; and at last as our -grand-duchess,” he said. “You stated that you knew the Oriental -languages; we gave your letters to persons who know those languages, -but they could make nothing out of them. Is it possible--excuse -me--that this is also deceit on your part?” - -“Oh! how stupid all that is!” answered Tarakanova, with a contemptuous -smile, and again coughing. “Do Persians and Arabs teach their wives -to read or write? In my childhood I learnt a little by myself, and -therefore I ought to be believed more than your readers.” - -Galitzin was too sorry for her to go on questioning her on all the -points written down by Oushakoff. - -“Look here,” said he, dashing away a tear, seeming to recollect -something which was a great deal more serious and important, “there’s -no time for disputes now … your strength is failing you.… I have not -received permission; yet I will give orders for you to be transferred -into a better and more spacious apartment, and your food shall be -brought you from the table of the commandant.… Would you not like a -priest … you understand … we are all in the hands of God … to prepare -you … for.…” - -“For death … is it not true?” interrupted the captive, shaking her head. - -“Yes!” answered Galitzin. - -“Yes, I feel myself it is true.” - -“Whom would you like?” asked the prince, leaning over her. “A Catholic, -a Protestant, or one of our own faith?” - -“I am Russian,” said the Princess, “therefore send me one of our own -faith, if you please.” - -“So, everything is finished!” thought she the next night, sleepless as -always; “darkness without dawn, anguish without end, death … there it -comes. It will soon be here, soon--perhaps to-morrow. And they’re not -yet tired of questioning.…” - -The captive arose, leaned her head on the side of the bed. “But who -am I after all?” she asked herself, raising her eyes to the image of -the Saviour. “Is it so difficult to sum up everything in these my -last minutes? Perhaps.--Is it possible that I am not really the one I -thought myself to be? No, I do not acknowledge that! But why not? Is it -from a feeling of disgust towards them, or from too great a passion; or -is it revenge for a name disgraced, for a woman crushed?” - -And then she tried again to remember all her past, to recollect its -smallest details. Days long past crowded her memory. Her luxurious -gay life, her successes, her triumphs, her visits and her levées, her -balls. “Courtiers, _diplomâts_, counts, even reigning princes; how many -adorers I have had,” thought she. “There must have been some reason -why they should all have courted me so, offered me their hearts, their -riches, sought my hand.… For what? for my beauty, for my power of -pleasing, for my talents? But there are many beautiful, talented women -far more wily than I; why did not the Prince Limbourski go mad over -them? Why did he not give them, as he gave me, his lands, his castles? -Why didn’t he make these over to them instead of to me, as ‘granted’ -estates? Why only to me did all the ‘Radzivills’ and ‘Pototskis’ cling? -Even the powerful favourite of the Russian Court, Shouvaloff, sought -an interview with me. Why was I surrounded with such profound, almost -devotional respect? Why was my past history so eagerly searched out? -Yes, I was selected by Providence for some special end, of which I -myself am ignorant. - -“Childhood!--there alone lies the key to it all,” whispered the poor -captive, grasping at her earliest recollections; “there alone lie the -proofs.” - -But it was just that very childhood which was so bewildering to her own -mind. She recollected the isolated hamlet somewhere in the South, in -a desert, the large shady trees, the low cottage, the kitchen garden, -and beyond, the boundless fields. A good, kind old woman dressed and -took care of her. Then came the journey in the comfortably balanced -cart, filled with fresh, perfumed hay, other boundless fields, rivers, -mountains, forests. “But who am I?” she would cry in anguish, sobbing -and striking her poor senseless head! “They want proofs!--but where are -these to be found? What can I add to what I have already said? How -can I myself separate the truth from the fiction which life has mixed -up together? And how could a poor, weak, deserted, helpless child know -that one day she would be called to account for her own birth? The -judgment concerning me is unjust, illegal. It’s not for me to help to -convince my persecutors. Let them disgrace me; let them hunt me down; -let them finish their work; I am not answerable, either for my birth, -or for my name.… I am the only living witness of my past; there is no -other. Why are they so furious? God does many wonders. Is it possible -that He, to avenge a poor, persecuted creature, will not perform a -miracle, will not open the door of this stone coffin, of this awful -fatal dungeon?” - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -_FATHER PETER ANDRÉEF._ - - -The last warm days of autumn had already passed, and cold and gloomy -November had brought its rains and mists. - -Father Peter Andréef, the high priest of the Cathedral of Kazan, was a -man in the prime of life, highly educated and well read. - -In the autumn of 1775 he was expecting from Tchernigoff, his niece -and god-daughter Vâra. She had written to her uncle, that she would -arrive in Petersburg with a companion, a young lady, who was coming -in the hope of presenting personally to the empress a petition on a -very important subject. The little house of Father Peter, with an -_entresol_,[45] and a _perron_ standing out in the street, was built -behind the cathedral, and stood by the side of the palace of the -Hetman, Razoumovski. The old oaks and the lindens threw their shade -over its red-tiled roof, even extending their wide-spreading branches -over the priest’s little yard. - -A widower for already several years, the childless Father Peter led -the life of a hermit. His gates were always closed, and an enormous -watch-dog, Polkan, on hearing the slightest noise would bark in the -most furious fashion. The few and far between visitors who wished to -speak to the priest always came through the street-door, which was -also kept constantly closed. The letter of his niece gave a great -deal of pleasure to Father Peter, but he also found in it something -very extraordinary. Vâra wrote to him, that the young mistress of -the neighbouring estate had a little while ago received from abroad, -together with a letter addressed to her, a packet of papers covered -with writing, which, as the letter told her, had been found on -the sea-shore in a bottle. “Dear godfather and uncle, forgive my -foolishness,” wrote Vâra to her uncle, “but after having read these -papers together, the young lady and I have decided on coming to -Petersburg, and we shall soon be there. Whom could I recommend the -unfortunate orphan to go to if not you. She buried her parents a year -ago. In the papers sent her there is so much concerning an important -person, that before deciding on speaking about it, there is a great -deal to think over. First, the young lady thought of sending the papers -to Moscow, to the empress, but on reflection we decided otherwise. You, -dear uncle, know everything. You go everywhere, you are respected by -every one, therefore you can easily advise us what to do. The name of -the young lady is Irena Lvovna, and her surname--she is the daughter of -the Brigadier Rakitin.” - -“Ah! youth, youth!” thoughtfully shaking his head, said the priest -on reading this letter. “Ah! the magpies, what crazy ideas! to come -all the way from Tchernigoff to Petersburg to get my advice.… They’ve -fallen--well--they’ve found some one!” - -Every evening, at twilight, Father Peter was wont to light the candles, -and having put on his house cassock, to walk up and down the little -linen drugget which ran through all the rooms, from the little hall, -through the drawing-room, dining-room, and into the bedroom. He would -look after his plants, especially his geraniums, standing on the -window-sills; pull off the dry leaves and pick out the weeds; and would -arrange the books on the table, and gaze at his favourite blackbird -asleep in its cage, at the “ikons” and images in the corner, at the -lighted lamp, and would begin musing and thinking--when at last would -those rooms be filled with mirth and life, when would his magpie come? - -The two girls arrived. The house of the priest became at once bright -and lively. The sprightly gay Vârushka quite bewildered her uncle -with news about his birthplace, their acquaintances, and journey -adventures. Listening to her, Father Peter thought within himself, -“How time flies! Is it so long ago that she was brought here, a wild, -snub-nosed, and sulky little lass? and now--look at her, so sprightly, -so gay, so clever! Yes, and her companion, she is a beauty! Those thick -black braids, and what eyes! But quite in another style to my Vâra; so -thoughtful, discreet, serious and proud!” - -After the first joyful questions and answers, the priest was -obliged to celebrate the vesper service, and his visitors having -hastily established themselves in the attic, took everything that -was necessary, and started for the bath, accompanied by the cook. -On returning home they established themselves in the corner by the -fireside, and there Father Peter found them, as red as boiled lobsters, -their heads tied up with coloured handkerchiefs, drinking tea. It was -long past midnight when they at last rose to go to bed. - -“Well! my young lady, and where are the papers you have brought with -you?” said Father Peter, rising. “It interests me also; what is it all -about?” - -The girls began searching in their bundles, found the roll--on it was -the inscription, “Diary of Lieutenant Konsov.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -_THE VISITORS’ QUEST._ - - -Father Peter retired to his chamber, drew the curtains, put the candle -on the night-table, threw himself without undressing on the bed, -unrolled the crumpled manuscript of blue foreign note-paper with gilt -edges, and began reading. He did not close his eyes till morning. - -The whole history of the Princess Tarakanova, or Princess -Wladimirskaya, of which Father Peter had only heard the most -contradictory rumours, was now open to him, with unexpected details. - -“Ah! that is what it is about,” he thought, on reading the first lines; -“about the mysterious Princess.” - -Sometimes he would leave off reading the manuscripts, and lie with -closed eyes, then again begin to read. “And where now is that poor -unfortunate, betrayed girl?” he asked himself, on reading the incident -of Livorno. “Where is she now dragging out her miserable existence? And -he, who wrote these lines, was he saved?” - -One candle after another burnt out. Father Peter finished the -manuscript, snuffed out the last little piece of candle, and began -walking up and down on the drugget. He went on walking till dawn -reminded him that he had not slept all night. “What events! ah! what -events! What an unfortunate tissue of incidents!” whispered the priest. -“Poor martyr! May God help her!” - -The blackbird in the cage woke up, and seeing the very unusual -promenade of its master, set up a loud unwonted scream. - -“He’ll wake every one up,” thought the priest. - -He returned on tiptoe to his bedroom, threw himself on his bed, and -began reflecting on all that he had read. His thoughts wandered to the -last reign, to the sea of mysterious and common events, known to others -as well as to him; at last he fell asleep. - -The sound of the bells ringing for morning service awoke him. The -pale November sun was struggling through the curtains. Father Peter -locked up the manuscript in the drawer of his table, went to church to -celebrate morning service, and returned home, through the back door, -into the kitchen. On seeing his god-daughter going up the attic stairs -with a hot iron in her hands he beckoned her. - -“Tell me, Vâra,” he whispered; “he who wrote that diary--Konsov--must, -it’s plain, have been her _fiancé_?” - -Vâra moistened her finger and then touched the hot iron; it fizzed. - -“He did woo her,” she answered, dangling her iron. - -“Well! and what then?” - -“Well! Irena Lvovna liked him. Her father would not hear of it.” - -“Then the match was broken off?” - -“Of course!” - -“And now?” - -“Well, what can I say? She is an orphan now, and of course would be -delighted. She is her own mistress--but where is he?” - -“Oh! of course the ship was wrecked,” said Father Peter. - -“And in our wilderness, what could we learn about it? Uncle, you might -go and make some inquiries of naval people, because, you see, not only -the command was lost, but all the count’s riches.… Somewhere, you would -be sure to learn something.” - -“Who sent your friend this diary?” - -“God alone knows. The post brought it; Irisha received it. On the roll -was only ‘Rakitin,’ and the address; and in the note, written in -French, it was merely said that the manuscript had been found by some -fishermen in a bottle on the sea-shore. Irena is now the only survivor -of Rakitin … and so of course she received it.” - -The priest, without saying anything either to his niece or her friend, -began most energetically to make inquiries in all directions, but his -efforts were fruitless. - -The only information he gained at the Marine Department was that -the frigate, _The Northern Eagle_, which was laden with the rich -collections of Count Orloff, had been driven along into the Atlantic -Ocean--it had been seen for some time beyond Gibraltar, near the -African coast, not far off from Tangiers--and that in all probability -it had been shipwrecked and sunk not far from the Azores or the -Canaries. Of the fate of Lieutenant Konsov nothing could be gathered; -it was not even known for a surety whether he was on the frigate or -not, as the whole of the crew had perished. The commander of the -squadron, and Admiral Greig, were both now in Moscow, and there -remained no one else to apply to. There had been some rumours in -foreign newspapers that a disabled ship had been seen somewhere about -on the ocean, but with no crew on board, as far as could be noticed; -it was being driven by the storm in the direction of the Azores or -Madeira. The violence of the storm had effectually prevented any -efforts being made to rescue it. - -“Poor young girl!” thought the priest, looking at Rakitina; “so clever, -so modest, so rich, and so young. They would have been a couple, if God -had only spared him! No, he must be dead. Had he been alive, he would -have sent some token to his native land, to his fellow officers, to his -relations.” - -Once, when he had some spare time, he took the opportunity of speaking -with Irena. - -“Young lady,” said he, “I have heard from my niece of your loss. Of -course, it is plain your enemies had their own reasons for separating -you from your wooer and giving you another. Why did it all happen? Why -was Konsov treated with such disdain?” - -“I know not myself,” answered Irena. “My late father was very fond of -Pavel Efstafitch, was always very kind to him, treated him not only -as a near neighbour, but as one dear to him. And I, what words can -describe my love for him? I lived only in his love.” - -“Well, then, how came this separation about?” - -“Oh, don’t ask me,” said Irena, covering her face with her hands. -“It is such anguish to me--such grief. We saw each other often, -corresponded; we used to have meetings. I gave him my word; we were -only awaiting a fitting time to tell all to my father.” - -Rakitina was silent for some minutes. - -“Oh, it is dreadful to recollect it all!” she continued. “I suppose -some one must have calumniated Konsov to my father. All at once--it -was evening--I saw the horses being put to the carriage. ‘Where to?’ -I asked. My father would answer nothing. My things were carried out, -put into the carriage. At that time a relative from Petersburg was on -a visit to us. We three took our seats in the carriage. ‘Where to?’ -I again asked my father. ‘Oh, hereabouts, not very far; we will just -have a drive,’ said my father, joking. Yes; it turned out a nice joke! -We went on with post-horses, without one relay, as far as our other -property, one thousand versts[46] distant. I could neither write nor -send any message to Konsov for a long time, I was watched so closely. -It was only when my father fell dangerously ill that I implored him not -to break my heart, but to allow me to write to Konsov. He began crying -bitterly, and said, ‘Forgive me, Irisha. We have both been deceived -cruelly.’ ‘What? what?’ I could only ask. ‘Is it possible that that -cousin sought my hand?’ - -“‘Not your hand, my dear, but the money,’ my father said. ‘He -intercepted one of Konsov’s letters to you, and so stirred up my anger -against him, that I decided on carrying you off. Forgive me, Irenushka, -forgive me. God has punished him, the wicked one. He borrowed a large -sum from me, lost it at cards in Moscow, and has blown his brains out. -He left a letter … there it is, read it … I received it a few days ago.’ - -“My poor father did not live long after this. I returned to my own -property, but of Konsov I could get no tidings. His grandmother was -also dead. I wrote to Petersburg, whence he had started, wrote into -foreign parts, to the fleet; but then war was raging, and of course he -did not get my letters. Then his captivity in Turkey … then … and that -is all my sad fate.” - -“Pray, my dear young lady, pray,” said the priest. “Your lot is a -bitter one; only the good God above can help you.” - -Meantime, several days passed by. Rakitina, ceaselessly without -respite, went about gathering all the information she could, regretting -neither time nor money, but all was of no avail. - -“I can see, Irena Lvovna,” said Father Peter to his guest one day, -“that you are constantly going about, first to one, then to another, -troubling yourself and all for nothing. I have heard it said that the -empress will not be here for some time yet; why should you not write to -the superior officer of Pavel Efstafitch, to Moscow? may not the Count -Orloff know of something?” - -“Thank you, Father,” answered Rakitina, bowing. “Let us pray God -that we may learn something about that unfortunate ship without a -crew, and if no one else were saved, perhaps Konsov.… Yesterday Count -Pânin promised me to get some information from a foreign Marine -Department--in Spain--in Madeira; Von Viesing, the author, has also -offered his services. Shall I not hear of something? I shall wait a -little longer; still I ought to be going home, but how can I go without -any hope! Oh! that unfortunate ship, it haunts me night and day!…” - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -_A LATE VISITOR._ - - -The evening of the 1st of December, 1775, was particularly wet and -windy. The snow which had fallen in the morning was now all melted; -there were pools of water everywhere; the few and far between carriages -and pedestrians gloomily splashed along the streets. There was a storm. -The wind howled over the house of the priest, shaking the shutters, and -bending the enormous trees in the garden of the Hetman. The Neva was -swollen; an inundation was imminent. From time to time could be heard -the gloomy sound of the cannon from the fortress. - -Father Peter was in the attic with the girls, and very thoughtful. The -conversation could not be kept up to the accompaniment of the howling -wind; it frequently had to be broken. Vâra was telling the cards; Irena -appeared very displeased, and was relating with a very discontented -face what leeches the secretaries in the Foreign Department were, the -interpreters, and even the very scribes. Notwithstanding the orders -and personal interest of Count Pânin, they had as yet done nothing -in Spain or on the islands. Projects were made on paper, copied, -translated, everything, only to drag on. - -“You should just oil a little … through the servants, or somehow,” said -the priest. - -“Oh! she gave without stint,” answered Vâra for her friend. - -“Oh! those laggards,” said Father Peter. “Yes, it’s high time our -empress should return from Moscow. We are badly off without her.” - -The rain beat furiously on the windows like hail. The poor trembling -drenched dog had hidden himself in his kennel, as though acknowledging -that in such a storm, and with the cannon firing, no one would take -the trouble to disturb him. All at once, after one of the booms of the -cannon from the fortress, the dog began to bark most angrily, and, -above the roar of the wind, the noise of the shutting of the gate was -distinctly heard. Both girls shivered. - -“Axenia is asleep,” said Father Peter, speaking of the cook. “Some one -wants me, I suppose, and could not make himself heard at the front -door.” - -“Uncle, I’ll go and open it,” said Vâra. - -“Oh! with your courage! You’d better sit still.” - -The priest, taking the candle in his hand, went down and opened the -door. There entered a not very tall, but stout man, with a red face. -He had a cocked hat and sword, and seemed as if he had got rather wet -while waiting at the _perron_ to have the door opened. - -“Secretary to the commander-in-chief, Oushakoff,” said he, shaking -himself. “I am come to you on a secret mission.” - -The priest felt a little frightened. He remembered the papers brought -by Rakitina. He shut the door, and invited his guest into the study, -lighted a second candle, and having given his visitor a chair, took one -himself and sat down to listen. - -“‘The Sermons of Massillon’?” said Oushakoff, rubbing his cold hands, -and looking at the book of celebrated sermons lying on Father Peter’s -table. “Then I suppose you know the French language well?” - -“I understand it a little,” said the priest, thinking within himself, -“What can he want with me at this late hour?” - -“Very probably, Batiushka, you understand German also; and, who knows, -perhaps Italian?” - -“I learnt German, and of course Italian resembles Latin very closely.” - -“Consequently,” continued the stranger, “you know a little of those -languages?” - -“Well! here’s a Preceptor come to examine me,” thought the priest. - -“Yes! a little,” he answered. - -“Is it not strange, Father Peter, such questions; especially in the -middle of the night?” said the stranger. “Now, confess; you do find it -strange?” - -“Yes! it is rather late,” said the priest, gaping and looking at him. - -Oushakoff crossed one leg over the other, and looking up to the wall, -saw a portrait of the then disgraced Archbishop Arsénia Matzaevitch, -and thought to himself, “Ah! well, he sympathises with that scoundrel. -I shall have to be very determined with him, very brusque!” - -“I will not delay any longer,” said he. “This is what it is. His Grace, -the commander-in-chief, desires your Right Reverence to take all the -necessary vessels, and immediately, without any delay, to follow me … -to a foreigner--of the Grecian Faith.…” - -“But what is all this about?” - -“To celebrate two Sacraments.” - -“But which?” - -“Excuse me, but is it necessary for you to know, beforehand?” answered -Oushakoff. “There must be no hesitation. The orders come from high -powers.” - -“I must get everything ready,” answered the priest, “so I must know -which.” - -“First Baptism, then Confession, and Holy Communion,” answered -Oushakoff. - -“Now, in the night?” - -“Just so. A carriage is waiting.” - -“May I take the clerk?” - -“The orders are, ‘without any witnesses.’” - -“Where is it, if I may ask?” - -“I cannot answer. You will know all afterwards. Now, only one thing; -there must be no delay, and the most profound secrecy,” said Oushakoff, -with a haughty inclination of his head, although in earnest of his -request, he pressed with both his hands his cocked hat, dripping with -the rain, to his breast. - -“May I at least tell my household, and allay their anxiety?” - -Oushakoff knit his brows, and silently shook his head. The priest took -the cross and books, called to Vâra in the attic to shut the door, and -by the time his niece had descended, the carriage was rolling noisily -away in the street. Driving up to the palings of the church, Father -Peter woke up the clerk, went into the church, and took the chalice. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - -_BAPTISM._ - - -The carriage stopped at the house of the Commander-in-Chief Galitzin. -The prince was informed of the arrival of the priest, and ordered -him to be brought to his bedroom, where he was awaiting him in his -dressing-gown. - -“_Mille pardons_, Batiushka,” said the prince, hurriedly dressing. -“Most important affair; by orders of the highest authority. You must -first give me your oath that you will be silent for ever on everything -heard and seen this night. Do you swear?” - -“As one offering up a bloodless sacrifice,” answered Father Peter, “I -will be faithful to my Sovereign, without any oaths.” - -Galitzin was a little embarrassed at first, but he did not insist. He -related to the priest a few of the circumstances concerning the captive. - -“Did you ever hear anything of her before?” he asked the priest. - -“Yes! a few rumours did reach me.…” - -“Have you heard that she is now in Petersburg?” - -“I hear it for the first time.” - -Galitzin told him of the anxiety of the empress, of the several foreign -inimical parties, and of the false wills. - -“The doctor has quite given her up,” added the field-marshal. “Not only -her days, but her hours are numbered.” - -Father Peter crossed himself. - -“She wishes to be prepared,” continued the prince, as if choosing his -words. “It is not for me to teach you what to do. Most probably, like -a good shepherd, you will lead her to a full Confession and Repentance -as to who she is, and if she has taken a name not belonging to her, and -who incited her to do it?… Will you do this?” - -The priest lingered with his answer. - -“Give your word that you will help justice.” - -“I know my duty and my obligations as minister of God,” answered Father -Peter, drily, coughing. - -“You may go,” said the prince, bowing. “You will be conducted where you -are needed. As to me, I hope you will excuse the trouble I have given -you at such a late hour.” - -The carriage, with the priest and Oushakoff, took the road to the -fortress. At the door of the commandant’s they noticed another carriage. - -The priest was led into a special room, where he saw the Général -Procureur, Prince Viazimski. Near the prince stood the tall, manly, -ruddy-faced commandant of the fortress, Tchernishoff, and, near the -latter, his still young-looking and smartly dressed wife. - -“Is everything ready?” asked Viazimski, looking round. - -“Everything is ready,” answered the _Commandantsha_,[47] trembling and -bowing in her rustling farthingale. - -“Be so good as …” said the Prince Viazimski to the priest. - -They all went into the next room, where candles in the tall silver -candlesticks had already been lighted. Between them stood a font, and -near it a woman, commonly dressed, and holding in her arms something -wrapped in white. - -“Begin, Holy Father,” said Viazimski, pointing to the font and to what -the woman held. - -Father Peter put on his vestments, took the censer from the hands of -Tchernishoff, opened the Prayer-Book, and began the ceremony. - -The sponsors were the finely dressed, affected wife of the commandant, -and the général procureur himself. - -They gave the newly christened babe the name of Alexander. The ceremony -was finished; the _commandantsha_, with the babe in her arms, continued -turning and twisting about, trying with her airs and graces to attract -the attention of the général procureur to herself and her rustling silk -dress. - -“Whose child?” asked the priest, lowering his voice, and respectfully -inclining the cross towards the godfather, who drew near. - -Viazimski looked at him, quite taken aback. - -“Under what name must I inscribe him in the register?” asked Father -Peter. “Who are the parents?” - -“But is that absolutely necessary?” asked the général procureur, in a -displeased voice. - -“As you may order.… By right, the ceremony requires it. Who knows what -may happen in the future?… We are bound.…” - -“Right,” said Viazimski. “Alexander Alexéef, son of Chesmenski.” - -The priest silently, with a trembling hand, inscribed the name in the -baptismal register. - -“Now another Sacrament.… Here is your guide,” said the Prince Viazimski -sighing, pointing to the smart commandant, who was standing drawn up to -his full height. “I hope that everything will be fulfilled according to -orders.” - -With these words, he left the room and drove home. - -Father Peter, holding the chalice to his breast, followed Tchernishoff. -His heart beat faster when, having crossed the little bridge in the -interior, they entered a special yard, surrounded by a high wall. He at -once understood that they had entered the fatal Ravelin of Alexéef.… - -The priest and his guide, mounting a few steps, entered a long, dimly -lighted corridor, and stopped before a low door. - -“She is here,” whispered the priest to himself. The door led into a -rather low but very comfortable room. There were no sentinels now. The -candle near the bed shed a feeble light on the other part of the room, -through a purposely arranged silk curtain. The room was close, and a -faint odour of medicine and incense pervaded it. The priest glanced -around, and silently stepped behind the screen. - -The sick girl lay motionless on her bed, but was quite conscious. - -She slowly raised her eyes to the visitor, and recognising that it was -the priest by his dress, gently sighed, and held out her hand. - -“I am very, very glad, Holy Father,” she whispered in French. “Perhaps -you would prefer German?” - -“_Oui! Oui, comme il vous plaît_,” stammered Father Peter, shivering -involuntarily at the sound of that deep, broken contralto. - -“I am ready; ask,” stammered the captive. “Pray for me.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - -_CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION._ - - -The priest carefully put the chalice on the table, drew a chair near -the bed, passed his fingers through his bushy hair, and glancing at the -image over the head of the sick girl, gently bent over her. - -“Your name?” he asked. - -“Princess Elizabeth.…” - -“I conjure you, speak the truth,” continued Father Peter, trying to -recollect the French words. “Who were your parents, and where were you -born?” - -“I swear by the Almighty God that I do not know,” answered the captive, -with a hollow cough. “I knew and believed only what others told me.” - -She answered all the other questions in a voice broken and so low as to -be scarcely heard. She touched lightly on her childhood, the South of -Russia, the village where she had lived, Siberia, her flight to Persia, -and her residence in Europe. - -“You are a Christian?” asked the priest. - -“I was baptized into the Russian faith, and therefore look upon myself -as belonging to the Russian Church, although until now, for many -reasons, I have been deprived of the blessings of Confession and Holy -Communion.… I have sinned a great deal. Trying to tear myself from my -awful position, I gave my friendship to people who only betrayed me.… -Oh, how thankful I am for your visit!” - -“Among your papers were found two wills.… From whom did you receive -them, and--hide nothing from God and from me--by whom was your -Manifesto to the Russian fleet written?” - -“All that was sent to me quite ready by persons quite unknown to me,” -said the sick girl. “I had secret friends who pitied me. They tried to -restore to me my lost rights.” - -“But what is this?” thought the bewildered priest, listening to her. -“Is all this fiction or truth? If this is deceit, my God, at what a -moment!” - -“You are on the borders of the grave,” said he, in a trembling voice; -“on the verge of eternity.… Repent.… Between us there is only one -witness--God.” - -The penitent struggled within herself. Her bosom rose and fell, and -her hand convulsively clutched her handkerchief and held it to her lips. - -“In expectation of God’s judgment and my near death,” said she, turning -her eyes to the image of the Saviour, “I confess and swear that all -that I have told you and others is the truth. I know nothing more.…” - -“But all this is impossible,” said Father Peter, in an agitated voice. -“All that you have told me is so very improbable.” - -The poor girl closed her eyes, as if from unendurable acute suffering. -Large tears rolled down her thin and faded cheeks. - -“Who were your accomplices?” asked the priest, after a short pause. - -“Oh, no one! Have pity, have mercy; … and if I, weak, persecuted, -without means.…” - -The Princess did not finish. A hollow cough shook her frame. She -suddenly raised herself, clutched at her breast, at the bed, and fell -back, apparently lifeless. - -The fainting fit lasted several minutes. Father Peter, thinking she was -dying, began reading the prayers. The sick girl came to herself. - -“Do not agitate yourself; be calm,” said the priest, noticing she was -coming to. - -“Oh, I cannot any more! Leave me! Go away!” murmured the sick girl. -“Another time.… Let me rest.” - -“I have just christened your son,” said the priest, wishing to give her -a little courage. “I wish you joy for him. God is merciful; you may yet -live for him.…” - -A faint smile came on the poor parched lips of the captive. Her eyes -wandered aimlessly around, as though seeing beyond that room, that -fortress, beyond everything surrounding her, far away.… - -Father Peter blessed the poor girl, gazed at her for some time, -took the chalice, and having postponed the celebration of the Holy -Communion, left the room. - -“Well! what?” asked the commandant, who was waiting for him in the -corridor; “has she confessed, communicated?” - -The priest inclined his head, silently bowed to the commandant, entered -the carriage, and left the Ravelin. - -On the morning of the 2nd of December, he was asked to come to the -fortress, and to bring the Elements of the Eucharist with him. The sick -girl was fading rapidly. - -“Think well, my daughter, and ease your soul, by repentance,” extorted -the priest. “I conjure you, in the name of God, for the sake of the -future life!” - -“I am a sinner,” answered the dying girl, in a strangely quiet voice; -“from my very youth I have sinned against God, and feel myself to be a -great impenitent sinner.” - -“I absolve thee from thy sins, my daughter,” said the priest, devoutly -praying and blessing her; “but thy Pretendership, thy sins against the -empress,--thy accomplices?” - -“I am a Russian grand-duchess! the daughter of the late empress,” -faintly murmured the captive, hardly moving her benumbed lips. The -priest bent over her to administer the Sacrament; but the captive lay -motionless, almost lifeless. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. - -_“WHAT IF THE CAPTIVE BE INNOCENT?”_ - - -Father Peter returned home in a very agitated frame of mind. “Is she a -usurper?” thought he. “Of course, man will stick to anything in his own -interests. But dying--almost with her last breath, after such terrible -privations, almost torture! What if she’s innocent, not an adventuress? -remembers her childhood, repeats always the same--of course, in all -this, she is the only witness. Is it her fault that her proofs are so -scanty, so insignificant?” - -The priest, on coming home, went straight to his study. Having learnt -that the girls were not at home, he lighted his stove, shut the door, -and once more took the diary of Konsov in his hands. Having again -glanced over the manuscript, he wrapped it in a sheet of paper, tied it -round with a string, sealed it, and wrote on the outside paper--“To be -opened only after my death.” This roll he put at the bottom of a trunk, -where he kept many precious documents and manuscripts. He had hardly -shut the lid down, when a knock was heard at the door. - -“Who’s there?” - -“Friends!” and his niece entered with Rakitina. - -“What is the matter with you, dear uncle,” asked Vâra, looking at the -priest; “you look agitated--this is the second day you’ve been out -driving?…” - -Irena looked at him inquiringly. “Perhaps he has some news for me,” -thought she. - -“About other people’s business; of no interest to you, my dear; and -you, Irena Lvovna, be magnanimous and forgive me,” continued the -priest, turning round to Rakitina. “Times are troublous, it is now too -dangerous to keep the manuscripts you brought from home. I know you -will soon go away, but the village even is not safe. You’ll forgive an -old man.” - -Irena turned pale. - -“All sorts of rumours are floating about--search may be made,” -continued Father Peter. “Scold me, young lady, but your manuscript.…” - -“Where is it? oh, you’ve not burnt it?” cried Irena, involuntarily -glancing at the lighted stove. - -Father Peter silently bowed. - -Irena clasped her hands. - -“Oh! my God!” she cried, unable to keep back her tears; “the last -consolation, the last token of remembrance, and that is gone! What -shall I carry away with me now?” - -Vâra looked reproachfully at her uncle. - -“Afterwards, dear young lady; in time you shall know everything, but -now it is better to be silent,” said the priest in a decided voice. -“God’s ways are not our ways. The enemy’s path is full of snares. Pray -to God; He will have mercy.” - -But the priest was not to be left in peace. That very day he was again -called to the commander-in-chief. - -“Well, did you get anything from the captive?” asked Galitzin. - -“Excuse me, your Grace,” answered Father Peter, “but the secrets of the -Confession.… No! I cannot, I dare not.” - -Galitzin became embarrassed. - -“What a commission!” thought Galitzin, blushing. “Ah, those -counsellors.… Orloff, you can see, unable to rest, is again inventing -something at Moscow, and I--play the Inquisitor.…” - -“Well, Batiushka! that’s my orders from high.…” - -“I cannot, your Grace; ’twould be against my conscience.” - -Galitzin moved his lips, not finding a way out of his embarrassment. - -“Who _is_ she?” said he, trying to look very important and determined. -“Cannot you see this is a State secret, a most important one. You see -I must send a report. There will be inquiries; I’m answerable for -everything, for order. Here, I … I alone!” - -“One thing I may tell your Grace--while I am alive, I’ll keep the oath -exacted by you.” - -The field-marshal was all ears. - -“I’ll not let one word fall of what I heard at the Confession,” -continued Father Peter. “You exacted from me an oath of silence, but -I can inform you of one thing, prince, although it is my own personal -opinion: the captive has been much calumniated, a great deal has been -invented, … and what if she.…” - -“Oh! speak, speak!” said the field-marshal. - -“What if the captive were innocent?” said the priest; “why should she -suffer all that?” - -If a thunderbolt had fallen at the feet of the prince, he could not -have been more wonderstruck. - -“You assure me--do you mean to say, that she had no accomplices?” said -he; “that she was no traitor? But then, am I to understand that she is -our own truly born grand-duchess! But is it possible? No, not for one -minute can I think it!” - -Father Peter, with his head bent down, was silent. - -“No! you make a mistake, that’s all a dream, delirium,” cried out the -field-marshal, clutching at the bell rope. “Horses!” he called to the -orderly, who at once came in, “I’ll try; time is not yet quite lost. -I’ll see for myself.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI. - -_RELEASE._ - - -“Oh! I myself have sinned against her in my reports,” thought Galitzin, -on his way to the fortress. “I fell under the influence of others, -hastened on everything without judgment. I grasped at the guessings and -conjectures of others!” - -The ice on the surface of the Neva was still under water, the remains -of the previous day’s inundation. The prince’s carriage drove on very -slowly, and with difficulty through the pools of water. He did not find -the commandant at home. Ever since evening the latter had been in the -Ravelin. At the door stood Oushakoff with papers in his hand. He walked -up to the prince, and was beginning-- - -“As your Grace knows, the expenses for this person.…” - -“Lead me to the captive,” said the prince, addressing the officer -on guard, and turning his back on Oushakoff. “Umph! found -occupation!--And our sick captive? Is she still conscious?” - -“She is dying,” answered the officer. - -Galitzin devoutly crossed himself. - -On entering the Ravelin, he met Tchernishoff. The prince did not -recognise him. The brave, fine, spruce officer, Tchernishoff, who -was never once in his life embarrassed by his service, was now quite -bewildered and pale as death. - -“Poor thing!” murmured the field-marshal, following Tchernishoff. “Can -it be that she will die? Has the doctor been?” - -“He has not left her since evening; the agony has already begun, she is -quite unconscious. She is raving!” - -“What does she rave about? Speak, speak!” and the agitated prince leant -forward to Tchernishoff. “Were you there? Did you hear her ravings?” - -“I went in several times,” answered the commandant. “I only heard some -unintelligible words, amongst them Orloff … Princess … Gran Dio … Mio -caro.…” - -“And the child?” asked the prince, dashing away a tear. - -“Is well, your Grace, in the hands of a wet nurse. My wife found a very -good one.” - -“See that everything necessary is found--everything. Do you hear me, -sir? everything,” said the prince very seriously and impressively, -trying to give his voice a most imperious and commanding tone. “In a -Christian manner, do you understand?… In case, here … in secret … you -understand me? without any fuss … suffering humanity … a martyr.” - -The prince wanted to say something more, but could only sob. Tears were -choking him. He merely nodded, and, pulling himself together as well -as he could, he briskly walked out on the _perron_. Here he glanced -at the dismal grey sky, covered with big heavy clouds. A whole flight -of ravens was whirling round over the Ravelin. The iron leaves[48] of -the roof, half torn away by the storm, were creaking dismally. The -field-marshal drew his sable collar close round him, jumped into his -carriage, and shouted, “Home!” - -“God has had pity on her, poor thing; in past years, how often these -small casemates have been flooded during the inundations. Yes, of -course, it’s quite clear,” he went on musing. “The unfortunate girl -has only been a toy in the hands of others. A usurper or not, who can -tell? That’s just what I shall write to Her Imperial Highness--her -death will not be on our heads.” - -The carriage rolled along quickly over the newly-fallen snow, now -passing carts loaded with wood or hay, now an elegant carriage, or -a pedestrian feeling his way carefully through the pools and the -snow,--those very same houses, churches, the same bridges, ensigns, -that the prince had looked at for so many years, rushed past unnoticed -by the now anxious and gloomy commander-in-chief of the northern -capital. Then came the Police Department, at the Green Bridge over the -Nevski, and at last the apartment of the field-marshal. His heart was -very heavy. - -“Well! and if, after all, she’s no pretender,” flashed through the mind -of the prince, as he saw the Elizabeth Palace rising in the gloom, near -the bridge on the Moïka, and a little farther on, on the Nevski, the -Anitchkoff Hall, the residence of Razoumovski. - -Galitzin remembered now all the late reign, the great of that time, his -connections, his own youthful years, and the years and persons that -time had carried away. - - * * * * * - -On the evening of 4th of December, 1775, the Princess Tarakanova, -Dame d’Azow, Ali Emeté, and Princess Wladimirskaya, expired. No one -was present at her last moments; she was found lying still, as though -she had fallen asleep. Her dim open eyes were fixed on the image of -the Saviour. On the next day the invalid watch of the garrison of the -Petropavlovski fortress dug a grave, with the help of crow-bars[49] and -spades, in the middle of the little yard in the Ravelin of Alexéef, -under the shade of the lindens. And there, secretly from all, they -buried the body of the unfortunate girl, filling the grave up with -clods of frozen earth. The invalid watchman, Antipitch, on his own -initiative, planted a birch tree over that grave. The servitors of the -Princess, her maid Meshade, and secretary Charnomski, as the inquest -now was terminated, were sent away to foreign parts, after having been -sworn to secrecy. - -Father Peter guessed at the death of the captive, from the tears and -insinuations of the _commandantsha_, and said to himself, “Oh, God! -Thou hast at last delivered the poor unfortunate captive from her -burden, and given rest to her soul.” And, without any fuss or noise, -went immediately to the church and celebrated a funeral mass, for -the fallen asleep bond-slave of God, Elizabeth; and at the oblation, -remembering her soul, cut a small piece from the consecrated loaf. - -“For whom did you have that funeral mass?” asked Vâra of her uncle, -noticing the loaf on the breakfast table. - -“For that person you know of, that poor sufferer.” - -“But who was she?” - -“A slave, and child of a bond-slave,” mysteriously answered Father -Peter. “We are all in the hands of God, the rich and the poor, the -slaves and the kings.” - - * * * * * - -The Field-Marshal Galitzin was unable for a long time to decide on the -means of letting the empress know of the death of Tarakanova. He would -take a pen, write a few lines, dash them out, and again begin thinking. - -“Ah! come what may,” said he to himself, “the dead will not be called -to account, and for the living, it’s a vindication.” - -The prince took out a clean sheet of paper, dipped his pen in the -ink, and began very carefully to trace, in an old-fashioned hand, the -following words:-- - -“The person so well known to your Imperial Highness as having usurped -a name and rank not belonging to her, died on the 4th of December, an -unrepentant sinner, having confessed to nothing and betrayed no one.” - -“And if any of the great should learn anything about her, and let it -out,” thought Galitzin to himself, “we can set rumours afloat that -she was drowned in the inundation. Just at that very time, they fired -enough cannon from the fortress, and the lovely Neva played her pranks.” - -And this is the origin of the legend of the drowning of Tarakanova.[50] - - * * * * * - -Irena Lvovna Rakitina, after having gone about from department to -department, was at last convinced of the hopelessness of her case, -and returned to her native village accompanied by Vâra. This was in -December, 1775. In Moscow, she tried to give a personal petition to the -empress, but this was just the day before the departure of Ekaterina -for Petersburg. The petition of Irena was graciously accepted; but -somehow very likely, in the confusion dependent on the departure of the -Court,--it got lost and was forgotten, as she never received any answer -or resolution. Irena, while at Moscow, determined to find out Orloff, -but afterward was dissuaded from her purpose. - -On her arrival in Petersburg, the empress most assiduously questioned -Galitzin about the last days of the captive; and notwithstanding all -the endeavours of the old man to soften his tale, she understood what -an awful tragedy had overtaken the blind victim of foreign intrigue. - -“Yes; you and I, prince, have also ‘oversalted’ it!” said Ekaterina. -“Why not more frankness with me?” - - * * * * * - -“I am the cause of everything,” decided Irena, after long hours of -doubt and anguish. “I was the cause of Konsov’s leaving his native -land. It was on my account he gave way to despair, and tried to help -that unfortunate person, and then perished. I must make amends now for -his broken life, and implore God to forgive me my share of sins in all -this unhappy affair. I am now alone, and have nothing to expect from -the world.” - -In 1776, Rakitina left her estate in the hands of her father’s serfs, -and accompanied by Vâra (who had that year become engaged to one of -the teachers of the Muscovite Seminary), started for a small nunnery -not far from Kieff, and entered it as a novice, hoping soon to be able -to take the veil. However much Vâra implored her, or tried to convince -her, to dissuade her from taking such a step, Irena was firm, and -having put on the hood and nun’s dress, repeated only one thing--“I am -the cause of all, and therefore must pray for him, and suffer all my -life.” But Irena could not give up all her thoughts to prayer, however -much she wished to. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII. - -_“A ROSE AND A MYRTLE.”_ - - -Five years passed by, and in May, 1780, Rakitina was again in -Petersburg. Her friend Vâra was already married and in Moscow. Father -Peter was, as before, priest of the Cathedral of Kazan. Irena went to -see him. He was delighted and eagerly began to ask her about past and -present events. - -“Is it possible that you are even till now waiting and hoping that your -_fiancé_ is yet alive?” he asked. “For how many years you are uselessly -tormenting yourself! Were he alive, be sure he would have sent some -message--I do not say to you--to his friends, to his relations.” - -“Oh! don’t, don’t, Father,” answered Irena, drying her eyes; “I will -give up all, sacrifice everything.…” - -“Young lady, that is a sin; you are tempting Providence, you are -imitating the heathens.” - -“But what can I do?” answered Irena; “I am always seeing such awful -prophetic dreams, one especially. Oh! that dream; it came to me not -long ago, several nights together.”… Irena was silent. - -“What dream was it? Tell me all; confide in me.” - -“It seemed to me that he approached my bedside--he was not a bit -altered--just as he was the last time I saw him in our village, -stately, handsome, amiable; and he said to me, ‘I am still alive, -Irenushka. Where the sea murmurs, night and day, I look for you, -morning and evening, thinking perhaps you’ll come, find me, and set me -free.’… Ah! tell me, where must I look, what must I do, whom must I -ask? I dare not trouble the empress another time.…” - -“I often thought of you,” said Father Peter. “Here I only see one -person, and that is--the Tzarevitch, Pavel Petrovitch;[51] he is -Grand-Master and Protector of the Order of Maltese Knights--he alone -can help you. If he will only stoop to you, to your petition, he alone -can do something for you. In him you’ll find everything--talent, -honour, always used in the interest of anything high and noble, secret -relations with all the most powerful and celebrated philanthropists. -And what goodness, what knightly nobility! No; it is not Tiberius, as -his enemies say; it’s the future beneficent Titus.” - -“Yes, I have heard that,” answered Irena. - -“You have heard? then go to him, find him at his manor house, seek for -an audience.” - -The priest gave Irena all possible information and advice, as well -as a letter to his god-daughter, housekeeper in the household of the -Tzarevitch. Rakitina hired a _kibitka_[52] and started for Pavlovski, -the personal property of the grand-duke. - -The housekeeper received Rakitina very hospitably. She took her into -her own apartment, and then, to amuse her a little, pointed out to -her all the curiosities in the garden and park of the grand-duke; the -little cottage Cric-Crac, the hut of the hermit, the caverns, lakes, -and rustic bridges. It was decided that Irena should first relate -everything to the favourite maid of honour of the grand-duchess, -Ekaterina Ivanovna Nelidova, who had only just terminated her education -at Smolney Institute.[53] - -“When shall we go to see Ekaterina Ivanovna?” said Irena, longing for -the promised audience. - -“We shall have to wait; she is very much occupied now, learning a hymn -on the clavichord. It’s the favourite piece of the grand-duke; she is -getting it ready for the concert.” - -One day Irena was walking in the park with her hostess. All at once -from behind the trees, a fair lady in a light blue silk dress, without -any hoops, came towards them. - -“Who is that?” asked Irena. - -“The Tzarevna,” whispered the housekeeper, bowing very respectfully. - -Irena turned faint. - -The elegant, though a little inclined to embonpoint, Grand Duchess -Marie Feodorovna was then twenty-two, and very lovely. - -In passing by Irena, she turned her rather bewildered and short-sighted -eyes upon her, as though astonished at her nun’s dress. The Tzarevna -was followed by a very tall, thin, pock-marked man in a dark _kaftan_ -and cocked hat, carrying a roll of music and a fiddle under his arm. - -“And who is that?” asked Rakitina, when they had gone by. - -“Paëzsïllo,” answered the housekeeper; “music master to her Imperial -Highness.” - -Irena admired the rare beauty of the Tzarevna, the delicate pink and -white complexion, the splendid golden hair, in which nestled some blue -and red flowers, contained in a tiny bottle of water to keep them fresh. - -The Tzarevna was followed at some distance by two maids of honour. -One of them, a short, thin, sprightly brunette, struck Irena by the -brightness of her black, sparkling eyes, which literally seemed to -shoot forth sparks. She was gaily talking with her companion. It was -Nelidova. Mischievously winking at the stout housekeeper, who was -respectfully bowing to her, she said to her with a charming smile, -“I’ve had no time yet, Anna Romanovna,--always that hymn; to-morrow -morning.” - -“Ah! at last, to-morrow,” thought Irena, in ecstasy, and following with -enraptured eyes the enchanting, elegant fairies, who so unexpectedly -had passed before her eyes. At the appointed hour, Anna Romanovna -took Irena to the pavilion of the maids of honour, not far from the -guard-house, and led her into the drawing-room. - -“It would seem that Ekaterina Ivanovna has not yet returned from the -palace of the grand-duchess,” she said; “we will wait for her here, my -dear; take off your hood, it’s too warm.” - -“It does not matter; I’ll leave it.” - -The room was filled with vases, statuettes, and medallions hung on the -walls. - -“This is all the work of the grand-duchess,” said the housekeeper. -“Look here, dear, what talent! how she paints on porcelain! And look -here, in this black cupboard, these ivory things, that’s her work. She -can engrave also on stones, on gold, lovely _paysages_; she can also -turn on the lathe, and how fond she is of Ekaterina Ivanovna! those are -all presents to her. Look, she embroidered this beautiful cushion for -her. Look, what a rose! and this myrtle! What a delicate design, and -the colours, you might mistake it for a painting.” - -Irena gave no answer. - -“Why are you so silent, my dear? What are you thinking about?” - -“A rose and a myrtle,” whispered Irena, sighing; “life and death. What -will be the end of all my efforts, my researches, my hopes?” - -At that very minute, the notes of the clavichord were heard from the -room of Nelidova. A melodious splendid contralto was singing the very -solemn and sad hymn from Glück’s opera, “Iphigenia in Tauridus.” - -“Well, Irena Lvovna, let us go; I suppose we are too late. Ekaterina -Ivanovna is at her music, and no one will dare disturb her. Very likely -the grand-duchess is with her now.” - -Irena made a sign to her companion to wait a little, and with a beating -heart she listened to the so well known notes of the imploring hymn of -“Iphigenia.” In past days she had herself sung that to Konsov. “Oh! if -I could only implore them like that; but when will that be? They have -their own cares, they have no time,” thought she, feeling that her -tears were choking her. - -“Let us go, let us go,” said Anna Romanovna, hastily. They both went -out together, went down the steps, round the pavilion of the maids of -honour, and into the garden. The wicket-gate banged to. - -“Where are you off to?” they heard a voice gaily calling out. - -They both raised their eyes. Looking at them from the open window was -the smiling face of the black-eyed Nelidova. - -“Come in; I’m quite free now. I was waiting for you, and so began to -sing. Come in.” - -The visitors retraced their steps. - -Anna Romanovna presented her companion to Nelidova, who made her sit -down beside her. - -“So young, and yet in such a gloomy dress,” she said; “speak now, -without any ceremony, tell me all, I am listening.” - -Irena began about Konsov, then went on to the arrest and captivity of -Tarakanova. At each of her words, at each detail of the sad event, the -bright playful face of Nelidova became more and more troubled and sad. - -“Great God! what mysteries, what tragedies!” thought she, shivering; -“and all that in our days. But it’s the dark middle ages over again, -and no one knowing anything of it.” - -“Thank you, Mademoiselle Irena,” said Ekaterina Ivanovna, after -having listened attentively to Rakitina. “I am very much obliged to -you for all you have related to me; if you will allow me, I will tell -it all again to their Imperial Highnesses.… I am convinced that the -Tzarevitch, that wise just knight, that angel of goodness and honour … -will do everything for you. But to whom must he apply?” - -“How! to whom?” asked the astonished Irena. - -“You see, I do not know very well how to explain it,” continued -Nelidova; “the Tzarevitch takes no part in State affairs, he can only -ask others. On whom does all this depend?” - -“The Prince Potemkin might …” answered Irena, remembering the counsels -of Father Peter, that the Prince could send orders to the different -ambassadors and consuls. “Lieutenant Konsov is perhaps now a prisoner -of the Moors or negroes, on some wild island in the Atlantic Ocean.” - -“Will you remain long here?” asked Nelidova. - -“The Mother Superior of the Nunnery where I live has been summoning me -to return this long while. Every one blames me; calls my researches -sinful.” - -“How and where can I send you a message?” - -Irena named the convent, and then became thoughtful, looking at the -cushion worked by the grand-duchess. - -“I’ve suffered so much, I’ve waited so long,” she murmured, stifling -her tears. “Do not write anything--not one word--but, see, send me, -should there be success, a rose; if failure, a myrtle leaf.” - -Nelidova kissed Irena. - -“I will do everything I can,” she said gently. “I will appeal to the -grand-duchess, to the Tzarevitch. There remains nothing more for you to -do here. Better leave, my dear one; as soon as I learn anything, I will -let you know.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII. - -_PAVEL PETROVITCH AND THE ENCHANTER._ - - -There was still no news. It was the beginning of the year 1781. With -the retirement of Prince Gregory Orloff, and the fallen fortunes of -the tutor of the Tzarevitch, Pânin, the new counsellors of the Empress -Ekaterina, having in view the lessening of the influence of her son, -Pavel Petrovitch, advised her to send the Tzarevitch and his wife on a -long foreign journey, ostensibly to make the acquaintance of foreign -courts. - -Irena learnt this with a beating heart from Vâra’s letter. Their -Imperial Highnesses left the environs of Petersburg on the 19th of -September, 1781. Under the name of Count and Countess “du Nord,” they -passed the Russian frontier of Poland, at the little town of Oukraine, -Vasilkoff, in the middle of October. - -A young person, dressed in the dark vestments of a nun, who arrived the -day before by the Kieff track,[54] was waiting here to meet Nelidova. -She was taken into the apartment of Ekaterina Ivanovna. Into this room -there entered also, from the garden, the Count and Countess du Nord, -as if by accident, whilst the horses were being changed. They remained -several minutes, and when they came out, the count was fearfully pale, -and the countess in tears. - -“Poor Penelope,” said Pavel to Nelidova, getting into the carriage, on -observing through the trees the dark figure of Irena. - -The conversation of Ekaterina Ivanovna with the stranger after -the departure of the august travellers was so prolonged that the -carriage of the maid of honour was much behindhand, according to the -_marche-route_, and the horses had to be cruelly driven to catch up the -Imperial carriages. - -“A rose, a rose! Not myrtle!” cried out Nelidova in French,--very -mysteriously to all around,--to the stranger, to whom she waved her -handkerchief from the carriage window, by way of encouragement. - -“She is truly a sorrowing Penelope,” said Ekaterina Ivanovna, as, -driving away, she lost sight in the distance of the dark motionless -figure of Irena. - -The journey of the Count and Countess du Nord was very interesting. -They travelled through all Germany, and spent the New Year in Venice. -The 8th of January, 1780, the grand-duke, Pavel Petrovitch, wrapped -in the picturesque Italian cloak _Tabaro_, and the grand-duchess, in -the graceful Venetian mantilla and the _Cendadi_, visited the picture -gallery and the palace of the Doge in the morning, and in the evening -went to the theatre of the “Prophet Samuel,” where “Iphigenia in -Tauridus,” was to be played in honour of the august visitors, as it -was known to be their favourite opera. The celebrated composer Glück -himself conducted the orchestra. - -After the opera, the public poured out, and crowded the square of St. -Mark, where a national masquerade had been organised in honour of the -Imperial travellers. - -The square was covered with a noisy, vivacious crowd. Every one noticed -that the Count du Nord, after having led the Countess straight from the -theatre to the palace which had been prepared for them, was walking, -wearing a mask, up and down, a little out of the way of the crowd, with -a very tall foreigner, also masked, whom Glück himself had presented to -him at the opera. - -The full moon shed her silvery light, and all around there were many -coloured fires and lamps. The noise and chattering of the mixed crowd -failed to attract the attention of the two interlocutors. - -“Who is that?” asked a lady of her husband, turning his attention -to the fact that the Count du Nord was attentively listening to -the conversation of the foreigner by his side. “Don’t you know him -again--the friend of Glück--our celebrated necromancer, our raiser of -ghosts?” - -Pavel was very much agitated, and in a bad humour. He had wanted to -make fun of the stranger, but the recollection of a certain fact had -involuntarily embarrassed him. - -“You, Enchanter, living, according to your own words, an innumerable -number of years,” said he, very politely, although in a slightly -mocking tone; “you are in connection not only with the living, but with -those beyond the tomb. That is, doubtless, one of your jokes, and I, -of course, do not believe one word of it,” he added, trying to be very -amiable; “it would be silly to believe such tales. But there are tales -and tales, you understand me?… I should very much like to question you -concerning a certain incident.…” - -“I am at your orders,” said the stranger. - -“For instance,--and this is quite a conversation _àpropos_,” continued -the Count du Nord; “I have always been very much interested in -the supernatural, especially in the inexplicable interference of -supernatural agents in our intellectual life. I should very much like … -I would ask you, as we have met so unexpectedly, to explain to me one -very mysterious event, a very strange meeting.…” - -“I am quite at your service,” answered the stranger, politely bowing. - -His companion walked on a few steps silently. - -Pavel struggled within himself, trying to trip up the conjurer, and at -the same time to stifle in his own heart something very sad, torturing, -which was perhaps one of his mental tribulations. Raising his mask, he -wiped his brow. - -“I once saw a spirit,” he said, hesitatingly, unable to restrain his -emotion; “I saw a shadow, sacred to me.…” - -The stranger bowed slightly, following Pavel, who turned the corner of -the square to the dimly-lighted river side. - -“It was in Petersburg,” again began the count. He then related to his -companion the celebrated fact, already made known somehow abroad, of -his having seen the spirit of his ancestor; how, on a certain moonlight -night, walking along the streets with his aide-de-camp, he had felt -that between him and the wall of the house on the left side there -rose all at once something in a long cloak and old-fashioned cocked -hat--how he had “_felt_” that apparition, by the icy cold which had -frozen his left side, and with what horror he had followed step by step -the apparition, which noisily struck the pavement--it was the noise of -stone against stone. - -The apparition, invisible to the aide-de-camp, had addressed Pavel in -a sad, reproachful voice: “Pavel, poor Pavel, poor prince, do not love -the world too much; you will not remain long in it; fear the reproaches -of thy conscience; live by the laws of justice … in life.…” - -“The apparition did not finish,” said the count. “I still did not -understand what it was. At last I looked up and turned giddy; before -me, in the full moonlight, stood my grandfather, Peter the Great, just -as I remembered him. I recognised directly his caressing look of love, -fixed on me. I wanted to ask him … but he disappeared, and I remained -leaning against the bare, cold wall.” Saying these last words, Pavel -again raised his mask, and wiped his face with his handkerchief; he was -pale and very much embarrassed. It seemed as though before his eyes -there again rose, the dear, sad apparition. - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV. - -_A MYRTLE LEAF._ - - -“What do you think, Signor?” asked the count, after a short pause. “Was -it a dream, or did I really see the spirit of my grandfather?” - -“It was his spirit,” answered his companion. - -“What did his words mean, and why did he not finish them?” - -“Would you like to know?” - -“Of course.” - -“Some one disturbed him.” - -“But who?” asked Pavel, continuing to walk along the deserted river -side. - -“The apparition disappeared at my approach. I was just leaving at that -time your banker, Sutherland. You did not notice me, but I saw you -both, and I involuntarily startled the apparition of the great man.” - -The count stopped; he was amused, and at the same time indignant at the -impudence of the magician, and yet there remained something more to be -learnt. - -“You are joking,” said he. “How is it you were in Petersburg, and no -one heard anything of it?” - -“I had that pleasure--but for a very short time. I was received in a -very unfriendly manner. As a foreigner, and one fond of knowledge, I -had expected to obtain more attention. But the first minister offended -me deeply; he invited me to leave the country. I withdrew my money from -the bankers, and that very same night left Petersburg.” - -“Fool, jackanapes!” thought the count, contemptuously smiling; “what -inventions, what yarns he can spin.” - -“Allow me to offer my apologies for the rudeness of our ministers,” -said the count, with the most elaborate politeness, slightly touching -his hat with his hand. “But can you explain to me the meaning of the -words of the apparition?” - -“It would be better not to seek to know the meaning of the apparition,” -answered the stranger. “There are things … on which it is better to let -the Fates be silent.…” - -At that moment the sounds of a lute came floating from the great -lagoon. Some one seated in a gondola was singing. Pavel eagerly -listened; it was his favourite hymn. It brought back to his -recollection the Manor of Pavlovski, the musical mornings at -Nelidova’s, and her intercession for Rakitina. - -“Very well,” said he; “let it be so; the future will reveal the truth. -But I have another favour to ask of you.… A certain person, whom I wish -from my whole heart to help at any cost, would very much like to know -one thing.” - -“I shall be most happy,” answered the stranger; “if I can be of any use -to your Highness.” - -“A certain person,” continued the count, “begged me to make inquiries -here in Italy, in Spain, and in general, of seamen, if a certain -naval officer is still living. He was on that ship which was totally -shipwrecked, five years ago, and of which literally nothing has been -heard.” - -“A Russian ship?” - -“Yes.” - -“It was carried away, and dashed to pieces by the storm in the ocean, -not far from Africa?” - -“Yes.” - -“The _Northern Eagle_?” - -“Yes, but how came you to know?” - -“It’s not in vain I’m called an Enchanter.” - -“Speak! make haste, was he saved? is he still alive, this officer?” -said the count, impatiently. - -At that moment they were both standing on the water side. The silvery -waves gently rippled up to the stone steps. In the distance, in the -dim twilight, the outline of a ship with her sails furled was just -discernible. - -“To-morrow,” said the stranger, “I leave Venice on that schooner; but -before sailing, or answering your question, I should like--excuse -me--to know … whether the Count du Nord, on ascending the throne, will -be more indulgent to me than the ministers of his august parent? Will -he allow me then to visit that country again, whatever the tenor of my -answer concerning that naval officer?” - -The deep agitation which Pavel had experienced, on relating his -adventure with the apparition, had already subsided, and he was -regaining his self-composure. The question of the man aroused his -indignation. - -“Impudent, audacious impostor,” thought he, in a fit of suspicious -anger. “What insolence! and what a turn he has given to the -conversation. Street acrobat! charlatan!…” - -Pavel could scarcely contain himself, and crushed his glove in his hand. - -“According to your own words it is rather difficult to answer for the -future,” said he thoughtfully, after a short pause. “Nevertheless, I -am convinced, that on a second journey to Russia, you will meet with a -reception more polite and more befitting a foreigner.” - -His interlocutor bowed profoundly. - -“So you wish to know the fate of that naval officer?” he said. - -“Yes,” answered Pavel, prepared, however, to hear some tomfoolery, some -imposture. - -“Send that certain person awaiting your news a myrtle leaf.” - -“How? what did you say? Say it again,” cried out Pavel. “Myrtle! -myrtle? then he is lost.…” - -“He was saved on a fragment of the ship near the island of Teneriffe, -and for some time remained with the poor monks of the coast.” - -“And now? oh! speak, I implore you.” - -“A year after he was killed by pirates, who pillaged the monastery -where he was living.” - -“How did you learn all this?” - -“At that time I was myself living on the isle of Teneriffe,” he -answered. “I was copying an old Latin manuscript, which was very -precious to me, from the archives of the monastery.” - -“But what does all this mean? Is he only a juggler, or an all-powerful -seer?” thought Pavel, torn with doubts. “A clever diviner, or a bold -charlatan, but from where?… All my most secret … coast of Africa … -the name of the lost ship … and then that token, the fatal myrtle. Is -it possible Ekaterina Ivanovna should have betrayed me? But he never -saw her; she is ill, has never been once out of her room, received no -visits, and has been nowhere.…” - -Pavel wanted to say something else, but could find no words. - -Beyond the schooner the dawn was breaking. - -“I will accompany your Highness to the palace,” said the stranger with -elaborate politeness and a cringing bow; “have I your permission?” - -Pavel slightly glanced at the tawdry cotton-velvet bespangled costume -of the wizard, looking so shabby in the morning light, and taking off -his mask, without saying one word more, strode gloomily and proudly -along the deserted shore. - -“Poor sorrowing Penelope! unfortunate lovely Irena!” thought he. “No -one has been able to solve that anguishful enigma--neither ministers, -nor knights, nor ambassadors; let us send her the myrtle leaf of the -Italian wizard and juggler.” - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV. - -_FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER._ - - -Fifteen years had passed away; the year 1796 was drawing to its end. -It was in the beginning of the reign of Pavel I. All Petersburg was -hailing joyfully the liberation of the celebrated Novikoff from the -fortress, and the return from Siberia of Radischeff. The emperor, with -his august consort and several courtiers, went to visit the fortress -of Petropavlovski. The chief of the police, Arharoff, asked the -emperor if he would not like to visit the Ravelin of Alexéef, where -great alterations and repairs were taking place. One of the dungeons -attracted the attention of the Imperial visitors. - -“Were any Italians ever confined here?” asked the emperor of the -commandant. - -“Never, your Highness; only schismatics.” - -“Well, look here,” and the Emperor pointed to the window, “here’s an -inscription on the glass, cut with a diamond. ‘O, Dio mio.’” - -Arharoff and the commandant both bent towards the window eagerly. The -commandant was new, and therefore had not yet had time to become -acquainted with all the legends and past days of the fortress. - -“It would be very interesting to know,” said the Empress Marie -Feodorovna. “It’s a woman’s hand. Poor thing, who could it have been?” - -“Was it not Tarakanova?” said Nelidova, standing by. “Have you -forgotten, your Highness, the unfortunate Konsov, and the young lady -from Little Russia?” - -“Tarakanova was drowned here at the time of the inundation,” said -somebody. - -Every one was silent; the Empress Marie Feodorovna alone looked at -Nelidova, and pointed with her eyes out of the window at a solitary -silver birch tree, growing in the middle of the little neglected garden -of the Ravelin. - -“That’s her grave,” she whispered. “Do you remember? But what can have -become of the diary?” - -It was plain that the emperor had heard the words. As he took his -seat in the carriage, he remarked to Arharoff, “At whatever cost this -affair must be looked into; a most painful event here took place. They -were troublous times; the attempt of Merovitch, the insurrection of -Pougachoff, and then … this unfortunate.… I saw my mother’s tears; to -her very last days she could not forgive herself for allowing the poor -girl to be interrogated during her absence from Petersburg.” - -The police were all set on foot. - -Somewhere in an almshouse they discovered the poor blind invalid, -Antipitch. He had been watchman in the fortress twenty years before. -The invalid directed them to a gardener, and this one again to the -warden of the cathedral of Kazan, who said that he had found a trunk -filled with papers after the death of Father Peter, and that he knew -that in it there had been a roll of very important papers. Search was -made for the family of Father Peter. He had left no direct heirs, but -his grand-niece, the daughter of his niece Vâra, was found. Arharoff -went himself to see her, but she knew nothing. No one knew what had -become of the trunk of papers of Father Peter, or whether it had been -sent to Moscow with his other things. Everything was found out in -time. In the poor retired nunnery of the Oukraine, where Irena had -sought refuge, after having taken the veil, she peacefully died, at -an advanced age, fervently praying for her _fiancé_, the lost Konsov. -Amongst the effects of the deceased lay a packet of papers, with the -inscription “From Father Peter,” and there, together with a letter from -a very influential personage, a faded myrtle leaf. A neighbour, who -was very fond of antiquities, had borrowed these papers from the Lady -Superior. He had subsequently died abroad. - - * * * * * - -Count Alexis Gregorevitch Orloff-Chesmenski married, the very year that -the Count and Countess du Nord were travelling abroad. His illegitimate -son by the Princess Tarakanova, Alexander Chesmenski, died, in the -rank of Brigadier, at the close of the last century. Having survived -the Empress Ekaterina and the Emperor Pavel, the Count Orloff died in -Moscow, in the reign of the Emperor Alexander I., on Christmas Eve, -1807, leaving an only unmarried daughter, the well-known Countess -Anna Alexéevna. It remains a secret till now whether his conscience -tormented him for his treachery to Tarakanova, or whether the stings of -remorse had no hold on his hardened soul. However, it is a well-known -fact, that the agonies of death must have been for Count Orloff -especially terrible, because, in order to drown the horrible screams -and groans of the dying “Giant of his time,” it was found necessary -to make his private orchestra, at that time learning a sonata in the -neighbouring pavilion, play as loudly as possible. - -THE END. - - - - -FOOTNOTES - - -[1] Lit., _word and deed_. - -[2] _The original painting (by Constantine Flavitski) hangs in the -famous private gallery of M. Tretiakoff._ - -[3] The Bulgarian language is similar to the Russian, being a Sclavonic -dialect. - -[4] The Russians have no “Mr.,” “Mrs.” or “Miss” before names. They use -the patronymic, which consists in adding _vitch_, for the masculine, -and _vna_, for the feminine, to the name of the father, with sometimes -a contraction. - -[5] Little mother,--a caressing term. - -[6] Pavel the son of Efstaffi (see note on page 8). - -[7] Pet name for Irena. - -[8] The man who cries the hour for prayer from one of the mosque towers. - -[9] The banks on either side of the Volga. - -[10] A Persian garment worn by Russian men. - -[11] A Polish garment. - -[12] Seven days after the accession to the throne of Ekaterina II. her -husband, Peter III., died, it is supposed, a violent death. Some time -after a simple Cossack, named Pougachoff, an escaped convict from the -mines of Siberia (whose torn nostrils showed that his crime had been -murder), succeeded in raising the whole of the Urals (such was the -credulity of Russians at that time) by giving himself out as Peter III. - -[13] _Lit._ “mistress-woman,” _i.e._, a clever manager, one quite -capable of conducting her affairs. - -[14] The Pânins were, and are, a celebrated noble family holding -various court appointments. - -[15] Dimitri Tzarevitch was the son of Ivan the Terrible, the last of -the house of Ruric, and was said to have been killed at the age of -nine at Ouglitch. He of whom the Princess speaks was a pretender, a -runaway novice, so it is said. But historians differ as to this. Some -say that when Boris Godounoff (the Russian Oliver Cromwell) planned to -kill Dimitri, some faithful friends hid the Tzarevitch, and sent him to -the Polish Court, where he was brought up, and that afterwards he came -into Russia with many adherents and an army of several thousands, the -majority of whom were Poles. He reigned less than a year, being killed -during an insurrection, 1595-96. - -[16] Steps before a house. - -[17] “Tarakanova” and “Tarakanovka” have the same meaning, and apply -equally to persons and property, but the latter, being the more playful -term, is used for a child. “Tmoutarakanova,” or “Tmoutarakanovka,” was -a pet name. It is the name of a town opposite Kertch, and of a Prince -whose capital it was. _Tarakan_ means “cockroach.” - -[18] Aloshki was a native of Oukraine, but was brought thence to sing -in the choir of the Imperial chapel. His splendid voice first attracted -the attention of the Empress Elizabeth Petrowna. His handsome figure -and beautiful face did the rest. - -[19] The title given to the chief over all the Cossacks in Little -Russia. - -[20] A pet name. Nearly all family names admit of this suffix. The -Russians have any number of pet names and diminutives. “Aloshki” (p. -44), for instance, is the diminutive for Alexis. - -[21] The Russian version of this nursery tale is rather different to -the English. - -[22] To this day this breed remains unrivalled, and it is called, after -the Count, “Orlovski Rissak.” - -[23] A sheepskin coat with the wool inside. The hide is embroidered -with gaily-coloured silks, and being peculiarly tanned, is very -expensive. - -[24] _Chic._--A diminutive expressive of endearment. - -[25] A species of dove, remarkably short-beaked and short-winged. In -flying they turn over and over. - -[26] There are a hundred different ways of saying Russian names. - -[27] _i.e._ “If you play me false, you forfeit your head.” - -[28] Generally miswritten in English “Leghorn.” - -[29] That, namely, which placed Ekaterina on the throne. - -[30] _i.e._ “What an impatient, impulsive, hot-headed fellow!” Compare -the English idiom, “What a brick!” - -[31] A small Italian coin. - -[32] Members of the higher society in Russia are accustomed -to interlard their conversation with foreign,--especially -French,--phrases. This is not astonishing when we consider what -splendid linguists they are. - -[33] An anachronism of the author. - -[34] An Asiatic dagger. - -[35] His hands and feet were chopped off, and he was then hanged. He -himself had executed hundreds thus. - -[36] German.--“Leave of Absence.” - -[37] _i.e._ “A good-for-nothing hussey.” - -[38] Ekaterina is here referring to a letter of Orloff’s. - -[39] A street in St. Petersburg. - -[40] The général procureur is the highest authority in legal matters. - -[41] A service in honour of our Lord and the Virgin Mary. - -[42] “Docifé” is supposed to have been another daughter of Elizabeth -Petrowna. It is known that she died in the nunnery referred to. - -[43] A Persian coat. - -[44] A fine black silk net as worn in England about the time of George -II. and George III. - -[45] _Entresol_, a suite of apartments between ground and first floor. - -[46] 663 miles. - -[47] A wife, in Russia, always takes her husband’s title, adding only a -feminine suffix. - -[48] In Russia the roofs of all Government buildings and of substantial -houses are made of iron sheets painted dark red or bright green. - -[49] These are always used instead of picks, as the ground here is -sometimes frozen more than a yard deep. - -[50] See Frontispiece. - -[51] The heir-apparent, son of Ekaterina, afterwards ascended the -throne as Pavel I. - -[52] A hooded sledge, lined with furs, and with large fur curtains and -panes of glass let in. It is used for long winter journeys. - -[53] A school in St. Petersburg for the daughters of the nobility, -endowed by Ekaterina II. - -[54] That is, the high road from Kieff. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Princess Tarakanova, by G. P. 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P. Danilevski - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Princess Tarakanova - A Dark Chapter of Russian History - -Author: G. P. Danilevski - -Translator: Ida De Mouchanoff - -Release Date: November 23, 2016 [EBook #53580] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PRINCESS TARAKANOVA *** - - - - -Produced by Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center larger">THE PRINCESS TARAKANOVA</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[ii]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a><br /> -<a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span></p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> - -<p class="caption">THE PRINCESS TARAKANOVA.</p> - -<img src="images/illus1.jpg" width="450" height="600" alt="" /> - -<div class="poetry-container smaller"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"><i>“The only art her guilt to cover,</i></div> -<div class="verse indent1"><i>To hide her shame from every eye,</i></div> -<div class="verse"><i>To give repentance to her lover,</i></div> -<div class="verse indent1"><i>And wring his bosom—is to die.”</i></div> -</div> -</div> - -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p> - -<p class="titlepage larger"><span class="smaller">THE</span><br /> -PRINCESS TARAKANOVA</p> - -<p class="center">A Dark Chapter of Russian History</p> - -<p class="titlepage"><span class="smaller">TRANSLATED FROM THE RUSSIAN<br /> -OF</span><br /> -<span class="larger">G. P. DANILEVSKI</span><br /> -<span class="smaller">BY</span><br /> -IDA DE MOUCHANOFF</p> - -<p class="titlepage">WITH FOUR PORTRAITS</p> - -<p class="titlepage">New York<br /> -MACMILLAN & CO.<br /> -LONDON: SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<table summary="Contents"> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Introduction</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#INTRODUCTION">ix-xxviii</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="3"><a href="#PART_I">Part I.</a><br /><i>DIARY OF LIEUTENANT KONSOV.</i></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr smaller">CHAP.</td> - <td></td> - <td class="tdr smaller">PAGE</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">I.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Tempest-tossed</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">II.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">My Imprisonment</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">6</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">III.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Important News</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">13</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IV.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">I see the Princess</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">21</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">V.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">My Interview with the Princess</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">27</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VI.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Princess asks Me to assist Her</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">33</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">I convey a Letter</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">41</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VIII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">I deliver a Letter</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">50</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IX.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">We will befriend Her</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">60</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">X.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Is the Count a Traitor?</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">66</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XI.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Departure from Rome</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">82</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Princess seeks My Advice</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">89</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XIII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The “Marriage”</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">96</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XIV.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Treachery</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">104</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XV.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Remorse</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">109</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span>XVI.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Bottle cast into the Sea</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">114</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdc" colspan="3"><a href="#PART_II">Part II.</a><br /><i>RAVELIN ALEXEEF.</i></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XVII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Ekaterina at Moscow</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">125</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XVIII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Princess at St. Petersburg</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">129</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XIX.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Historiographer Miller</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">137</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XX.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Miller’s Reply</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">144</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXI.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Orloff and the Princess</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">152</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Orloff’s Interview with the Princess</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">159</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXIII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Orloff at Moscow</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">168</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXIV.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Princess writes to the Empress</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">177</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXV.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Father Peter Andréef</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">183</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXVI.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">The Visitors’ Quest</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI">188</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXVII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">A late Visitor</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII">196</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XVIII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Baptism</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">202</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXIX.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Confession and Absolution</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIX">208</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXX.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">“What if the Captive be Innocent?”</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXX">213</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXXI.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Release</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXI">218</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXXII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">“A Rose and a Myrtle”</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXII">227</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXIII.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Pavel Petrovitch and the Enchanter</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">237</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXXIV.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">A Myrtle Leaf</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXIV">243</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXXV.</td> - <td><span class="smcap">Fifteen Years After</span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXXV">249</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="INTRODUCTION">INTRODUCTION.</h2> - -<p><i>Gregory Petrovitch Danilevski was born at -Danilovki, an estate in the government of Kharkov, -on April 14th, 1829. He died last winter at St. -Petersburg, on December 6th. His childhood over—it -was spent partly on the estate of his grandfather, -near Dontsov, partly on the estate of Petrovski—he -became a student first of the Muscovite Institute -for the nobility, afterwards of the University -of St. Petersburg, leaving the latter, in 1850, as -graduate in jurisprudence. In 1848, during his -studentship, he was presented with a silver medal -at the meeting of the Philological Institute for his -composition on Poushkin and Kriloff.</i></p> - -<p><i>From 1850 to 1857 he served in the ministry of -public instruction, at first under Noroff, afterwards -under Prince Viazimski. During this period he -visited Finland and the Crimea, and worked, by -commission from the Archæological Society, on the -archives of the monasteries of the governments of -Kharkov, Koursk, and Poltava, and, at the suggestion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span> -of the historian Oustrialoff, wrote a description -of the famous battlefield of the last-named place. -In 1856, at the instance of the Imperial admiral, -Constantine Nicolaievitch, he was sent to the south -of Russia to write a description of the Sea of Azov, -the Dnieper, and the Don. In the following year -he resigned his official appointment. Thereafter, -for twelve years, he lived at Petrovski, his own -favourite estate in Kharkov, from time to time, -however, paying visits to Poland, White Russia, -Volhynie, and Podolia, and sailing down the -Volga, Don, and Dnieper. Made in 1859 deputy -of the committee of Kharkov for improving the -condition of the peasantry, he was instructed four -years later, by Golovinin, the minister of public -instruction, to inspect and to report on the condition -of 200 national schools in the government -of Kharkov. During the first three years of the -establishment of the rural police courts he served -by election. Despatched to St. Petersburg in 1868 -as a deputy by the government of Kharkov, he had -the honour of being presented to the emperor. -From 1867 to 1870 he held the post of honorary -justice of the peace. Finally, in 1869, on the -institution of the official organ, “The Government -Herald,” he was appointed senior assistant to the -chief editor. This post he occupied eleven years.</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span></p> - -<p><i>His historical novels have created quite a sensation -in Russia by reason of their originality, their -fascination, and their truthfulness to history and to -nature. Among the more celebrated of his numerous -works, besides the novel of which a translation is here -presented, are “Merovitch” and “Freedom.” As -Danilevski has, hitherto, been unknown in England, -some remarks on his writings will be of interest.</i></p> - -<p><i>With regard to the sad history contained in this -book, it is evident that the author had exceptional -information on the subject of his narrative, for -he is not over-careful to conceal his opinion of -the strong probability of the Princess Tarakanova’s -claims being legitimate as well as <span class="antiqua" lang="fr">bonâ-fide</span>, and -of Orloff’s real character being greatly different -from the popular estimate of it as expressed in -the lines under the count’s portrait. It is not -known how the remarkable diary which constitutes -Part I. of this work came into Danilevski’s hands; -but there is ground for the conjecture that it came -to him, with other papers, from his grandmother. -A curious fact, too, is the circumstance that -Danilevski’s governess was a lady of the name of -Pchelkina. However this may be, my husband, -Colonel de Génie de Mouchanoff, was informed by -Danilevski himself that the diary as published is -almost word for word as written by Konsov, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span> -that the details concerning the subsequent history -of the captive were obtained by him from authentic -official documents.</i></p> - -<p><i>Nevertheless, Danilevski’s view is not the popular -one. Schébalski and Solovieff in dealing with this -subject write as follows:—</i></p> - -<p><i>“When Russia was involved in the war with -Turkey some evil-minded persons availed themselves -of the opportunity to bring forward pretenders to -the throne. They set rumours afloat to the effect -that Elizabeth, after her secret marriage with Count -Razoumovski, had a daughter, and that this child -was she who was known by the name of Princess -Tarakanova.</i></p> - -<p><i>“The adventures of this Pretender form a very -interesting page in Russian history, and have given -rise to many novels and tales. They have now, -however, lost much of their mysterious interest, -thanks to the extracts printed from the procés of -Princess Tarakanova, not long since published in -one of our historical reviews. Still, it is an ascertained -fact that the Princess spent several of the -years of her youth abroad, and that she led a -luxurious though retired life. Very likely the tie -between this person and the Russian Empress may -have been known to political intriguers, and have -suggested to them the idea of using this Pretender<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xiii" id="Page_xiii">[xiii]</a></span> -as an instrument for raising a revolution in Russia. -There is every reason to believe that Prince Radzivill, -the leader of the confederation of Radomski, -educated a young girl with this object in view; but -whether this girl became the future Tarakanova, or -some other person, is to this day, and most probably -will remain eternally, unknown.</i></p> - -<p><i>“What is really ascertained is that a young girl -of very humble origin, a native of Prague or Nuremburg, -endowed with the most marvellous beauty, -clever and enterprising, but of extremely equivocal -conduct, shone from the end of the year 1760 -till the beginning of 1770 at Berlin, London, and -Paris, lavishly spending on her dress and pleasures -the money which she had levied on her admirers. -With every new residence she changed her name. -In Paris she was the “Princess Wladimirskaya,” -a native of Russia, but brought up, it was said, -in Persia, as mischief was feared at the hands of -her enemies in Russia, where, so she alleged, she -had great possessions. We are bound, indeed, to -believe that her charms were extraordinary; for -notwithstanding her conduct, several highly placed -personages, in both France and Germany, sought -her hand. One of these was actually a reigning -Prince of the German Empire. In 1773, the -mysterious adventuress was on the point of accepting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xiv" id="Page_xiv">[xiv]</a></span> -the hand of this prince, but postponed the -matter under pretence of starting for Russia to -arrange her affairs, and then suddenly disappeared. -In the spring of 1774 she turned up at the other -side of Europe—at Venice.</i></p> - -<p><i>“It was then that her political <span class="antiqua" lang="fr">rôle</span> really began. -As early as 1773 she had had relations with -several Poles, who had left their native land shortly -after the conspiracy of Baski, and it is not unlikely -that it was at this time that the programme of -her future actions was arranged. The Princess -Wladimirskaya was to take the name of the “Princess -Tarakanova,” set sail for Constantinople on -a ship which Radzivill had offered to equip, and -there explain to the Sultan her pretensions to the -Russian throne. It was evidently the opinion of -her advisers that her appearance on the Danube at -the very moment when Pougachoff was raising a -rebellion on the Volga would increase the difficulties -of Ekaterina’s position, and would be taken advantage -of by Turkish politicians. As a matter -of fact, in the summer of 1774, the Princess Tarakanova -and Prince Radzivill, accompanied by a -numerous suite, did set sail for Constantinople. -But they stopped at Ragusa, wishing to ascertain -beforehand what kind of reception they were likely -to meet with at the hands of the Sultan. Unfortunately<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xv" id="Page_xv">[xv]</a></span> -for them, great changes had taken place. -The overtures of the Princess were not only declined: -she was even invited to give up all thought -of her visit.</i></p> - -<p><i>“Separated from Radzivill, but not from her -political <span class="antiqua" lang="fr">rôle</span>, the Princess went first to Naples and -then to Rome. At the latter city she tried to bring -to her side all the most influential cardinals, and -even the Pope himself, promising that in the event -of her accession to the throne she would do all in -her power to establish the Catholic faith in Russia.</i></p> - -<p>“<i>During all these <span class="antiqua" lang="fr">péripéties</span> Count Orloff Chesmenski -was, as we all know, in Italy. Of course -he lost no time in writing full particulars concerning -the false Tarakanova to Ekaterina, from whom -he received orders to steal the Pretender, and so -cut off the intrigue at the very outset. Orloff surrounded -the Princess with spies, and, through his -emissaries, tried to inspire her with confidence in -himself. The words of the emissaries seemed very -credible to the Princess. Gregory Orloff was then -in disgrace, and it would be no very unlikely circumstance -if his brother turned into a secret enemy -of the empress, and joined in the intrigue. Orloff -placed boundless credit at her disposition; and by -giving himself out as a man deeply outraged by the -government, persuaded the “Countess Selinski,” as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xvi" id="Page_xvi">[xvi]</a></span> -the Princess then called herself, to come to a <span class="antiqua" lang="fr">rendezvous</span> -with him at Pisa. Here he surrounded -her with all possible homage. Balls and <span class="antiqua" lang="fr">fêtes</span> -succeeded each other in swift succession. He made -believe to fall in with her plans, and eventually -offered her his hand. Nevertheless, he was only -awaiting an opportunity to arrest her, without -causing any scandal. He had not long to wait. -One day the Countess Selinski expressed a wish to -visit the Russian squadron, then stationed at -Livorno. Orloff gave orders for preparations to be -made for a magnificent reception of the countess, -and arranged splendid naval manœuvres. He -himself, with her suite, accompanied her on board -the man-o’-war. The manœuvres began; the cannon -fired; sails were unfurled; the ships sailed -out into the open sea; and the unfortunate Pretender, -at the end of a journey, found herself shut -up in the fortress of Petersburg. Here, it is said, -she languished till 1776, when she was drowned by -the rushing of the waters into her prison. But -this is not true. Historical documents prove that -she died of the same illness from which she was -suffering when she came to Russia, and which, of -course, made rapid strides during her confinement -in the damp dungeon.</i>”</p> - -<p><i>Remarkable as is “The Princess Tarakanova,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xvii" id="Page_xvii">[xvii]</a></span> -it is not regarded in Russia as so fine a work as -“Merovitch.” This work has attracted universal -attention, for it describes one of the most interesting -epochs of Russian history. The mysterious -and melancholy account of the unfortunate prince-martyr, -the victim of troublous times, is all the -more interesting as it is founded on historical -documents. Written with great <span class="antiqua" lang="fr">entrain</span> and truthfulness, -the novel on its publication created quite a -sensation. It originally appeared in 1875, under -the title, “The Imperial Prisoner” but its sale was -prohibited. In 1879 it was again printed, by order -of the emperor.</i></p> - -<p><i>“The whole canvas of the novel,” says Danilevski, -“such as the life and infatuation of Merovitch, the -customs and manners of the period, many details of -the reign of Ekaterina and the attempt of Merovitch, -are taken from the diary and reminiscences of -my great-grandmother, and of my grandmother, who -was <span class="antiqua" lang="de">Fräulein</span> at the court of Peter III. Many -things I took down from the lips of my uncle, the -eldest son of my father’s mother,—a born Rosslavleff, -who, together with Orloff, as every one knows, -played so conspicuous a part in the <span class="antiqua" lang="fr">Coup-d’État</span> -which placed Ekaterina on the throne. But in all -that belongs to history, I have, of course, strictly -adhered to authentic documents from the Imperial<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xviii" id="Page_xviii">[xviii]</a></span> -archives. I have also had access to the archives of -the citadel of Schlusselburg, to the official documents -of the council of Archangel, and I have visited -the celebrated dungeon of the unfortunate Prince -Johann Antonovitch, and the birthplace of -‘Merovitch.’”</i></p> - -<p><i>“Merovitch” is thus a detailed account of the -<span class="antiqua" lang="fr">Coup-d’État</span> which placed Ekaterina on the -throne of Russia, and of the conspiracy and attempt -to put Johann Antonovitch on the throne, which was -his by right.</i></p> - -<p><i>An officer named Merovitch penetrated into the -citadel above referred to, and hoping to surprise the -sentinels and throw them off their guard, read a -proclamation, trusting to be able in the confusion to -facilitate the escape of the unfortunate prince. But -long before strict orders had been given (it is supposed -by Ekaterina) that at the first attempt at escape -on the part of the prince he was to be killed on -the spot. This command was strictly carried out. -When Merovitch entered the prince’s cell, he found -only the dead body of the unfortunate martyr.</i></p> - -<p><i>Ekaterina II. plays so important a part in the -events described in these novels that some particulars -of her life and character may not be out of place.</i></p> - -<p><i>She was born in the year 1729, at Stettin. -Her father, a general in the Prussian service, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xix" id="Page_xix">[xix]</a></span> -the governor of this town, inherited by the death -of his cousin, the Prince of Zerbst, a small principality, -situated on the borders of the Elbe, -between Prussia and Saxony.</i></p> - -<p><i>Her mother came of the house of Holstein. -Princess Sophie Augusta of Anhalt-Zerbst was -therefore distantly related to her future husband. -She came over to Russia in her fourteenth year -with her mother, and was at once instructed in the -Russian faith and tongue. The following year, -1745, having been baptized into the Greek faith -under the name of Ekaterina Alexéevna, she was -united to the heir of the Russian empire.</i></p> - -<p><i>Her husband on his accession to the throne -excited the discontent of the nation by publishing a -great number of ukases, which, although in themselves -most humane and wise, yet, owing to the -uncivilized state of Russia, were in their nature far -too premature. Above all, he outraged the national -feeling by the treaty which he concluded with -Prussia on April 24th, 1762, by which Russia returned -to Prussia all forts, citadels, and towns taken -in the last war. His Imperial Highness wished, -it was said, to give to the world an example of -abnegation and generosity. It was a marvellous -event; but although nations like to see in their -sovereigns high moral qualities, they also desire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xx" id="Page_xx">[xx]</a></span> -that advantages for which they have worked hard -and shed their blood should not be wholly thrown -away. By this one act Peter III. raised the whole -nation against him.</i></p> - -<p><i>Ekaterina, his consort, had won a great many -adherents by her beauty, grace, and accomplishments, -and many true friends among the nobility. -Exceedingly ambitious, she had—with the view, as -we may suppose, of one day ascending the throne—made -herself thoroughly well acquainted with -Russian legislation and European politics; and -being as deeply devoted as her husband was profoundly -indifferent to the Greek Church and its -ceremonies and symbols, and having in this way -established herself in the affections of the Russian -peasantry—so superstitiously reverential to their -Church,—she found it no difficult matter to supplant -her less capable and unpopular partner. He, as is -well known, not only ill-used her, but was unfaithful -to her. Indeed, it was rumoured that the fate of -the unfortunate Princess Eudoxie (who had been -forced to take the veil) was awaiting her. Her -successor was even named—viz., the niece of the -chancellor Vorontzoff, a woman who, as all contemporary -writers say, was not only ugly and deformed, -but also most insignificant and illiterate. Meanwhile, -Ekaterina’s conduct had been wholly irreproachable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxi" id="Page_xxi">[xxi]</a></span> -She was then at Peterhoff, leading a -most retired life, but sometimes meeting her adherents, -especially the two Orloffs, and the Princess Dashkoff.</i></p> - -<p><i>The <span class="antiqua" lang="fr">Coup-d’État</span> was to have taken place on -June 29th, at the patronal <span class="antiqua" lang="fr">fête</span> of the emperor; -but the arrest of Passek, captain of the regiment of -Préobrajenski, together with the order given to the -army to march against Denmark, brought about the -crisis. Rumours had been set afloat that the empress -was in danger. The guards, who were all -devoted to the empress—40 officers and about 10,000 -privates—noisily demanded to be sent to Oranienbaum, -to the defence of their beloved empress. -One of the privates rushed to Captain Passek, -exclaiming that the empress was in danger, that -an ukase ordering her arrest had been issued. -Passek answered that it was all nonsense. The -private, horrified, rushed to another officer, who on -hearing the news, and learning that he had been to -Passek, then on duty, arrested him and led him to -Voyeïkoff. And the latter, in his turn, arrested -Passek, and sent a report to Oranienbaum. Of -course the arrest of Passek threw the whole regiment, -as well as the conspirators in other regiments, -into a panic. It was decided to send Orloff to -Peterhoff to escort the empress to Petersburg.</i></p> - -<p><i>It was six o’clock in the morning when Orloff<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxii" id="Page_xxii">[xxii]</a></span> -reached Peterhoff. He knocked at the empress’s -door, walked in, and very coolly said, “It is time -to get up; all is ready!” “What! how?” exclaimed -Ekaterina. “Passek is arrested” answered -Orloff. Ekaterina asked no more questions, -but, hastily dressing, took her seat inside the carriage. -Orloff sat by the coachman; another officer, -Bibikoff, rode at the door. They made straight for -the barracks of Ismaïloff. The alarm was given. -Soldiers ran out, surrounded the empress, kissing -her hands, her garments, calling her their -“saviour.” Two soldiers led a priest up, and all -crowded to her to take the oath of allegiance. The -empress was invited to take her place in the carriage -again. The priest, with the cross, went on -ahead. Soon they all arrived at the barracks of -Simeon, followed by the two regiments. These -accompanied her to the cathedral of Kazan, where -the Archbishop Dimitri met her. The <span class="antiqua" lang="la">Te Deum</span> -was sung, and Ekaterina Alexéevna was proclaimed -Empress of Russia, and Pavel Petrovitch, her son, -heir to the throne, 28th June, 1762.</i></p> - -<p><i>On leaving the cathedral the empress was driven -to the Winter Palace, where she took up her -residence.</i></p> - -<p><i>Meanwhile, Peter III. was quite ignorant of -these events. At the very time when Ekaterina was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxiii" id="Page_xxiii">[xxiii]</a></span> -being proclaimed empress, he was preparing to -start with a large and brilliant suite for Peterhoff, -where, as had been before decided, his fête was to -be celebrated. An officer, Goodovitch, who had gone -on before, suddenly returned with all haste and -whispered softly to Peter that the empress had left -the palace long ago, and was now nowhere to be -found. The emperor, in a passion, jumped out of -his carriage and walked rapidly to the pavilion -“Mon-Plaisir,” but found nothing save his consort’s -ball-dress, ready for the <span class="antiqua" lang="fr">fête</span>. “Did I not tell you -she was bold enough for anything?” was Peter’s -first exclamation. Originally, it was the intention -of Peter to assert his rights; but the representations -of his friends, the small number of his followers, -and the fervour shown to the new empress, -all combined to shake his resolution, and the same -day he signed his abdication.</i></p> - -<p><i>Seven days later he died in the palace of -Ropshoe—poisoned, as it is supposed.</i></p> - -<p><i>Ekaterina died on November 6th, 1796, at the -age of 67.</i></p> - -<p><i>In estimating the character of this famous woman, -we must not judge her actions as we should those of -a private person. Indeed, in reflecting on the lives -of those who have, it may be said, to answer for -the welfare and prosperity of nations, we should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxiv" id="Page_xxiv">[xxiv]</a></span> -never forget the fact that these high personages -have often, sometimes against their own feelings, -to sacrifice the life of one for the well-being of -thousands. Nor should we fail to take into account -the character of the times in which Ekaterina -ascended the throne. When her reign is compared -with the reigns of those who preceded her, it appears -in any but an unpleasant light. Indeed, it is -impossible not to admire the empress for the -humanity of her laws, and for the example she set to -all her court in frugality, industry, and simplicity.</i></p> - -<p><i>The poet Derjavin wrote an ode in her honour, -in which he contrasted her manner of living with -that of her courtiers. She rose very early, was -always occupied, devoted several hours every day to -new projects, laws, etc., for different institutions, -more often she went on foot than she drove. Her -table was most frugal, although of course she had -every luxury at her command. Cards were all the -rage then, especially the most hazardous game of -“Faro,” which as grand-duchess she had been -made to play at court. But after she ascended the -throne she never played at games of chance again. -She did not care very much for masquerade balls, -only taking part in them on solemn occasions.</i></p> - -<p><i>On her accession she found all legislation, all -administration of justice in most frightful chaos, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxv" id="Page_xxv">[xxv]</a></span> -reduced everything to order. “Of darkness she made -light.” Justice could no longer be bought or sold.</i></p> - -<p><i>She was never proud: to the meanest of her -subjects always easy of access. Nor was she ever -offended at hearing the unvarnished truth—witness -her polemic with Von Viesing. She did not resent -the most bitter criticism.</i></p> - -<p><i>By an ukase she put down a most horrible -institution called Slovo-i-diélo,<a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> which somewhat -resembled the Star Chamber. So strict had the -laws been that people could be brought to the torture -for having whispered at their own tables one to -another; for not having drunk the health of the -reigning Sovereign; for having scratched out the -Imperial name and rewritten it; for having dropped -money on which was stamped the Imperial effigy. -Very differently from one of her predecessors, Anna -Johannovna, she did not exact that her courtiers -should be sitting on baskets in rows along the -rooms through which she had to pass from the -chapel to her own rooms, and cackle like hens. -Nor used she to slap her courtiers’ faces. She -built no ice palace to marry her jester and jestress -in; she allowed none of her favourites to blacken -with soot the faces of the proud old aristocracy, “to -make an empress laugh.” She was the first to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxvi" id="Page_xxvi">[xxvi]</a></span> -teach her subjects self-respect. She wrote an excellent -moral tale for her grandson, in which, admonishing -him to shun flatterers, she told him that -to be invulnerable to slander, “Do no ill, and the -bitterest traducer will stand before the world a -convicted liar.” She abolished torture on reading -the interrogation of Volhynski, a Russian boyar, -brought to torture for supposed treason, and in her -testament she willed that her descendants should -read that piece of conviction to stifle in them any -inclination to cruelty.</i></p> - -<p><i>She was the first to divide the Russian Empire -into provinces, and to give each province self-government. -She opened the first national schools, -cadet-corps, and two splendid half-school, half-convent-like -institutions for the education of the -daughters of the nobility. She promulgated an -ukase allowing landlords to work the mines of gold -and silver found on their own properties, which -before had been strictly forbidden; and made all -the rivers and seas free of access to every one—<span class="antiqua">i.e.</span>, -every one might sail on them, use them for mills, -etc. She tried to encourage weaving, spinning and -sewing, science and commerce, and gave permission -to all her subjects to travel—then an unknown -liberty. It is the boast of Russians that in her -reign no beggars were to be found, owing, no doubt,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxvii" id="Page_xxvii">[xxvii]</a></span> -to her humane laws regarding the serfs. Every -landlord was compelled to keep on his estate, and -to provide for, every serf, whether the serf were -able to work or not. It would, in fact, take too long -to enumerate all the numerous acts of clemency, -justice, and wisdom of this wise, prudent, and far-seeing -empress. If her frailty as a woman calls -for the world’s censure, no one, on reading her -history, can forbear bringing to her feet the tribute -she so well deserves as an empress.</i></p> - -<p><i>In the present translation I have tried to preserve, -as far as possible, the quaintness and -piquancy of the original Russian, but I fear that -in thus endeavouring to produce a faithful copy of -the author’s work I have often sacrificed elegant -and correct English. Only those who know how -terse and vigorous a language the Russian is will -be able to appreciate the translator’s difficulties, -which are greater than those of an author of a new -work, so far as the mere writing of it is concerned. -Whilst it is often impossible to adhere strictly to -the author’s words without producing obscurities, -the use of lengthy phrases and even whole sentences -to express the full sense of the original, means, on -the other hand, the annihilation of the author’s style. -As a rule, translators of Russian works, in their -endeavour to make their renderings readable, only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxviii" id="Page_xxviii">[xxviii]</a></span> -succeed in producing a tale in common-place -English, with a foreign plot, long drawn out, devoid -of colour, and wearisome to read,—barely recognisable -sometimes by those who are conversant with -the original.</i></p> - -<p><i>To assist those who are not familiar with Russia -and Russian history, I have explained various -references in the text by means of footnotes; and to -excite a more lively interest in the characters, I have -included portraits. The frontispiece is a reproduction -of an engraving taken from a celebrated painting -which embodies the popular legend concerning -the Princess Tarakanova’s last hours.<a name="FNanchor_2" id="FNanchor_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> The portraits -of Orloff and Ekaterina are reproduced from -old and rare engravings. Danilevski’s likeness is -from a photograph taken some years ago.</i></p> - -<p><i>In conclusion, conscious of many faults and -oversights in a translation originally not intended -for publication, I have to acknowledge that I am -most indebted to Mr. F. Dillon Woon, of Wallington, -England, for his kind aid and criticism, and -to accord him my best thanks.</i></p> - -<p class="right"><i>IDA DE MOUCHANOFF.</i></p> - -<p><i>Pskov.</i></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxix" id="Page_xxix">[xxix]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 325px;"> -<img src="images/illus2.jpg" width="325" height="500" alt="Danilevski" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xxx" id="Page_xxx">[xxx]</a></span></p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> - -<h1>PRINCESS TARAKANOVA.</h1> - -<h2 id="PART_I">PART I.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>DIARY OF LIEUTENANT KONSOV.</i></span></h2> - -<div class="blockquote"> - -<p>“There can be no doubt she is an adventuress.”—<i>Letter of Ekaterina II.</i></p> - -</div> - -<hr /> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>TEMPEST-TOSSED.</i></span></h3> - -<p class="right"><span class="smcap">May, 1775: Atlantic Ocean</span>,<br /> -Frigate <i>Northern Eagle</i>.</p> - -<p>A storm has been raging for already three days. -We have been so tossed about that it has been -impossible to write. Our frigate, the <i>Northern -Eagle</i>, is not far from Gibraltar. We have lost -our rudder, and our sails are all torn, and now -the current is carrying us south-eastwards. -Where shall we land? what will become of us?</p> - -<p>It is night; the wind has fallen, and the sea -is calmer. I am writing in my cabin. All that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> -I have time to write of what I have seen and -undergone, I will place in a bottle, and cast it -upon the waters; and you who may chance to -find it I entreat, by all that is sacred, to send it -to its address. Ah! all-powerful God, grant me -powers of memory; enlighten my poor soul, so -torn with doubt!</p> - -<p class="tb">I am a sailor, Pavel Konsov, an officer in the -navy of our most gracious Majesty, Empress of -all the Russias, Ekaterina II. Five years ago, -by the mercy of God, I succeeded in distinguishing -myself at the famous battle of Chesma. All -the world knows of our brave companions, -Lieutenant Elien and Lieutenant Klokachov, who, -on the night of the twenty-sixth of June, 1770, -with four fire-ships and a few Grecian boats, -hastily equipped, bravely advanced upon the -Turkish fleet at Chesma, and rendered valuable -assistance in its destruction. I, though so insignificant, -had the good fortune, under cover of the -fire-ships and the dark, to throw with my own -hand, from our ship, <i>January</i>, the first fire-ball -at the enemy. It was this fire-ball which, falling -into and igniting the powder magazine, caused -the explosion near the ship of the Turkish admiral -from which the whole fleet took fire.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> - -<p>Next morning, of over a hundred formidable -men-of-war, some of sixty and some of ninety -guns, frigates, galliots, and <i lang="fr">galères</i>,—not one -remained! On the surface of the waters were -visible only wreckage and numbers of dead -bodies.</p> - -<p>Our victory was sung in odes by the celebrated -poet Heraskov, and several lines were dedicated -to my humble self, until then unknown to the -world. This poem was in every one’s mouth. -The English in the Russian service—for instance, -Mackenzie and Dugdale, who served on one of -the fire-ships—took to themselves the credit for -the greater part of the glory won at the battle -of Chesma. But they did not really much -surpass our own officers and men, who all -distinguished themselves by their courage and -gallantry. After this event I was found worthy -of receiving the rank of lieutenant, and the -Count Alexis Orloff, the hero of Chesma, having -honoured me by his preference, I became his -aide-de-camp. My career was thus, so far, very -fortunate. Life, on the whole, smiled upon me. -But sometimes a fatal destiny pursues man. -Suddenly fortune ceased to favour me, angry -maybe, at my abrupt, albeit forced, departure -from my native land.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> - -<p>Resting on our laurels reaped at Chesma, we -led joyous lives. We received flattering invitations -from the French, Spanish, Venetians, and -men of other nations. All at once, upon me, -the alien, there fell a new, unexpected, and very -terrible temptation.</p> - -<p>The war continued, but Count Orloff, after -many noisy battles, lived in luxurious ease with -the fleet. He was wont to say, “I am as happy -as Enoch, who was taken up to heaven.” But -these were mere words, for, since he had taken -an active part in placing Ekaterina upon the -throne, wild and bold ideas were ever coursing -through his brain.</p> - -<p>Once, when sailing in the Adriatic with the -squadron, he despatched me on a secret mission -to the brave, warlike Montenegros. This was in -the year 1773. The scouts made all arrangements -wisely and adroitly; and at night, taking -with me what I required on shore, I landed -with great caution, and speedily conducted my -business. But on our return voyage we were -sighted and pursued by the Turkish coastguards. -We succeeded in defending ourselves for a considerable -time; but in the end our sailors were -all killed, while I, severely wounded in the -shoulder, lay unconscious at the bottom of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> -boat, where I was found, and whence I was removed, -a prisoner, to Stamboul.</p> - -<p>I was disguised in a national Albanian costume. -Nevertheless, my captors discovered that I belonged -to the Russian navy, and, at first, thinking -no doubt that they would receive a good -ransom for me, paid me great attention. Ah! -thought I, as soon as they find out that their -prisoner is no other than Lieutenant Konsov, -who threw the first fire-ball which caused the -explosion and destruction of their staffship at -Chesma, what will my lot be then?</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>MY IMPRISONMENT.</i></span></h3> - -<p>My imprisonment lasted for about two years, -coming to an end in the year 1775.</p> - -<p>At first I was kept shut up in one of the wings -of a seven-towered castle, but afterwards I was -chained and confined in one of the three hundred -mecheti (mosques) of Stamboul. I don’t know -whether at last, by some means, the Turks -learned that one of their prisoners was Konsov, -or whether, having lost all hopes of a ransom, -they resolved to take advantage of my knowledge -and abilities; but this I know, they tried to convert -me to Mohammedanism.</p> - -<p>The mosque in which I was imprisoned is -situated on the shores of the Bosphorus, and -through my window-grating I could watch the -blue sea and the vessels sailing to and fro. The -mulla who came to visit me was of Sclavonic -origin; he was a Bulgarian from Gabrova. We -therefore understood one another without much<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> -difficulty.<a name="FNanchor_3" id="FNanchor_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> My visitor set to work in a roundabout -way to convert me to the Turkish faith. -He praised the Turkish people, their customs -and morals, and extolled the power and glory -of the Sultan. At first, though very indignant -at all this, I kept silence, but at last I began to -contradict. Thereupon, in order to gain my confidence -in himself and his faith, he obtained as a -first step permission for my removal to a more -comfortable cell, and for my being provided with -better food. Accordingly I was transferred to -the ground floor of the mosque, part of which -the mulla himself inhabited, and was allowed -tobacco and all sorts of sweetmeats and wine. -Still, notwithstanding all this, my chains were -left on me. My teacher (himself a renegade), -according to the law of Mohammed, could not -drink wine, but he enticed and tempted me to. -“Turn Islamist,” he would say, “and then how -happy you will be: your chains will at once fall -off you. And see how many ships there are: you -may enter the Turkish service on one of them, -and in time become one of our captains!”</p> - -<p>I lay on my mat without touching any of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> -tempting viands, and scarcely hearing a word -that my tempter said, for my mind was filled -with thoughts of my native land. I murmured -the names of my friends and of all dear to me, -and pondered over my lost happiness. My heart -was breaking, my soul was torn with uncertainty -and grief. Ah! how well I remember those sad -hours, filled with such sorrowful musings!</p> - -<p>As I now recollect, my thoughts then wandered -to the far-off village, my native Konsovka. I -was an orphan, and already had obtained my -commission. From the training college I had -come straight to the house of my grandmother, -whose name was Agraffena Konsova. Not far -from us, in the town of Baturin, lived Rakitin, -a retired brigadier, a widower, whose estates in -the country adjoined ours. Leff Hieraclieovitch<a name="FNanchor_4" id="FNanchor_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> -had one daughter, Irena Lvovna. To tell all -briefly, what with going to the church of Rakitin, -visiting Irena at her father’s halls, and our -secret meetings and walks together, we fell in -love with one another. My love for Irena was -passionate and unrestrained. With her dusky<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> -skin and luxurious black hair, she was charming. -She was my life, my idol, to whom I offered -prayers night and day. We confessed our love, -and day by day became dearer to each other. -Ah! those moments, those meetings, those vows!</p> - -<p>We began to send each other love letters, full -of passionate avowals of love. I was always -fond of music, and Irena used to play enchantingly -upon the clavichord, and would sing in a -lovely voice pieces from Glück, Bach, and Handel. -We met often. In this way the summer passed. -Ah! dear and never-to-be-forgotten days!</p> - -<p>Unfortunately, one of my letters fell into the -hands of Irena’s father. Was Rakitin too stern -with his daughter, or did he talk her over, and -so persuade her to give me up, to change me for -another?… I know not; it is all too -painful for me even to try to remember.</p> - -<p>It was autumn, and, as I well recollect, a -praznik (holiday); we were preparing for church, -when suddenly we heard a carriage drive -into our yard. A footman in splendid livery -came forward, and placed in my grandmother’s -hands a packet which he had brought for her. -My heart throbbed; my presentiments were fulfilled: -Irena’s father had sent a firm and decided -refusal to my suit.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> - -<div class="blockquote"> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Matushka<a name="FNanchor_5" id="FNanchor_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> Agraffena Vlassovna</span>,—</p> - -<p>“Your Pavel Efstafevitch<a name="FNanchor_6" id="FNanchor_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> is worthy in every -way, but he is not a fit husband for my daughter; -and it is useless for him to send love letters to -her. Let him not be offended; we always were -and always shall be friends. My earnest hope -is that your godson and grandchild may find -another bride, a hundred times more suitable -than my daughter.”</p> - -</div> - -<p>That letter moved me deeply. The light of -heaven seemed extinguished: all that was dearest -to me was lost; all my happiness ruined.</p> - -<p>Proud, rich, and related to the Razoumovskis, -Rakitin mercilessly scorned the poor suitor, who -also was of noble blood; yea, of nobler blood -perhaps than Rakitin’s own. His pride in his -distinguished relatives, who had been favourites -of the late empress, had hardened his heart. -Often had I heard Irena addressed by her father -as the future Fräulein (maid of honour).</p> - -<p>“God forgive him!” I repeated, like one who -had lost his senses, as I strode up and down the -rooms which once I had loved so much, but which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> -now seemed to me so lonely. The day had been -very cloudy, with occasional showers of rain. I -ordered my horse to be saddled, and, in my despair, -rode off to the steppes. I did not draw -rein until I reached the borders of the forest -which surrounded the estate of Rakitin. There -I wandered through the brushwood like a madman. -The wind whistled through the trees and -swept over the bare fields. As night came on, I -fastened my horse to a tree, and, leaving the -forest, made my way through the garden to the -window of Irena’s room. Ah! what I felt at -that moment! I remember, it seemed to me that -I had only to call her, and she would throw herself -into my arms, and we would go together to the -end of the world. Fool that I was! I hoped to -see her, to exchange thoughts with her, to pour -out my heart, so full of bitter pain. “Leave -your father! leave him!” I whispered, gazing in -at her window. “He does not pity you; he does -not love you.” But I pleaded in vain: her window -was dark, and nowhere in all the silent house -could I hear one word or see one sign of life. -On the following night I again went through the -garden, and watched the well-known window, -through which Irena had often given me her -hand or thrown me a letter. Would she not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -look out? would she not give me some message? -One night, after sending her a note, to which I -received no answer, I even determined to kill -myself before her window, and took my pistol in -my hand.</p> - -<p>“But no,” I decided. “Why such a sacrifice? -Perhaps Irena has already bartered me for a -richer suitor. Wait a little; I may find out who -the happy rival is.” Afterwards, but too late, I -learned that Rakitin, after writing his refusal of -me, had carried his daughter off to a distant -property owned by one of his relations, somewhere -on the Oka, and was keeping her there in strict -confinement.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>IMPORTANT NEWS.</i></span></h3> - -<p>My grandmother was not less struck by this -than I. One day, about a week later, calling me -to her, she said: “You have guessed who your -rival is? One distantly related to the Rakitins; -a prince and Kammerherr (gentleman of the -chamber). I have found out, Pavelinka, that -they sent for him on purpose, and that he was -visiting them all the time you were looking for -her, and that it was he who helped them to carry -her off without leaving any trace. Forget her, -<i lang="fr">mon ange</i>, forget Irena; for no doubt she -resembles her father in his pride. Console yourself. -God will send you a better wife.”</p> - -<p>I felt angry and petulant. “My grandmother -is right,” I said; and there and then I determined -to strive to forget everything. If Irena had had -any heart, she would have found some opportunity -of writing me a line and sending it. I remember -especially how one night I found amongst some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> -papers a hymn from “Iphigenia,” one of Glück’s -operas not yet produced in Russia, which I had -obtained with great difficulty from an amateur -musician for Irena, but which I had been unable -to give to her. With tears in my eyes I burnt it. -After long days of sorrowful despair, I decided -to leave my birthplace. The parting with my -grandmother was very touching, for we both felt -that we should never meet again.</p> - -<p class="tb">Agraffena Vlassovna, during her retreat in a -neighbouring convent, took cold, and after a -short illness, died. I was left alone in the world, -like a forgotten blade of grass in a field.</p> - -<p>Having left Konsovka, I wandered for some time -about Moscow, where I made the acquaintance of -Count Orloff. Thence I went to Petersburg, and -tried to get some information concerning the -Rakitins, who were still living on the Oka. -Always hoping to get news of my faithless -Irena, I made many inquiries; but no one could -tell me what I wanted to know. My furlough -was not yet ended; I was free. But what was left -in the world for me? What could I do? What -could I undertake? Meanwhile, from the south, -from over the water, came news that was on -every one’s lips. It was the beginning of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> -Turkish war. A happy idea flashed through my -mind. I applied to the Board of Admiralty, and -begged to be transferred to the squadron then -sailing in Grecian waters. Count Feodor Orloff -helped me very much by giving me a letter of -introduction to Count Alexis, who was at that -time admiral of the fleet in the Mediterranean -Sea. How I came there and what I went through, -it would be useless to relate. Always repeating -the name that once was so dear to me, I threw -myself into every danger. I courted death at -Spezzia, at Navarino, and at Chesma. “Irisha! -Irisha!<a name="FNanchor_7" id="FNanchor_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> what have you done with me! O my -God! put an end to my life!” I cried. But death -did not come. Instead of being killed, I was -taken prisoner soon after the glorious battle of -Chesma, and left in dreary captivity in Stamboul!</p> - -<p class="tb">The mulla who visited me became more and -more friendly, but also more and more persistent. -We met every day, and had long conversations -together. Sometimes he made me very angry, -even mad, I might say; but at other times he -amused me. Then sometimes I would entice him, -for company’s sake, to defy the command of -the prophet, which, perhaps, a minute before he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> -had been teaching me with much fervour, by -taking a glass of wine with me; and would pour -the wine out for him myself. My teacher could -do nothing, of course, but try to please me, and -so very heartily began to partake of the wines of -Kioska, and others which he used to bring me. -Our meetings continued. We talked sometimes -of the Orient, of Russia, and many other things.</p> - -<p>One evening—it must have been about the -middle of the year 1774—at the time when the -Muezzin<a name="FNanchor_8" id="FNanchor_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> from the high tower began the call to -evening prayer, my teacher, with an air of great -mystery, and not without showing some wicked -pleasure, asked me whether I knew that there -had appeared in Italy a very powerful aspirant to -the Russian crown, a dangerous rival to the then -reigning Empress Ekaterina. I was very much -astonished at the news, and for some time was -unable to speak. The mulla again related his -story, and on my asking who the impostor was -he answered, “A secret daughter of the late -Empress Elizabeth Petrowna.” “That is all -nonsense and stupid gossip of your bazaars!”—The -mulla was much offended; his eyes sparkled -with passion. “No, not gossip,” he exclaimed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> -as he took from under his robe a crumpled piece -of one of the newspapers of Utrecht. “You had -best be thinking of what awaits your native -land.”</p> - -<p>My heart, which was beating so loyally for the -great empress then ruling over us, suddenly sank. -I read the newspaper, and became convinced -that the mulla was right. In Paris first, then in -Germany, and afterwards in Venice, a person had -appeared calling herself “Elizabeth, Princess of -all the Russias.” At the time of writing, this -adventuress was preparing to go to the Sultan, -to ask him to aid her with an army then encamped -on the banks of the Danube in enforcing -her claims. The mulla remained with me a little -longer, and then went out, casting a side glance -at me as he left the room. The news which I -had just heard troubled me very much. “How -so?” thought I. “Is it not enough that fate sent -us the horrible insurrection of Pougachoff?” of -which I heard in my prison, “and then the Turks? -Are we now to be troubled with this pretender? -The former burnt and desolated the whole Po-Volga;<a name="FNanchor_9" id="FNanchor_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> -this one wants to disturb the whole of -the south.” I was quite beside myself, and -strode from corner to corner of my cell. In my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -anger, I went up to my window, seized hold of -the grating, and shook it with all my might. I -was ready to tear it with my teeth. “Oh! for -wings! for wings!” I cried to God. I would have -flown to the fleet, told them everything, and -warned Orloff, who was so devoted to the -empress.… My prayers were answered in a -most marvellous manner. Never shall I forget -it, though I live for a century.</p> - -<p>Devising a hundred plans for escape, my first -idea was to prepare some kind of key to loosen -my chains. On an earthenware pot I succeeded -in sharpening part of an old nail (upon which I -used to hang my clothes, and which I had taken -from the wall), and, after much painstaking, -fashioned it into a key. It is impossible to -describe my joy when, for the first night, I took -off my chains and went to bed without them. -Next morning I again fettered myself, and carefully -hid the key in a crevice in the wall. My -plan was this:—after having very quickly -loosened my chains, I would kill the renegade -mulla with them, and run away from the prison -without being seen. But where? Thus I planned; -but God, who holds our hearts in His hand, delivered -me from this sin. The mulla continued -to visit me and to drink the wine, which through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> -his intercession had been provided for me in -abundance. At last my chance came. Having -chosen an evening, I decided upon telling the -mulla that, convinced by his wise teaching, I had -resolved to embrace the Mohammedan faith. He -was transported with delight, and in his joy partook -so heartily of the wine as to become intoxicated -and begin to doze. I kept refilling his -glass. “No,” he repeated continually, “I cannot. -I shall miss the prayers; I shall be denounced.” -But I again filled the glass, and he, blinking at -me knowingly, again emptied it, threw himself -on the floor, and beginning to hum a Bulgarian -song, was soon fast asleep. We were both about -the same height; my beard, which during my -imprisonment had grown very long, only differed -from his by being of a slightly lighter colour.</p> - -<p>“Oh! good God! is it possible,” thought I, with -a thrill of joy, “that this is liberty at last?”</p> - -<p>Drawing the enormous white turban over my -eyes, I devoutly bowed my head, and with silent -footsteps and the rosary in my hand, as if repeating -a prayer, I slowly left the prison, and crossed the -courtyard. The sentinels at the porches and the -gates of the mosque were walking silently backwards -and forwards with their muskets; but as -they did not recognise me I escaped detention.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> -For some time the noise of the street confused -me; I quite lost my senses. But I quickly recovered -myself, and hastening my steps, soon -reached the sea-shore. I signalled to one of the -boatmen, took my place in the first little boat that -approached me, and, bowing still lower, motioned -to the boatman to row me to one of the nearest -ships. It was a foreign one, as I had already -remarked from my windows. I saw now that it -was a French schooner, quite ready to sail, as I -could tell by her flag.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>I SEE THE PRINCESS.</i></span></h3> - -<p>A dark, handsome, spirited Frenchman, the commanding -officer of the schooner, soon showed me -that he was a worthy subject of the nation to -which he belonged. Seeing in me a Russian -sailor, he looked at me, was silent a moment, and -then whispered, “Are you Konsov?”</p> - -<p>“What makes you think so?” I asked, not -without some trepidation.</p> - -<p>“Oh! how glad I should be if it were so!” he -answered, “for we all pity brave Konsov very -much, and constantly ask after him. I should be -very happy to be of any service to him.”</p> - -<p>There was nothing to be done; and I concluded -it was better to reveal myself. The -captain was overjoyed; he conducted me to his -own cabin, and at once promised to pay the boatman; -whom, however, for safety’s sake, he first -ordered to be hoisted on deck with the boat. -The sails were then unfurled, and the anchor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> -weighed. It was night when the schooner set -sail, and by morning we had left Stamboul far -behind us. The mulla must have slept soundly -and long, for we were not pursued. My boatman, -who was sent back from one of the villages we -passed, having received all that had been promised -him, and the mulla’s clothes in which I had escaped -into the bargain, was only too glad to hold -his tongue. The French officers gave me proper -clothing, and generously furnished me with a sum -of money, to which all had subscribed. They -politely offered to put me on board the first -Russian vessel we should meet in the Italian -seas.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, I heard from the captain that the -mysterious Russian Princess was no longer in -Venice, but was now at Ragusa, past which town -we should have to sail. I asked to be put on -shore, but the French officers did all they could -to dissuade me, pointing out the risk I should run -in being again so near the Turks. This counsel -had no effect on me; I insisted on landing.</p> - -<p>After having thanked my generous preservers -(who even refused to take my signature for their -loan), I soon set foot on the shores of the republic -of Ragusa, where I obtained information concerning -the lady who so deeply interested me.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> - -<p>This mysterious Princess had already conquered -the hearts of half the inhabitants of the town. -Much talk was going on. I found a great many -Poles and persons of different nationalities at the -hotel I had chosen, who formed part of the Princess’s -retinue. All these personages fought shy -of me at first, and showed great distrust, but on -learning who I was, and that, in my joy at my -miraculous preservation, I wished to go immediately -on board the squadron of Count Orloff, they -ceased to fear me, and without reserve began to -tell me all about the Princess. They even offered -to procure me an audience, if I wished it. “But -who is she? and where has she lived until now?” -I asked some of her followers.</p> - -<p>“She is the daughter of your late Empress -Elizabeth, by a secret marriage with Count -Razoumovski,” was the answer. “In her childhood -she was carried to the frontiers of Persia, -and has since, under different assumed names, -lived at Kiel, Berlin, London, and many other -places. In Paris she was Dame D’Azov, and in -Germany and here in Ragusa she bears the title -of the Countess of Pinneberg. German princes -and others have wooed her, the French Court -assigned her apartments at their consul’s, and -were quite ready to give her aid and protection.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> - -<p>All this troubled me greatly. “Kiel! Berlin!” -thought I. “Kiel is in Holstein. It played a most -important part in the history of Anna and Elizabeth, -the daughters of Peter the Great. Is it -possible that in Petersburg no importance is -attached to all this? What will be done when all -is known about this aspirant to the throne?”</p> - -<p>The Poles then offered to take me to be presented -to the Countess of Pinneberg. I dressed -myself, trimmed my moustache and beard properly, -and powdered, perfumed, and curled my hair. I -met with every attention at the house of the -Countess. The Hofmarshall, Baron Korf, led -me into the reception room. I looked about me, -and noticed that the walls were tapestried with -blue silk brocade, and that the furniture was -upholstered in pink satin. All at once I heard -steps and a gay voice.</p> - -<p>The Princess Elizabeth entered the room, -surrounded by a brilliant retinue. I learned -afterwards who these were. Her very devoted -friend, the celebrated Prince Radzivill, in a blue -velvet <i>kaftan</i><a name="FNanchor_10" id="FNanchor_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> literally blazing with diamonds; -near him his sister, the beautiful Countess of -Moravia, and the Princess Sangoushko. After -these came Count Pototski, in a beautiful red<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -<i lang="ru">kountouska</i>,<a name="FNanchor_11" id="FNanchor_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> all embroidered with gold. The -count was then at the head of the Polish confederation, -our enemy. Next came the proud and -rich Starosta Pinski, Count Prgezdetski, and near -him stood the influential young confederate, the -famous duellist, Charnomski, with several of -Radzivill’s officers. Pototski and Prgezdetski -wore ribbons and stars. I noticed that the Princess -was dressed in an amazon of yellow silk, -with gold embroidery, and that it was covered -with black gauze; that she wore a small white -hat with black ostrich feathers, and a pink -mantle trimmed with blonde, and that at her belt -were a pair of very small pistolettes of magnificent -workmanship. She held a riding-whip in -her hand, for she was just going to start for a -ride on horseback. The proud Polish magnates -addressed the Princess as “Altesse,” and when -she sat down, remained standing; and in answering -her questions bowed so low that they almost -seemed to be kneeling.</p> - -<p>I must confess that the Princess greatly impressed -me. I saw before me a beauty of the -first order, between twenty-three and twenty-four -years of age, taller than the generality of -people, graceful, slender, with lovely auburn<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> -hair, a very fair skin, beautiful pink cheeks, and -a few freckles, which rather suited her style of -beauty. Her eyes were hazel, very large and -open; one of them rather squinted, and thus gave -her an arch and playful look. But, what was -far more important, as a child, and later on as a -youth, I had often looked upon the portraits of -the late Empress Elizabeth; and now on examining -the Princess closely I was struck by the likeness -to them.</p> - -<p>The Princess noticed my confusion with evident -pleasure. Saying a few gracious words to -me in French, she gave me her hand to kiss, -and having received me with all the ceremony -etiquette exacted, with a look dismissed her -retinue, and motioned me to a chair. We were -alone.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>MY INTERVIEW WITH THE PRINCESS.</i></span></h3> - -<p>After having exchanged a few phrases—we -spoke French, but I noticed that the Princess let -fall many Italian exclamations—we both fell into -a most awkward silence.</p> - -<p>“You are a Russian officer—a sailor?” asked -the Princess.</p> - -<p>“Just so—Your—Serene Highness,” I answered, -hesitating a little, not knowing how to -address her.</p> - -<p>“I know that you have highly distinguished -yourself. Your name made a noise in the world -after Chesma,” she continued; “and to crown all, -you have suffered a long imprisonment.”</p> - -<p>I was greatly agitated, and remained silent; -she also paused. At last she began again, and -even though so many years have elapsed, I seem -to hear that low, charming contralto voice of -hers,—</p> - -<p>“Listen,”—said she. “I am a Russian princess,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> -the daughter of your once beloved empress. It -is true, is it not, that my mother, the daughter -of Peter the Great, was much loved? I, both -by blood and by her testament, am her only -heiress.”</p> - -<p>“Yes. But you know,” I at last ventured to -say, “that there now reigns the no less beloved -Empress Ekaterina the Great.”</p> - -<p>“I know, I know,” interrupted the Princess, -“how all powerful and idolized by her people the -present empress is; and it is not for me—poor, -weak, and abandoned by all, torn from the -Imperial house, and from the land of my birth—to -try to dispute the throne with her. I am the -most devoted of her slaves.”</p> - -<p>“Then what are you seeking? what are you -expecting?” I asked with astonishment.</p> - -<p>“Protection, and that my rights may be respected.”</p> - -<p>“Excuse me,” I returned; “but you must first -prove your birth and your rights.”</p> - -<p>“I have the proofs here,” the Princess replied; -and, hastily rising, she opened the drawer of a -Buhl side-table, with silver incrustations. “Here -is the testament of my grandfather, Peter I., and -this one is my mother’s, Elizabeth’s.”</p> - -<p>The Princess tendered me a French version<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> -of the papers mentioned. I looked them over -hastily.</p> - -<p>“But these are only copies,” said I; “mere -translations.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes; but make your mind easy: the -originals are in safe hands.… How would it -be possible to carry such important documents -about with me; the risk would be too great,” -answered the Princess, turning her head a little -from me. Then she moved to the other side -of the room, where, in heavy gilt frames, hung -two oil paintings: one a remarkably good copy -of the portrait of the late Empress Elizabeth -Petrowna, with a small crown upon her head; -the other that of the Princess now standing -before me.</p> - -<p>“Do you see the likeness?” she said, looking -at me.</p> - -<p>“Well, yes, there is a likeness. I noticed it as -soon as I came in,” I answered. “Allow me to -ask how long ago that portrait was taken?”</p> - -<p>“This very year, at Venice.… The celebrated -Piacetti painted my intended bridegroom’s -portrait, the Prince Radzivill’s, and begged to -be allowed to paint mine at the same time.”</p> - -<p>“Mysterious coincidence!” I exclaimed, with -uncontrollable agitation; “we see things past all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -imagining. The dead rise out of their graves. -There beyond the Volga the Emperor Peter III., -buried in the face of all the nation;<a name="FNanchor_12" id="FNanchor_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> here, unexpected, -undivined, the daughter of the Empress -Elizabeth.”</p> - -<p>“Do not, if you please, confound me with -Pougachoff,” answered the Princess, slightly reddening; -“although he gives himself out as the -Emperor, coins his money with the legend <i lang="la">Redivivus -et Ultor</i> (the risen Avenger), still, as yet, he -is only my lord-lieutenant in that part of the -country.”</p> - -<p>“How so?” I answered, quite astonished. -“Then you also confess that he is an impostor?”</p> - -<p>“Do not ask who he is,” mysteriously answered -the Princess; “afterwards you shall learn all; -the time has not yet come. He has already conquered -many towns—Kasan, Orenburg, Saratov—and -all the shores of the Volga. I know nothing -of his past. Let God be his judge; but I—I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -am really and truly the daughter of the Empress -Elizabeth, and cousin to the Emperor Peter III.”</p> - -<p>“But who was your father?” I ventured to -ask.</p> - -<p>“Is it possible that you do not guess?” she answered, -slightly frowning. “Alexis Razoumovski, -who was married secretly to my mother. My -childhood I passed travelling from one place to -another; but it is quite indistinct even to me. -I remember a retired little village in the South -of Russia, from which I was carried off. They -would, if they could, have effaced from my mind -every remembrance of the past; and to that end -they lavished money upon me and took me -about from place to place. Count Shouvaloff, apparently, -was acquainted with the circumstances. -Not long ago, when travelling in Europe, he -expressed the wish to see me, and we met secretly.”</p> - -<p>“What! you saw the Count Shouvaloff? -Where?” I exclaimed, amazed, as I recollected -that not a few people looked upon him as her -father.</p> - -<p>“I met him at the waters of Spa.… Friends -warned me of that celebrated Russian traveller, -but I could not refuse him. I found him to be -an elderly person, rather stout, and bearing traces<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -of no common beauty. His dress was most -costly. He came to me under an assumed name, -and when speaking with me sorrowfully fixed -his eyes upon me and attentively examined my -features. I could see he was very agitated. I -learned afterwards that he was my late mother’s -favourite, Ivan Shouvaloff. I really cannot tell -why he looked so moved. It is not for me, of -course,—as you may well understand,—to say. -That secret my mother took to her grave, with -many others.”</p> - -<p>The Princess was silent; I also.</p> - -<p>“Whose protection, whose help, do you seek?” -I at last ventured to ask, troubled with so many -impressions.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>THE PRINCESS ASKS ME TO ASSIST HER.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The Princess locked the paper in a casket, put it -away, took up a fan, and again sitting down, -began looking out of the window.</p> - -<p>“Are you willing to help me?” she asked very -seriously, instead of answering my question.</p> - -<p>I knew not what to answer.</p> - -<p>“Are you willing to give me, should I need it, -every help in your power?”</p> - -<p>“But what sort of help?”</p> - -<p>“Well now, you see, should the Empress -Ekaterina be willing to act conscientiously and -without strife peacefully to divide the empire -with me,”—the Princess uttered this very slowly -and distinctly,—“I am ready to agree to anything -in reason. I will give up to her the -north, with Petersburg, all the Baltic provinces, -and all the province of Moscow. I shall retain -for myself the Caucasus—practically all the south—oh! -I love the south—and part of the west.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> -Oh! be quite sure I shall respect a peaceful -division. I shall be quite satisfied with the arrangement. -I shall people my dominions; I shall -arrange all in my own Fatherland. You will -see I am a <i lang="ru">masteritsa</i>.<a name="FNanchor_13" id="FNanchor_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> First of all, of course, -I shall arrange matters in Oukraine and Poland. -Of course you are from Oukraine?” she asked -me suddenly, fixing her eyes on me; “and I -passed my childhood there. In case Ekaterina -should not agree,” continued she, frowning, “of -course, nothing remains for me but to try the -force of arms. I intend going to Constantinople, -to the Sultan. He expects me. I shall lead his -army on to the Balkans, and on the borders of the -Danube shall meet the army of Ekaterina. Then -I will have my revenge. I shall find enough -people willing to help me; all the discontented—for -instance, the commodore of the fleet,—Orloff! -Eh! what do you say to that?”</p> - -<p>“Orloff!” I repeated in amazement.</p> - -<p>“Of course; he himself. You are astonished, -eh?” answered the Princess, fanning herself -and looking me boldly in the face. “Yes; what -do you say to that?”</p> - -<p>“Excuse me, Your Grace, but I cannot help<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> -speaking out my earnest conviction that all this -is but a child’s dream. On what do you found -your hopes of such—excuse me the expression—such -treason from the count?”</p> - -<p>“Treason!”—cried out the Princess, suddenly -reddening; “but, of course, you must be excused. -You were so long a prisoner, there is a great -deal for you to learn”; and she contemptuously -smiled, nervously playing with her fan. “The -power and the influence of the Orloffs have -greatly fallen; their sworn and hidden foes, the -Pânins,<a name="FNanchor_14" id="FNanchor_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> are now in the ascendency. The empress’s -favourite, Gregory Orloff, allow me to tell -you, has been already replaced by another; he, in -his anger, broke off the negotiations begun with -the Sultan, and flew from the banks of the -Danube to Petersburg. But he was not received -at court, but exiled to Revel. Ah! you are -astonished. Well, learn still further. Your -chief, Count Alexis Orloff, his feelings as a -brother insulted, no longer hides his opinions: -he is ripe for revenge; and there is no doubt, -of course, that he can be very useful to me. You -see, what news! I have already sent a letter -to the Count Alexis, and a short manifesto.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> - -<p>“A manifesto! but what about?”</p> - -<p>“If Orloff decides on taking my part, I advise -him then to proclaim my manifesto to the -fleet, take me on board, and stand up for my -rights.”</p> - -<p>“But that is impossible. Excuse me,” I tried -to answer; “your actions are bold, but you have -not reflected enough.”</p> - -<p>“Why do you think so?” asked the Princess, -astonished. “The malcontents are seeking revenge, -the forgotten recompense for their well-known -services. To Orloff alone—and that every -one knows—to him alone Ekaterina owes her -throne.”</p> - -<p>The Princess rose, walked up and down the -room, and at last threw the window open. She -was nearly stifled. She began again explaining -her plan in its smallest details: how she hoped, -with the aid of the fleet, to invade Russia. She -would listen to none of my arguments. It seemed -as if nothing could convince her. It was plainly -visible that this capricious, spoiled, self-willed -woman, whose feelings burst forth like lava -hidden under ashes, thought she could measure -her strength with the most desperate of -men.</p> - -<p>“You doubt; you are astonished,” she exclaimed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -with a nervous tremor. “You ask why -I believe in the success of my enterprise? Is it -possible that you do not know?… Already -many of your countrymen side with me; I am in -correspondence with numbers of them.… -But you—are the first Russian, the first really -worthy man, that I see throwing in your lot with -me.… I shall never forget the fact; it is -specially dear to me.… Believe me, I -shall rise victorious out of every difficulty; -the darkness <em>will</em> clear away.… Is it -possible that you do not know that Russia is torn -asunder by her battles, the pressgang for the -recruits, the fires, the plagues? Is it possible -you do not know that the country is worn out -with her taxations, that on the borders of the -Volga there rages a terrible, bloody insurrection? -Your army is badly clothed, and still worse fed; -… all are discontented, all grumble.… -You are not going to tell me that you, a lieutenant -in the Russian navy, know nothing of -all this? Yes, all the nation will hail me with -delight; the army will meet with joy a Russian-born -princess, Elizabeth II., just as they once -met Ekaterina.”</p> - -<p>I was indignant at her childish and blind confidence -in herself.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Well, let it be so. Do you speak Russian?” -I decided on asking her.</p> - -<p>The Princess blushed. “I do not speak it. I -have, of course, forgotten it, unfortunately,” she -answered, coughing. “In my infancy, when but -three years old, I was taken from Oukraine to -Siberia, where they nearly poisoned me; from -there into Persia, where I was placed with an old -woman in Ispahan, who took me to live in Bagdad, -where a certain M. Fournier taught me French.… -So it would have been rather strange -if I did remember my own language.”</p> - -<p>I still continued sitting, my eyes fixed on the -ground. I could not raise them to her face.</p> - -<p>“And Dimitri Tzarevitch,<a name="FNanchor_15" id="FNanchor_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> whom all Moscow -met so joyfully, did he speak Russian?” asked -the Princess contemptuously. “Besides, what<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> -can languages prove? Children learn and unlearn -everything so easily.”</p> - -<p>“Dimitri spoke with a ‘Little Russian’ accent,” -answered I. “And then, after all, he was but—a -pretender!”</p> - -<p>“Gran Dio!” she exclaimed; and again coughing, -the Princess laughed. “And you’re not -ashamed of repeating those idle tales? Listen to -me, and remember my words.”…</p> - -<p>The Princess threw herself back in her chair. -Bright spots appeared in her cheeks.</p> - -<p>“Dimitri was the real tzarevitch.” She said -this in a voice of conviction. “Yes, the real -tzarevitch. He was saved from the hands of -the assassin Godounoff by the cleverness of those -around him, almost by a miracle, just as I was -saved from the poison they gave me in Siberia. -Ah! you did not know that? Yes, think about -it all a little more. Oh! Signor Konsov, tell -your tales to some one else, but not to me, who -have studied in a strange land the genealogy of -our house. The Shah of Persia offered his hand -and his throne to me, but I refused him; he is -the eternal enemy of Russia.… I <em>shall</em> -be acknowledged. Do you hear? They <em>must</em> -acknowledge me,” said the Princess, with great -dignity.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> - -<p>Striking her knee with her fan, and beginning -again to cough, she continued,—</p> - -<p>“I believe in the star of my destiny, and therefore -I choose you as my ambassador to Count -Orloff. I do not exact a speedy answer. Think -over it, weigh well my words, and then give me -your decision. You, again I repeat, are the first -Russian in an honourable military position whom -I have met abroad. You also have suffered, and -also escaped from prison by a miracle. Who -knows? perhaps Heaven saved you, like many -others, and sent you to me.”</p> - -<p>Having said this, the Princess rose, and, with -a most majestic salute, signified that the audience -was concluded.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>I CONVEY A LETTER.</i></span></h3> - -<p>“What does it all mean? Who is she? What -is she? A pretender, or a Russian grand -duchess?” thought I, as, full of contending -thoughts, I left the room of the Princess, and -with faltering steps passed between the persons -of her suite, who saluted me right and left with -the greatest respect.</p> - -<p>At the <i lang="fr">perron</i><a name="FNanchor_16" id="FNanchor_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> I noticed several carriage-horses, -adorned with velvet and feathers. On entering -the hotel I heard the clattering of horses’ hoofs. -Going to the window, I saw the Princess, surrounded -by her courtiers, riding fearlessly on a -beautiful white horse. The cavalcade flew by on -the road to Ragusa.</p> - -<p>For several days I could not get rid of the -most agitating ideas. I hardly left my room, -walking backwards and forwards, then lying down, -then writing letters, only, however, to tear them -up again, and constantly thinking, “How could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> -I, remembering the oath of allegiance which I -had taken on entering the service? What ought I -to do regarding the proposition of this mysterious -Princess?”</p> - -<p>One day her secretary, Charnomski, came to -pay me a visit. He was a smart, elegantly-dressed -man of about forty. He had once been very rich, -had been a duellist and a Lovelace, had lost all -his fortune at cards and in the affairs of the Confederation. -He had not lost his fine manners, -but was very conceited and insinuating, and—so -rumour said—was serving the Princess because -he was deeply in love with her. The conversation -turned on the Princess. He was eloquent -on the subject of her generosity, her fearlessness, -and, having assured me on oath that all -she had said of her past life was true, again -renewed, in her name, an entreaty that I would -side with her.</p> - -<p>“But whose daughter is she? who was her -father?” I asked, rather drily. “You only speak -in her favour, but there must be proofs. Everything -is so very doubtful.”…</p> - -<p>Charnomski reddened, and was silent several -minutes.</p> - -<p>It seemed to me at that time that this -Princess’s Ganymede curled and pomatumed in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -the last fashion, with his diamond ear-rings, was -rouged.</p> - -<p>“Good heavens! what doubts! Her father—do -you not know it yourself?—was the Count -Alexis Razoumovski,” said this wily diplomatist, -regaining his composure. “But if you desire it, -sir lieutenant, I can give you all the details. -You see, the Empress Elizabeth, after her secret -marriage with the count, had several children——”</p> - -<p>“Oh! all that’s nonsense; no one really knows -anything about it,” I answered.</p> - -<p>“Of course it was a rather delicate affair, and -was kept a great secret,” continued Charnomski. -“You are right, how should every one know? -But I relate all this because I have it from -a true source. What became of the other children, -and whether any are still living, … -is not known.</p> - -<p>“The Princess Elizabeth, when a child of two -years old, was brought to the relations of Razoumovski, -the Cossacks Daragan, to their property -in Oukraine, Daraganovka, which the neighbours, -countrymen of the new <i lang="fr">parvenus</i>, styled, in their -own fashion, “Tarakanovka.” The Dowager -Empress Elizabeth, and after her all the court, -in fun called the child the Princess<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> -Tmoutarakanova.<a name="FNanchor_17" id="FNanchor_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> At first she was not neglected. She -was often inquired after. Everything that she -needed was always sent to her. But afterwards, -especially during her travels, she was lost sight -of, and finally quite forgotten.”</p> - -<p>The word “Tarakanovka” made me shudder -in spite of myself. It sounded to me like a voice -of the past. It reminded me of my far-off childhood, -of our own little manor, Konsovka, and my -late grandmother, Agraffena Vlassovna, who had -known much of the past and present court; of the -wonderful luck which had fallen to the lot of the -shepherd of Lemechevski, who unexpectedly had -become, instead of the singer, Aloshki Razouma,<a name="FNanchor_18" id="FNanchor_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> -a count, and the privately married husband of the -empress; of the accession to the throne of the -new empress; of the attempt of Merovitch, and -of many other events. Through him my grandfather,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> -Irakli Konsov, who was a neighbour of -the Razoumovskis in the village Lemesha, was -loaded with favours, rose in his service, and died -in a very high position.</p> - -<p>I remembered another very hazy circumstance. -I went once with my grandmother to a name’s-sake -day party given by some relations. Our -road lay across a village near Baturin, the residence -of the Hetman<a name="FNanchor_19" id="FNanchor_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> Kiryl Razoumovski. It -was a lovely and calm summer’s evening, and we -were talking together, grandmother and I. From -the open carriage, on both sides of the road, in -the twilight we could see the weeping willows, -and, scattered here and there between them, the -white cottages and windmills, and above the -willows and the cottages the church steeple. -My grandmother, musing quietly, crossed herself, -and then thoughtfully, gently, as if to herself, -all at once pronounced the word “Tarakanchic.”<a name="FNanchor_20" id="FNanchor_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p> - -<p>“What did you say, grandmother?” I asked.</p> - -<p>“Tarakanchic.”</p> - -<p>“What is that?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Well, I will tell you, <i lang="fr">mon ange</i>,” she answered. -“Here, a long time ago, in this same -village, lived a mysterious person—a lovely, -graceful, and fair child, as fair as a lily; but she -did not stay long, and where she disappeared to -no one knows.”</p> - -<p>“But who was it?” asked I.</p> - -<p>“Red Riding Hood,” answered my grandmother, -lowering her voice. “I suppose, as in -the fairy tale, the cruel wolves have eaten poor -Tmoutarakanovka.”<a name="FNanchor_21" id="FNanchor_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p> - -<p>My grandmother after this spoke no more, and -I, believing the wolves had really eaten the child, -forbore to ask any more questions.</p> - -<p>But now I clearly remembered that lovely -green and willowy Tarakanovka and the mysterious -tale of my grandmother. That century was -rich in fairy-like lore, and one might be pardoned -for believing in all sorts of miracles.</p> - -<p>“Well, have you decided, sir?” broke in Charnomski, -seeing that, lost in thought, I was silent.</p> - -<p>“Explain to me just what the Princess expects -of me.”</p> - -<p>“Only one thing, sir lieutenant, only one -thing,” answered the wily envoy, getting up and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -bowing. “To take this letter of the Princess to -Count Orloff; that is the only thing she asks of -you.… Tell the count how and where you -met the Russian Grand Duchess Elizabeth, and -with what impatience she awaits his answer to her -first letter and manifesto. On the result of your -mission depends her further course of action -and her departure for the Sultan’s court.”</p> - -<p>Charnomski took from his breast pocket a -letter, and handed it to me.</p> - -<p>“That is her only request,” he repeated, bowing -again, and insinuatingly looking me in the -face, with a half-look of entreaty in his large -grey eyes.</p> - -<p>After having thought it all over, I felt that I -ought not to refuse, and I took the letter. My -duty as an officer demanded that I should let the -count know everything. He must decide what -should be done; that would be his affair.</p> - -<p>“Very well,” answered I. “I do not know -who your Princess is, but I undertake to deliver -her letter in safety.”</p> - -<p>Having waited some time, I found an opportunity -of sailing to my destination. I presented -myself once more to the Princess, made my -adieux, and left Ragusa. The very same day -the Prince Radzivill gave, in honour of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> -Princess, his fairy-like and long-renowned fête. -For a long time in Europe the newspapers could -talk of nothing else. The extravagant and -generous prince, madly in love with the Princess, -had already been lavishing his wealth upon her, -like an Indian nabob; but this time he surpassed -himself. The fête lasted a long time; the most -precious wines flowed like water. There was -music, cannon were fired in the gardens, and a -beautiful display of fireworks of more than 1,000 -rockets astonished all the town. At the end of -the feast, the knightly lover suddenly announced -that the dances would continue till the morning, -and that at dawn all the revellers, to refresh -themselves, should see a real winter, and should -drive home, not in carriages, but in sleighs. -On the morrow, when the guests came out on -the <i lang="fr">perron</i>, the neighbouring streets were really -quite white, and to all appearance covered with -snow. During the night busy workers had spread -a thick layer of salt over everything, and the -joyous, noisy crowd of <i lang="fr">masques</i>, amidst repeated -salutes of cannon and the shouts of the newly-awakened -citizens, were really driven home to -the musical sound of the sleigh bells.</p> - -<p>I took my departure for Italy, puzzling my -brain with various questions. “Was this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -Princess really the daughter of the Empress -Elizabeth? Did she believe in the truth of what -she said herself, or did she spread these rumours -on purpose?” As far as I could remember the -expression of her face, there appeared from time -to time, especially in her eyes, something it -seemed to me almost impossible to catch—a look -of indecision, mingled with a gleam of hope.</p> - -<p>In taking with me her letter and the particulars -I had learnt, I was prompted by feelings -of duty, as an officer of Her Majesty Ekaterina, -but I was half won over by pity for the Princess -as a lovely and helpless woman.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>I DELIVER A LETTER.</i></span></h3> - -<p>I landed at Ancona. From there I started for -Bologna, which I had heard the commander had -chosen for his headquarters. The Count Alexis -Orloff, although the hero of Chesma, hated the -sea from the bottom of his heart, and having -given over the command of the squadron to his -vice-admiral, the first flag-officer, Vice-Admiral -Samuel Greig, he spent most of his time on land.</p> - -<p>To those beneath him he was ever amiable and -good. He was very fond of simple jokes, and -surrounded as he was by almost Imperial luxury, -was always attentive and easy of access. The -life of the count at Moscow, before the campaign -in the Greek waters, which had covered his name -with glory, had remained graven on my mind. -The Orloffs were no strangers to our family. -My late father in days gone by had been their -companion-in-arms, and I, in going backwards -and forwards from the naval schools to my -birthplace, used very often to spend long holidays -in their Muscovite house. The Count Alexis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> -especially was a favourite of bright Moscow; -the gigantic and splendid figure of Count -Alexana, as all Moscow called him, full of robust -health, his fine Grecian eyes, his gay and careless -manners, his enormous wealth, all tended to -attract to his hospitable halls all that Moscow -could boast of as regards aristocracy, nobility, -and also almost all other classes.</p> - -<p>The house of the Count Alexis, as I well -remember it now, stood not far from the gates -of Moscow, and not far from the “Crimean -Ford,” and very near to his property in the -environs of Moscow, the village Niaskouchnavo -(the “not gloomy” village).</p> - -<p>The Muscovites could admire in the house of -the count the splendid gobelin tapestries on the -walls; the marvellous, graceful Dutch-tile stoves -on gilt pedestals; the magnificent collection of -old arms and armour. His town garden was -ornamented with ponds, lakes, arbours, cascades, -a menagerie, and an aviary. At the princely -gates, in one of the windows of the lodge-keeper’s -cottage, hung a golden cage with a parrot in it, -who would scream at the idlers, “Long live our -little Mother Empress!” At the fabulous feasts -of the Count Alexis, very often under the costly -lemon and orange trees, brought from his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -hothouses, tables would be spread, at which -more than 300 people would sit down. A true -Russian at heart, the count used to like giving -his guests the pleasure of looking on at boxings, -wrestlings, minstrelsies, himself often not disdaining -to take part in them. With his hand he -could bend a horseshoe, tie a poker in a knot, -or catch a bull by the horns and throw him -down; and to these sights he would sometimes -invite all Moscow.</p> - -<p>On one occasion, to have a good laugh at -the rising passion of the fops for <i lang="fr">pince-nez</i> and -spectacles, on the 1st of May he sent on the -public promenade at Sokolnika one of his attendants, -dressed in a riding costume, and leading -amongst the crowd of young dandies a poor, -crippled, and half-blind cur, with great <em>tin</em> spectacles -on his nose, and a card hung round his -neck with the following sentence in large letters, -“And look, he’s only three years old!”</p> - -<p>But it was his splendidly arranged hunting -meets and horse races which made him a centre -of attraction to all classes of society. Not one -horse in all Moscow could be compared to his -“Rissak,”<a name="FNanchor_22" id="FNanchor_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> a mixed breed of Arabian, English,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -and Frisian horses. At the races held in front -of the house at the “Crimean Ford” I can even -now remember how the Count Alexano, in the -winter in his tiny sleighs, and in summer in -his racing <i lang="ru">droskies</i> would lead with his own -hands his spotlessly white horse “Smitanka,” -or her rival, the dapple-grey “Amazonka.” -Crowds would be running after the count when -he, gathering the reins in his hand in his -<i lang="ru">romanovski touloup</i>,<a name="FNanchor_23" id="FNanchor_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> or his damask coat, would -appear at the gates on his snorting, white-maned -beauty, calling out to his three Simeons—to -his first jockey, Sainka the White, to arrange -the bit; to his second, Sainka the Black, to -tighten the stirrups; to his third, Sainka the -Dresdenite, to moisten the horse’s mane with <i lang="ru">kvas</i>.</p> - -<p>The count was also playful in his correspondence. -Who does not know the letter he wrote -to his brother Gregory after the celebrated victory -of Chesma?</p> - -<p>“Sir, my brother, good day! We marched on -the enemy, we went up to him, we caught him, -we felled him, we broke him, we conquered him, -we drowned him, we burnt him, and turned him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> -into ashes. And I, your humble servant, am in -good health.—<span class="smcap">Alexis Orloff.</span>”</p> - -<p>Copies of this letter were in the hands of -every one. A born jester, a reveller, a boxer, this -pleasure-loving count in his young years before -the war had never even dreamt of being a -sailor. Even to take the command of the fleet -in Italy he went by land! He was very much -talked about on the accession of the empress to -the throne; after the battle of Chesma he was -still more talked about; but to a good many -he remained an enigma. At the reviews and -parades, at his own princely <i lang="fr">levées</i>, Count Alexis -always appeared surrounded with great pomp, -covered with gold, diamonds, and orders of all -sorts; but in his walks in Paris he would go out -amongst the elegant and fastidious crowd of -promenaders sometimes with his head unpowdered, -with a little round <i lang="fr">bourgeois</i> hat, -and a coat of the coarsest and commonest grey -cloth. I, of course, like others, could not very -well guess the motives which prompted him to do -all this. Very often even his words would bewilder -you. Yes, he was a man of great mind -and subtle wit. I burned with impatience again -to see him, after so long a separation, although -the commission entrusted to me by the Princess<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> -troubled me very much. Before my departure -from Ragusa I had let the count know -by letter of my escape from the Turks, and also -that I was bringing him news of a very important -person, whom I had discovered by accident and -had met.</p> - -<p>My journey through Italy lasted a long time. I -managed to get a chill on the mountains, fell ill, -and was obliged to stay for some time at the -house of a charitable magnate. At length I -arrived at Bologna. After having rested from -my journey a little, I changed my dress, and, -feeling rather agitated, I approached the beautiful -palace of the count at Bologna. I learnt that the -count was at home, and sent to announce my -presence. After my long imprisonment, I had -every reason to expect a warm welcome and -reward; but I was rather doubtful how the -count would take my audience and conference -with the dangerous and mysterious pretender, -held without the permission of my chief. There -were two sides to the question. If I had been -asked to say conscientiously exactly what I -thought of the Princess, I should have found -it very difficult to give a truthful answer. At -Ragusa I had heard many doubtful things of her -past life, about mysterious ties she had formed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> -But what did her past life matter to any one? -Who knows what ties she might have been induced -to make to escape from her gloomy fate? -And who knows if such ties really existed?</p> - -<p>The count received me directly. I was led -through a long suite of richly-decorated drawing-rooms -and salons, first on the ground-floor and -then upstairs.</p> - -<p>At this time the handsome hero of Chesma, -Count Alexis, was in his thirty-eighth year. Not -only at home, but in a strange land, he loved to -spend his time with doves, being passionately fond -of these birds. On my arrival he was sitting at -the very top of his house, where he ordered the -footman at once to bring me. What a sight met -my eyes! This celebrated man—so clever, so -strong and so stately, before whom all other men -seemed but pigmies—was seated on a common -wooden chair at the dusty little window. Having -run away from the heat, he was seated with only -his shirt on! and was drinking out of a mug -some iced wine, at the same time waving his -handkerchief at a brood of doves, who were -pirouetting about the roof. “Ah! Konchic;<a name="FNanchor_24" id="FNanchor_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> how -are you?” said he, turning for a minute towards -me. “Well, what? run away, eh? Well, congratulate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> -you, old fellow. Sit down. Oh! look -there; are they not a lovely couple? What do you -think of them? Ah! the rascals; there they are -turning and twisting. Ah, <i lang="fr">tourmelins</i><a name="FNanchor_25" id="FNanchor_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> ah!”</p> - -<p>Again he waved his handkerchief, and I, not -finding any chair to sit upon, began looking at -him with curiosity.</p> - -<p>The count in these last years of peace had -grown stouter, his neck was quite like a bull’s, -his shoulders like Jupiter’s or Bacchus’s, his face -quite striking, with its look of health and dauntlessness.</p> - -<p>“Well! what are you staring at?” said he, -standing and looking at me. “I was amusing myself -with birds, while you were sitting with the -Turks. Here they are all clay-coloured and black, -but the tuberous ones, like ours, old fellow, are -few, and not common. Yes, they can take letters -for a longer distance than 100 <i lang="ru">versts</i>. Marvellous! -If we could but breed them in Russia! Well now, -tell me everything about the prison and about -the travels.”</p> - -<p>I began my narration. The count listened to me -at first very inattentively, all the while looking -out of the window, but afterwards he grew more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> -interested; and when I touched upon the subject -of the person whom I had met at Ragusa, and -handed him the letter, the count threw a handful -of seed from a plate at the assembled doves, and -when they all flew off in a crowd up on the roof, -stood up.</p> - -<p>“This news, my dear fellow, is such that we -must talk seriously. Let’s get down from this -mast into the company cabin.” We went downstairs -and afterwards into the garden. The count -on the way had dressed himself, and given orders -that no one was to be received. We walked a -long while backwards and forwards in the -avenues. While I answered his questions I -looked attentively into the expressive and often -dreamy eyes of the count. He listened to me -with very great attention.</p> - -<p>“Ah! art scheming?” said he, all at once; -“why, suppose she is a pretender, an adventuress. -Now explain,” added he, sitting down on a bench. -“Art repeating the words of others or thine -own?”</p> - -<p>I felt confused, and did not quite know what -to answer.</p> - -<p>“All the tales of her past life are so strange,” -said I, “so much like a fairy-tale—Siberia, poison, -escape from Persia, correspondence with all the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> -crowned heads of Europe—that I have conscientiously -acted as a faithful servant of the -empress, looked well about me, as I cannot, I -must say, hide my doubts.…”</p> - -<p>“Agreed,” said the count, “Of course, you -can look at it in two ways; but the most important -fact is that <em>she</em> is known of at St. -Petersburg. They have written to me about her, -speaking of her as a ‘vagabond,’ who has taken -to herself a name and genealogy to which she -has no right.”</p> - -<p>The count was silent for some time.</p> - -<p>“H’m! nice vagabond!” added he, as if to himself. -“Puzzling, of course. Let it be so; I do not -dispute it.… But why have they decided on -exacting her extradition? and, in case it should -be refused, on taking her by force, even if it is -necessary to bombard the citadel of Ragusa? No -one acts like that with a common vagabond. Such -a person you just catch—a stone on the neck and -in the water.”</p> - -<p>I felt as if cold water were running down my -back at these words of the count. I vividly -remember that eventful June day.…</p> - -<p>“Well, what, old man—you see yourself it’s no -vagabond—what do you think about it? No, -straight out with it, hide nothing.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>WE WILL BEFRIEND HER.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The words of the count filled me with astonishment. -Involuntarily I remembered then the -intelligence the Princess had given me of the -fallen favours of the Orloffs, of the exile of the -late favourite to Revel, and of the rising fortunes -of their enemies. Was it grief, was it passion -which blinded the count? or did he really -believe in the descent of the Princess? I really -did not know, but I could clearly see that he was -not throwing his words to the winds, and that a -great struggle was taking place in his heart.</p> - -<p>“Excuse my impertinence, Your Grace,” said -I impatiently, “but if you bid me, I’ll hide -nothing from you. The person I saw, I must -say, resembles very much the late Empress Elizabeth. -Who does not know the portrait of that -empress? The same imposing profile, the white, -delicate complexion, the same dark arched eyebrows, -the same majestic figure, and, more important -than all,—the same eyes. I cannot help<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -relating to you what my late grandmother in -Oukraine told me about the relatives of the -Razoumovskis.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! bah! But yourself, Konsov—you are -from Baturin!” excitedly said the count. “Well, -well, and what did your grandmother tell you?”</p> - -<p>I told him all I knew about Daraganovka, and -about the mysterious child who had once lived -there.</p> - -<p>“Ah! that’s where this Tarakanovka comes -from,” said the count. “True! true! Yes! yes! -I remember now I heard something about a -Tmoutarakanski<a name="FNanchor_26" id="FNanchor_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> princess.”</p> - -<p>He rose from the bench. I could see that he -was very much agitated. Crossing his hands -behind his back, and with his head hanging down, -he began walking backwards and forwards on the -garden path. I respectfully followed him at a -little distance.</p> - -<p>“Konsov, you are now no longer a boy!” said -Alexis Gregorevitch, turning his keen eagle eyes -upon me. “This is a most important State affair. -Be careful, not only of your actions and your -words, but even of your very thoughts. Can you -swear to be silent on everything?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Your Grace, I give you my oath.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, listen, and—remember—you answer -me with your head.”<a name="FNanchor_27" id="FNanchor_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a></p> - -<p>The count stopped, and his thoughtful gaze -seemed to pierce my very soul; then he added, -“Don’t forget; you know me of old—your -head!…”</p> - -<p>We crossed the garden, and sat on an isolated -bench.</p> - -<p>“Of course it will not be very difficult to catch -this calumniated person,” said the count; “you’re -obliged to do a great deal sometimes, when you -are ordered to do it. But would it be honest -now? What do you think about it?—Mysteriously—deceitfully? -Ah! and especially with -a woman.—It would be a pity now, wouldn’t it?”</p> - -<p>“Of course it would,” answered I, in my simplicity; -“of course we must conquer our enemies; -but then openly—otherwise everybody will have -the right to call us traitors, soul-killers.”</p> - -<p>At this minute the eyes of the count twinkled -very curiously. He closed them quickly, as -though something had blown into them.</p> - -<p>“Of course, of course, old man, it would be -mean.… You and I are not executioners,” -said he. “Of course they wouldn’t write from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> -Petersburg for nothing; and then, who knows -what they think about us there? But there now, -I’ll be open. I received two secret envoys from -over there, tempting and inducing me to turn -traitor.… Could I expect such a thing? -Isn’t it an insult, after all my long years of faithful -devotion? Ah! what think you of that?”</p> - -<p>The frankness of the count struck me with -astonishment, and flattered my vanity. “What -a lot falls to the great of this earth!” thought I -and from the bottom of my heart I pitied the -count, whose fallen greatness I knew already.</p> - -<p>Alexis Gregorevitch put several questions to -me about the Princess and her <i lang="fr">entourage</i>, told -me he would employ me as adjutant, and dismissed -me with the order to go to Bologna and -await his commands. I thanked him for his -attention, and took my leave.</p> - -<p>The next day the count left for Livorno<a name="FNanchor_28" id="FNanchor_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> to visit -his squadron, and remained away a whole week. -As I was without any money and in great want -of everything, it was not very pleasant for me. I -had no one to write to in Russia. Several more -days passed. At last I was summoned.</p> - -<p>The count received me in his study.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Can you guess, Konsov, what I’ve to tell -you?” he asked me, arranging some papers.</p> - -<p>“How can I guess the thoughts of Your -Grace?”</p> - -<p>“Here’s a note. Go to the purser, get some -money, pay your debts. Send the money to those -French creditors. You’ve ruined yourself in the -service. To-morrow you go to Rome.”</p> - -<p>I bowed, and awaited further orders.</p> - -<p>“Do you know why?” asked the count.</p> - -<p>“I cannot guess.”</p> - -<p>“Whilst you wandered about and were ill, -this mysterious Princess, deserted by the volatile -Radzivill,” said the count, “left Ragusa. At first, -with a Neapolitan passport, she went to Barletta, -lived there some time. Now she has appeared in -Rome as a Polish lady. Do you understand?”</p> - -<p>I again bowed.</p> - -<p>“Well, now,” continued the count, “I am very -culpable in her eyes. I have not answered her -two letters. But how could I, surrounded by all -these spies? Answer? I tried once or twice to -send her a faithful emissary, one of your own -companions-at-arms, but she would not receive -him. I pity that poor, young deserted thing, so -inexperienced and without any means. You’ll -be able to see her and begin the negotiations. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> -have invited her here; at Rome, I have heard, -there are several Russians. Try and get to know -everything that’s going on; but, first of all, shield -her from all enemies and all foreign influence. -Let her believe in us alone. We will befriend her. -About your own conscience, be easy; all shall be -done in all mercy and according to the laws of -justice.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>IS THE COUNT A TRAITOR?</i></span></h3> - -<p>I was overwhelmed; I was wonderstruck.</p> - -<p>“Is it possible the count can be a traitor?” -The thought flew like lightning through my brain. -Impossible. Celebrated patriot, celebrated hero -of the <i lang="fr">Coup d’État</i>,<a name="FNanchor_29" id="FNanchor_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> right hand of Ekaterina? -Such thoughts would be unworthy. But what in -the world is he plotting? Agitated by different -doubts, suddenly a bold and almost insolent plan -came into my head—that of learning the most -secret designs of the count. It is true that in -these last few days a rumour had been circulated -to the effect that from the north had been received -a secret <i lang="ru">ukase</i>, that the count, for whom the -deepest regret was felt, had been recalled, and -the command of the fleet given to another.</p> - -<p>“Excuse me, Your Grace,” said I to the count; -“to-morrow I start for Rome. You have confided -to me a mission of the highest importance. In -case the Princess should agree to your conditions,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -and should accept your invitation, what will be -the result of it all, if I may presume to ask you?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! what a fireship!<a name="FNanchor_30" id="FNanchor_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> what a leech!” said -Alexis Gregorevitch, with a curl of his lip. -“Yes, and you sailors are all like that. Take -out everything, and spread it on the table. But -we diplomâts do not care for useless prattle. -Live, and then you’ll know. This affair will show -itself. But I am the true and faithful servant -of our Empress Ekaterina Alexéevna.”</p> - -<p>“Be generous, and forgive me, count,” said -I. “You have confided to me, not a naval -mission, but a diplomatic one. It has never -happened to me before, and therefore I am very -doubtful.… And should this person assert -her rights?”</p> - -<p>“Well, that’s just what I’m thinking about. -It might easily be that she is a branch of the -Imperial family. In her veins flows perhaps the -blood of our mother Elizabeth. We must be ready -for anything. Do all you can, Konsov; your -services shall not be forgotten. But don’t forget -one thing. You must help the Princess with -money, as she is a woman. You must take her out -of her humiliating position.… Who knows?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> -perhaps to her Imperial Majesty it will not be -disagreeable. Our reigning sovereign has a -heart. Oh! sometimes it is a stone.… Who -knows? perhaps in time it may be softer.”</p> - -<p>The count astonished me more than ever.</p> - -<p>“Well,” thought I to myself, “what an honour -for me to have won the confidence of such an -exalted personage! All is clear now. The -count is no traitor. Although his ambition, perhaps, -led him to murmur, still.—The favour of -the Orloffs is fallen, and it’s evident the count -wishes to persuade the Princess to give up her -rights.”</p> - -<p>The whole plan, explained to me by the count, -became quite clear. Having prepared everything -for my journey, I took my departure, with the -most faithful resolution to fulfil the mission which -had been confided to me.</p> - -<p class="tb">It was in the month of February, 1775, not -so very long ago for me to have suffered and -experienced so much. Having reached Rome, I -made inquiries about the emissary of the count -who had reached Rome before me. He was a -lieutenant of our own squadron, and, as some -said, a Greek. To me it seemed more likely -that he, Ivan Moisaevitch Christianok by name,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -was half German and half Jew. I handed over -to him the papers that had been confided to -my care, and began questioning him about our -mutual mission. As black as a beetle, small of -stature, restless—in fact, a most repulsive man—Christianok -smiled continually, spoke always in -a most insinuating voice, and seemed, with his -shifting glance, to dive at once into one’s soul -and one’s pocket.</p> - -<p>I learnt from Christianok that the Princess had -taken a few rooms in Rome, on the first floor of -the house of Juani, on the Champs de Mars. -She lived there in the greatest retirement and in -great want. She paid for her apartment fifty -<i lang="fr">sequins</i> a month, and kept only three servants. -She only went out to go to church, and, excepting -one friend, a Jesuit <i lang="fr">abbé</i>, and the doctor who -attended her, she saw no one. The emissary of -the count, Christianok, disguised as a beggar, -lounged about the house of Juani for more than -a fortnight, trying in vain to get a glimpse of its -fair inhabitant. But he was mistrusted by every -one, and, notwithstanding all his efforts, his entreaties -to the servants, no one would let him in. -He took me to the Champs de Mars.</p> - -<p>The house of Juani was very solitary; it was -built quite apart, between a yard and a not very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -large but very shady garden. I went up to the -door and raised the knocker. First I saw at the -window, which was framed in creeping vines, the -maid of the Princess, daughter of a Prussian -captain, Francis Mecèdès, and after her the -secretary of the Princess, whom I had seen at -Ragusa, Charnomski.</p> - -<p>“From whom?” asked the latter timidly, -looking at me from behind the half-open door.</p> - -<p>I hardly knew him again. Where was his -<i lang="fr">aplomb</i>—his foppery? where had it disappeared? -His clothes were half worn out, his hair was -uncurled, there was no rouge on his cheeks, -and he wore only the commonest and cheapest -of ear-rings!</p> - -<p>“From Count Orloff,” answered I.</p> - -<p>“Have you a letter?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; but let me in.”</p> - -<p>“Have you a letter?” repeated the secretary, -already taking an insolent and bragging tone.</p> - -<p>“Yes, in the writing of the count himself,” -answered I, handing him the letter.</p> - -<p>Charnomski tore it out of my hands, glanced -at the German superscription, and, quite bewildered, -slowly retreated, and disappeared. -After a few minutes the door was quickly opened, -and I was let in.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Ah! <i lang="fr">mille pardons!</i>” said Charnomski, bowing -very low; “now just fancy, I didn’t know -you again in your uniform, you are so changed. -Welcome, thrice welcome, long-expected and -wished-for guest!”</p> - -<p>He turned and twisted and smirked so much -that I could not help at once pitying and laughing -at him.</p> - -<p>The Princess received me in a very small room, -the windows looking out on to the silent and -deserted garden. There were now no splendid -damask walls, no gilt furniture, no bronze—in -one word, not one of the luxuries which there -had been at Ragusa. She herself, the Grand-duchess -Elizabeth Tarakanova, Princess Wladimirskaya, -Dame D’Azow—she who had captivated -the Shah of Persia and German princes—was now -lying ill on a leathern sofa, a blue velvet mantilla -thrown over her, and her feet encased in fur -slippers. The room was cold and damp. A log -of wood was flickering dimly in the fireplace, -shedding no warmth anywhere. I did not recognise -the Princess. Her thin and wan face, -with the hectic flush in each cheek, seemed more -lovely than ever. Her eyes smiled, but they -were not the same; they reminded me of the -eyes of a beautiful wild fawn, mortally wounded,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -escaping the chase, but feeling that her end is -near.</p> - -<p>“Ah! you are come at last!” said she timidly, -smiling. “You have brought the answer to my -letter from the count.… I have read it.… -Thank you.… What have you to -tell me?”</p> - -<p>“The count is your most obedient servant,” -answered I, repeating the words that had been -said to me. “He is quite at your service and at -your feet.”</p> - -<p>The Princess rose. Arranging her beautiful -fair wavy hair, which she wore without powder, -she put out her hand with a timid, friendly -gesture. I ventured to raise it to my lips.</p> - -<p>“Here all, excepting two persons, have deserted -me,” said she; but her strong convulsive cough -interrupted her. She put a handkerchief to her -lips,—“and then, added to that, I fell ill;—but -all that’s nonsense,—it’s not worth speaking about. -But do you know now that I’m quite without any -means? The Prince Radzivill, his friends, the -French people who helped me, have all deserted -me, have all hidden themselves,—and all that -happened so unexpectedly,—so quickly.… -Hardly was peace signed with Turkey when my -<i lang="fr">complaisant</i> Polish magnates one and all threw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> -me off. Never mind; I’ll pay them out for that -some day. But now, … I must tell you -openly,” added she, smiling, “I am quite, yes, <em>quite</em>, -without money. I have not one single <i lang="ru">baioch</i><a name="FNanchor_31" id="FNanchor_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a>—I’ve -nothing to pay the doctor, or to procure -provisions, with. My creditors give me no peace: -threaten me with the police. It’s awful; I’ve -nothing left to live upon.…”</p> - -<p>Having said this, the Princess began again -to cough most awfully, and fixed upon me her -supplicating, bewildered glance;—of her former -confidence not a trace remained.</p> - -<p>“Your Highness,” said I, fulfilling my instructions, -“the count has sent you this small -sum. How much there is here I know not, -but the count offers it to you with all his -heart.”</p> - -<p>I handed to the Princess a small packet, -sealed with the count’s crest, and containing a -cheque on a Roman banker, Jenkins. She read -the paper, passed her hands over her eyes, -looked me in the face, and again began coughing.</p> - -<p>“Is it possible?” she exclaimed, with a happy -smile, pressing the paper to her heart; “it is true -then—it is not a hoax?”</p> - -<p>“Such exalted and important personages as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -His Grace the Count Orloff never joke on such -subjects,” answered I.</p> - -<p>The Princess all of a sudden jumped up from -the sofa, clapped her hands like a child, and with -tears and smiles threw her arms round my neck, -screamed out something I could not make out, -and ran out of the room.</p> - -<p>From there I could hear her scream, “Unlimited -credit!” and then, all at once, I could -hear her hysterical sobs. The servants began -running to and fro; Charnomski, pale and agitated, -came into the room.</p> - -<p>“Her Highness is so grateful to you,” said he, -pressing my hand with emotion. “You are the -first to help her, the first who has kept his word. -It is so rare now: the Princess had every reason -to hesitate; she has been so often deceived. -Yes, my countrymen enticed her here, and then -deserted her.… The count invites her to -come to Bologna. Whether she will consent or -not, I do not know; but we must hope that she -will decide to accept the invitation of the count. -She is fearless, enterprising, as brave as a -chevalier; and to reach the aim so dear to her -heart, believe me, she will fear nothing.”</p> - -<p>“May I let the count know this?” I asked.</p> - -<p>“Wait a short time—in her position—and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> -then, as you see, ill,” answered Charnomski; -“pass again in two or three days, we will let -you know. <i lang="fr">En attendant</i>,<a name="FNanchor_32" id="FNanchor_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> keep all secret.”</p> - -<p>“But there are other Russians here,” I answered, -“who see the Princess. They may injure -her. Who are they?”</p> - -<p>Charnomski flushed to the very roots of his -hair, looked embarrassed, gave me a side-long -glance, and answered that he knew nothing about -that.</p> - -<p>I took my departure. Several days passed, -but still I knew nothing of the Princess. We -took it by turns, Christianok and I, to watch the -house from one of the neighbouring restaurants, -noticing who went in and out, and awaiting further -events.</p> - -<p>For the first two or three days all in the house -was as quiet and solitary as usual. The doctor -came several times, then a woman dressed all in -black, covered with a long black veil, to all -appearance a nun. She always used to remain -a considerable time with the Princess. One -evening a servant of the house brought up to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> -the <i lang="fr">perron</i> a very handsome hired carriage; a -woman wrapped in a blue velvet mantilla came -out with tottering steps, and took a seat in the -carriage.</p> - -<p>“The Princess!” said I, to Christianok. “We -must follow and find out where she goes.”</p> - -<p>We called a cab,<a name="FNanchor_33" id="FNanchor_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> and followed her. The carriage, -its blinds drawn down, rapidly passed -through several streets, bowled out into the -Corso, and drew up at the door of the banker -Jenkins. All was clear now; the magical key, -the count’s cheque, had opened the door to the -confiding and fearless beauty.</p> - -<p>Another week passed, and still no news of the -Princess. I had caught cold, and was obliged -to keep indoors, but Christianok, who alone now -watched the house, told me with great indignation -that we had been made fools of, and nothing else; -the Princess did not even think of going to -Bologna. She had, as the emissary learnt, paid -all her debts; the creditors and the police, who -had threatened her with arrest, had been tranquillized, -and had therefore left her at peace.</p> - -<p>The house of Juani had wonderfully altered. -Before the <i lang="fr">perron</i> all day and late at night stood -a whole crowd of carriages. The retinue of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> -Princess had again increased; she had taken the -two floors of the vast house of Juani, and had -ordered herself splendid toilettes. Again, as -before, she was to be seen constantly driving -out, visiting museums, galleries, paying and receiving -visits: she kept open house.</p> - -<p>At this very time Rome was especially lively; -the new Pope was to be chosen in place of the -late Clement XIV. In the evening the salons of -the Princess were filled with the most celebrated -painters, musicians, <i lang="fr">littérateurs</i>, and high clergy. -The “Unknown” in the black dress had not -been seen for a long time. Once I had met her -at the door of the house of Juani. On seeing me, -she turned away impatiently, and, did I dream -it?—said something in Russian. I just caught -a glimpse of golden hair streaked with grey, and -the angry flash of splendid grey eyes. The -windows of the Princess were often open, and -through them were heard the strains of the harp, -on which she played artistically. A whole crowd -of loiterers and beggars, always expecting her -generous gratuities, surrounded the house from -morning to night, and we could often hear them -noisily applauding the splendid cavalcades of the -Princess. I had quite recovered now, and could -see for myself the Princess, as before, heedless,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> -gay, now riding a spirited charger, flying like -the wind along the squares, in the streets, now -driving in an open carriage; always merry, -always laughing. Involuntarily I felt glad for -her, poor young thing, having, through me, because -of her sex, found help and support in her -dark days. One thing alone vexed me. Christianok, -who had been given to me as an assistant, -began to hint at the possible want of candour of -the count towards me. Rome began to talk of -the lovely Princess, just as Venice had talked, and -even—though in the last days so bitter against -her—Ragusa. Christianok, somehow or other, -learnt that the banker Jenkins had paid her in -the name of the count 10,000 ducats. The revived -beauty spent the money she received with -a lavish hand, never thinking that some day it -would come to an end. I was once invited to -one of her <i lang="fr">soirées</i>; the Princess seemed a radiant -sun among surrounding stars. She played on the -harp with such feeling, that I was deeply moved. -Of her departure, however, she said nothing. -She merely remarked once, <i lang="fr">en passant</i>, “Be -easy; it will be all right.”</p> - -<p>At the end of a few days, on the advice of -Christianok, I wrote her a letter, reminding her -of the count. The answer was very long in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> -coming. We were lost in conjectures. At last -I received a note from her, inviting me to meet -her in the Church of Santa Maria dell’ Angela.</p> - -<p>It was evening. I went silently into the dim -church, which was filled with the odour of incense. -Here and there flickered a taper before -the picture of some saint. A mysterious silence -seemed to fill the deserted obscurity of the -columns and <i lang="fr">prie-dieux</i>. In the loneliest corner, -behind a high <i lang="fr">prie-dieu</i>, with a prayer-book in -one hand, stood, wrapped in a very elegant mantilla, -a tall slender figure, veiled—I recognised -the Princess.</p> - -<p>“The wish for the welfare and happiness of -my fatherland, and future subjects,” said she, -bending her head over her prayer-book, “is so -strong in me that I have decided to accept the -invitation of the count. Before, he frightened -me; I did not believe him. Now I have full -confidence. You see, I have kept my word. To -all my friends I have said that I am bidding -adieu to the world; that for the rest of my life -I am shutting myself up in a nunnery.—To you -I will say something else.…”</p> - -<p>She lingered, as though gathering strength.</p> - -<p>“To-morrow I take my departure,” said she, -in a dignified voice; “not for a convent, but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> -with you for the Count Orloff’s. You will not -deceive me; you will not betray me?”</p> - -<p>I silently bowed. What could I answer? I, -the faithful subject of her Imperial Majesty. -The eyes of the Princess were filled with exultation—with -hopes. She knew no doubts, no -distrust. Before me stood a woman deeply convinced. -Pity for her involuntarily stole over me.</p> - -<p>“And so till to-morrow, and then, <i lang="fr">en route</i>.…”</p> - -<p>“Well, thank God, at last,” thought I, “the -count will now be able to convince her; he’ll -arrange matters for her.”</p> - -<p>She shook me warmly by the hand; seemed -as though she wished to add something, then -rapidly disappeared. I also directed my steps -to the church porch. As I approached the vessel -of holy water, a woman standing there stepped -forward and stood in front of me. I recognised -the person in black whom I had seen entering -the house of Juani.</p> - -<p>“Konsov,” said she, in an indignant whisper -in Russian, pushing me aside behind one of the -columns; “you—you are a traitor.”</p> - -<p>“How dare you say that? Who are you?” -asked I. “If you are Russian, tell me your -name?”</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 420px;"> - -<p class="caption">THE COUNT ALEXIS ORLOFF.</p> - -<img src="images/illus3.jpg" width="420" height="600" alt="" /> - -<div class="poetry-container smaller"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"><i>“He was neither revengeful,</i></div> -<div class="verse indent1"><i>Nor proud, wicked and deceitful.</i></div> -<div class="verse"><i>He was beloved by the Nation,</i></div> -<div class="verse indent1"><i>To the Empress true.”</i></div> -</div> -</div> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> - -<p>“My name’s nothing to you. You are in a -conspiracy against her; … you have persuaded -her to go; … you have enticed her -into a trap”;—whispered, with agitation, the -Unknown, gripping my hand. “Swear! … -or you are a monster; just such a ruffian as -those who got others to ruin another innocent—in -Schlusselburg!…”</p> - -<p>I remembered my grandmother had told me -about the bloody drama of Merovitch.</p> - -<p>“Fear nothing,” said I; “before you, you see -an honest officer.… I am only fulfilling -my duty, and am convinced that only a better -future awaits the Princess.”</p> - -<p>The Unknown raised her hand, and silently -pointed to the image of the Virgin Mary.</p> - -<p>“I can only repeat what I have already said,” -I whispered. “The Princess is safe, and a more -happy fate awaits her.”</p> - -<p>She shook my hand, bowed, and silently left -the church.</p> - -<p>I followed her as far as I could with my eyes, -trying to guess who she was, and why she took -so profound an interest in the Princess.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>THE DEPARTURE FROM ROME.</i></span></h3> - -<p>It was the 12th of February. The day was very -cold and northern-like, but withal very bright. -The Princess, her suite and servants, took their -seats in several carriages. At the Church of San -Carlo she distributed rich alms to the poor, and -then, followed by a whole crowd of artists and -nobles, and amidst the cries and shouts of the -populace, who ran after her, waving hats and -caps, she left Rome. At the town gates, she -signed her name in the books as Countess Selinski. -She took the Florentine route.</p> - -<p>I galloped in front, while Christianok followed -closely behind her.</p> - -<p>On the 16th of February the Princess arrived -at Bologna. The count was not in town; he was -awaiting her in his more retired palace of Pisa.</p> - -<p>The noisy train and crowd of servants following -the Princess, and amounting to several dozens -of people, exceedingly astonished the count. However,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> -he received his visitor very respectfully and -cordially, appointed her a splendid apartment, not -far from his own, surrounded her with every -comfort possible, and at all times conducted himself -as a most faithful subject, never even, before -strangers, sitting down in her presence. Strange -things began to happen. What the count said -to the Princess, what negotiations passed between -them, no one of course knew. We could only -surmise—as we did very soon—that a most -hazardous game of love was being played. And, -indeed, the Princess soon afterwards removed -from her own apartment to that of the count, -while her retinue and servants remained where -they were. Christianok, ever since the arrival -of the Princess, constantly tried to put me in the -shade. He exalted his own services, as though -the whole success of the plot was due to him -alone. Of course my pride would only allow -me to look upon all this with contempt. The -count could see for himself that it was to my influence -alone that he owed the arrival of the -Princess.</p> - -<p>Rumours began to circulate that Alexis Gregorevitch -had made the Princess many presents; -that among other things he had given her his -own miniature, painted on ivory and encircled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> -with precious stones; that for her he had, even -from the very first, deserted his much beloved -favourite, the lovely and amiable wife of the rich -Alexandre Lvovitch Davidoff, a born Orloff. -There remained no doubt. The enchantress had -won the heart of the count, our <i lang="fr">preux</i>. The -lion had fallen in love with a gay butterfly. -Dazzled by her, the count no longer made a -secret of his passion. He was to be seen openly -with her everywhere—on the promenade, at the -opera, or at church: it was all the same. One -day the Princess did me the honour to call me. -She began asking me about this and about that -and assured me several times that she had more -confidence in me than in any one else. The -count also was always most amiable. Christianok, -seeing me again in favour, had recourse to a little -ruse. The cunning Greek began to complain -that the Princess had been very sparing in her -attentions to him at Rome, and that he could not -forget it; she therefore, with the permission of -the count, gave him a colonel’s brevet. I was -passed by. I bore this injustice without a murmur, -relying on the confidence reposed in me by -the count and the Princess, of which I was soon -to have proofs.</p> - -<p>“Well Konsov!” said the count to me one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -day, “honour and glory to you, who have known -so well how to procure me the opportunity of -making myself agreeable to such a person. We -must prepare for her, in the future, a quiet and -comfortable life. Is she not, truly, a lovely -creature? What a lively and charming character! -I must say, candidly, I’m almost ready to marry -her myself, and have done with my bachelor -life.…”</p> - -<p>“Well and why not, your Grace?” answered -I. “What should there be to prevent it?”</p> - -<p>“She won’t consent, old fellow; she says, ‘I’ll -consent only when I’m in my proper place.’”</p> - -<p>“How so? Excuse me, I don’t understand. -What proper place?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! well, cannot you understand?… -When she will be in Russia, at home,—well, -when the empress will condescend to recognise -her rights.”</p> - -<p>“But is there any hope of that?”</p> - -<p>Orloff became thoughtful.</p> - -<p>“Well, I think,” said he, “that it might be -possible; I hope her friends will not spoil everything. -They follow her so closely here, all those -Poles, those Jesuits of all kinds. Who knows? -They may poison us. They may shoot us; or -give us a stab at the corner of the street with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> -a hired <i>Kinjal</i>.<a name="FNanchor_34" id="FNanchor_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> All they desire is a person for -their disturbances.”</p> - -<p>The count seemed very much agitated. His -frank, open and intelligent countenance seemed -troubled. The passion of his heart, working as -it were against his will, could be heard in his -trembling voice, in each of his words.</p> - -<p>The day ended. The count did not leave his -visitor for a minute.</p> - -<p>“Here’s bad luck! she won’t listen. Really I -don’t know what to do,” said he, one day, having -summoned me. “If I could find some one to -help me, … some one who could persuade -her.…”</p> - -<p>“Persuade her to what?” I asked.</p> - -<p>“To a private marriage, and then flight.…”</p> - -<p>“But with whom?”</p> - -<p>“With me!…”</p> - -<p>“What! your Grace! but where to?”</p> - -<p>“To the end of the world, if need be.… -Ah, yes, while I think of it, persuade her not to -carry pistolets on her person; the other day, in -a passion, she nearly killed her own maid, Francesca.…”</p> - -<p>Having uttered this confession, this athletic, -this splendid Apollo-like count, stood before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> -me as flushed as a schoolgirl, and his eyes were -cast down, just as if he were some love-sick youth -awaiting his sentence.</p> - -<p>What answer could I make him? In my -agitation I was silent; but then, as always, I -decided to remain his most devoted and obedient -servant. After all, what was it? A marriage. -There was nothing bad in that. In marrying her -the count was only obeying the dictates of his -heart, and while gaining in position by allying -himself with Imperial blood, he was transforming -the “Adventuress” into the modest Countess -Orloff.</p> - -<p class="tb">Here I must interrupt my narrative, and return -to the present—to our poor frigate. My -God! how awful! Tempest-tost, the <i>Northern -Eagle</i> for five whole days was borne no one -knew whither. All the reckonings, all the -fathomings were being done in vain. To-day, at -dawn, we passed Spain, not far from the African -coast and near some wild stony islands. We -made signals, but in the fog no one could see us. -In the daytime, having finished my watch, I -remained on deck. A most unbearable, sultry -coast-wind, a boundless expanse of water, splashing -between the rocks, a ship without mast or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -compass, universal despair, and not the least hope -of being saved: that is all we have before our -eyes. The first reef, and we are lost. Irena, -oh! far-off charming traitress! oh! could you -but see all the torments endured by the poor -rejected exile! Night, again a calm. I’m once -more in my cabin. All-powerful God, give me -only the strength to live through this night and -finish writing my tale.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>THE PRINCESS SEEKS MY ADVICE.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The exhausted commander sleeps soundly. Only -the sentinels and I are on watch. I shall begin -now to relate the saddest experience of all my -life. This experience is the principal excuse for -my writing this confession. May she who caused -me to wander, an exile in a foreign land, remember -that she was the involuntary participator in that -action which will remain a source of regret and -reproach to the end of my life.</p> - -<p>It was at Bologna, to which place the count -had removed.</p> - -<p>The Princess had desired to see me. She kindly -invited me to be seated, and took a chair herself. -I noticed again those two hectic spots on her -cheeks, that her eyes were literally glowing, and -that she seemed quite beside herself.</p> - -<p>“Lieutenant, I sent for you to confide in you -a secret,” she said, throwing an anxious glance -around.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I am all attention, your Highness, and you -may trust me,” I answered.</p> - -<p>“The count starts to-morrow for Livorno. -Did you know it?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” I answered.</p> - -<p>“You see, there has been a quarrel there, and -a fight between some English and Russian sailors, -and the count wishes to invite his friend, the English -consul, a Mr. Dickson, to settle the matter.”</p> - -<p>“Well! what about that?” I said. “That’s -nothing important; it will soon be arranged, and -the count will return.”</p> - -<p>“He has asked me to go with him.… -What if I refuse? If I don’t accompany him? -What do you think? He’ll not desert me, as all -the others have done, and disappear for ever?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! but why not go?” answered I, following -the idea of the count. “It’s a simple promenade. -Why not accompany the count? The weather -is splendid. It could only be a pleasure trip for -you both.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” she answered thoughtfully, “I should -very much like to see the town and your fleet; -the count praises his sailors so highly.”</p> - -<p>“Well, and what is there to prevent your -going?” I said thoughtfully. “Yes,” I said to -myself, “it would seem that the count is very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> -persistent. He won’t leave her alone for a single -instant.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! yes! I was forgetting,” said the Princess, -as though collecting her thoughts.</p> - -<p>Looking at her, I could see that her eyes were -full of tears, her lips trembling, and that, though -looking at me, she seemed not to see me.</p> - -<p>“Listen!” she said reluctantly. “You’re an -honest man.… The count has made me an -offer of marriage—has proposed to me. What -do you think of it?”</p> - -<p>I rose respectfully.</p> - -<p>“Allow me to congratulate you from the bottom -of my heart,” I said earnestly, bowing. “Your -merit has triumphed over everything. But there -is nothing wonderful in that.”</p> - -<p>“But will he not deceive me? Will he not -betray me?” whispered the Princess, again -glancing around.</p> - -<p>Her very lips were blanched; she was quite -beside herself.</p> - -<p>“Tell me the whole truth, I implore you! You -see, following his advice, I carry no arms upon -me; it offends him.…”</p> - -<p>It flashed through my mind that just during -this very journey the count might persuade her -to marry him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> - -<p>“But, your Highness,” said I, and those fatal -words burn now in my brain like letters of fire, -“what do you fear? The count is madly in love -with you, that I know surely. He sleeps but to -see you in his dreams; even, he wanted to fly -away with you.”</p> - -<p>“Then it is the truth? Swear by the memory -of your mother, of your father,” said she, squeezing -my hand with all her might.</p> - -<p>“In the name of God, it is true! I heard it -from his own lips. He honoured me with his -confidence. Besides, what am I in his eyes? -Nothing; the meanest servant, the merest cipher, -… and yet he told even me openly.…”</p> - -<p>The Princess fixed her eyes on the image of -the Saviour crowned with thorns hung up in the -corner of the room, and she remained motionless -for several minutes, as though breathing a silent -and fervent prayer.</p> - -<p>“The brave alone live!” said she, rising and -drawing herself up to her full height. “Once -his wife, he cannot betray me.… I shall -go.… But, remember, I’ll not give up -either liberty or heart without a struggle.… -What is to happen will happen soon.…”</p> - -<p>I again heartily congratulated the Princess.</p> - -<p>“Ah! another thing, Konsov,” she said, stopping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -me. “Tell me truly, in all conscience, as -before God, is it this same Orloff who helped your -empress to obtain the throne?”</p> - -<p>“The very same.”</p> - -<p>“How brave! how gallant! what a hero!” -said the Princess, with animation. “Fearless -Cid! Bayard! A spark of God’s Spirit gives -such men their bravery and their fearlessness.”</p> - -<p>I went away full of joy at the successful issue -of our plan. Still I had certain misgivings. -“Does the Princess know of his other feat? -Why did I not tell her of that other dark, unpardonable -sin?” I was only faithful to my -duty, obeyed the orders of my superior, but could -not help pitying the woman.</p> - -<p>Heavy doubts overwhelmed me, and all night -I could not shut my eyes. “Duty is duty, but, -if—? Should I go to-morrow morning,” whispered -my conscience, “and warn her? There’s -time; let her think well, weigh everything, and -then decide.”</p> - -<p>When dawn broke, I got up, dressed, and -hastened to the house of the count. Before -the house quite a crowd of people had collected. -Carriages were driving to and fro. I made my -way through the throng. The count and Princess -had already taken their seats in a carriage.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> -Christianok was seated in another. Some of the -servants occupied a third.</p> - -<p>“Make haste, Konsov! Take your place. We -were only waiting for you!” Unconsciously almost -I took my place by Christianok.</p> - -<p>The train started. After the heavy rain, the -morning had emerged into a beautiful calm.</p> - -<p>“What do you see in all this?” Christianok -asked me, when we had fairly started.</p> - -<p>“In what?”</p> - -<p>“Well, in this little <em>voyage</em>?”</p> - -<p>“I really do not know, and dare not guess,” I -answered.</p> - -<p>“Well, to-morrow there will be a bridal couple,” -he said, and smiled. “They’ll be married.”</p> - -<p>“But where’s the church?”</p> - -<p>“What is the Fleet church for? They’ll -get on the Admiralty ship, and there be spliced -in a trice. But of course it was only for that she -consented to go.…”</p> - -<p>“Then it <em>is</em> true?”</p> - -<p>“Well! don’t you see it yourself? The count -seems to be on wings; it seemed too good to be -true. So, you see, the fairy tale will soon become -a true event.”</p> - -<p>At Livorno, the Count Orloff was met by the -commander of our squadron, Admiral Samuel<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> -Carlovitch Greig. Afterwards the count and -Princess paid him a visit, and then called on the -English consul, drove out with him, his wife, and -a whole circle of visitors into the country, and -then went for a sail in boats with music; everywhere -they were followed by a curious mob. In -the evening of the second day of their arrival -at Livorna, the count and the Princess went to -the opera. On their return, I noticed in the -vestibule of the splendid marble palace assigned -to the count another intriguing Greek also -serving in our fleet, Joseph Michaelevitch Ribas, -or, as he called himself, De Ribas. He also somewhat -resembled Christianok, being as black as a -beetle; but being taller and not so nimble, we -used to call the pair of them the Beetle and -Cockchafer. De Ribas, as I afterwards learnt, -had been engaged even sooner than I or Christianok, -having been sent to Venice to collect -information about the Princess.</p> - -<p>“Good-bye, priest,” said the count to Ribas, -laughing and not noticing me. “Mind, don’t -forget the vestments.”</p> - -<p>“Vestments, … and why priest?” I -stood under the marble colonnade bewildered, -lost in thought, hardly seeing the lovely blue -boundless sea and our squadron.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>THE “MARRIAGE.”</i></span></h3> - -<p>The 22nd of February was lovely, almost like -summer in its warmth, not a cloud in the skies, -the sea calm as a mirror, a holiday feeling in -the air. The English consul had invited the -count and Princess, and all their suite to -luncheon. The Princess arrived, splendidly and -tastefully dressed, and, as always, gay and lively. -Where was her illness? She chatted merrily -with the other guests. On the terrace, adorned -with flowers, she walked, carelessly laughing and -joking. Every one showed her the greatest -attention and respect.</p> - -<p>Count Alexis Gregorevitch was a model -<i lang="fr">cavalier-servant</i> of the Princess, holding her -fan and her gloves, and taking from the hands -of the servants the cool refreshing drinks, to -offer them himself to her. All noticed that his -amorous glances followed her everywhere, and -that she seemed born to new life. As by magic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> -her languor had disappeared; her <i lang="fr">preux chevalier</i>, -the tamed lion, was at her feet.</p> - -<p>“Ha! our Celadon, what think you of him?” -whispered Christianok. “Yes, resting on his -laurels of Chesma, the hero does not disdain -another conquest!”</p> - -<p>Admiral Greig, by nature of a very taciturn -disposition, took no part in the conversation, but -sat a little apart, extremely stern, sad of countenance, -and with downcast eyes, seeming to -notice nothing.</p> - -<p>Some one walked up to the window. From -there you could see the blue sea and the Russian -flotilla. The ladies began talking of pleasant -sails on the sea.</p> - -<p>“Well, count! show us your ships,” said the -Princess. “In Civita Vecchia you showed them -the mock-fight of Chesma; you gave others -pleasure, honour us also.”</p> - -<p>“All is ready,” answered Orloff, bowing respectfully.</p> - -<p>The whole party went down to the sea-shore. -Count Alexis Gregorevitch was specially respectful -to the Princess. He himself placed her shawl -on her shoulders, and taking her parasol from -the hands of her maid, opened it, and, walking by -her side, shielded her from the sun, all the while<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -whispering in her ears the most passionate protestations -of love.</p> - -<p>The whole crowd of spectators collected on -the sea-shore looked admiringly at his general’s -uniform of dark green with red facings, all -covered with gold embroidery, which adorned -his splendid figure, and on all sides we could -hear cries of “<i lang="fr">Vivat</i>,” mixed with whispers of -“Oh! what a couple!”</p> - -<p>They all took their places in the boats and -barges standing ready by the sea-shore. The -Princess seated herself in a splendid gilded -barge, ornamented and arranged with imperial -luxury. The wives of Admiral Greig and of the -English consul took their places by her side. -The count went with the Admiral, and I with -the retinue of the Princess. The barge floated -in the direction of the Russian flotilla. We were -received by the squadron with the greatest pomp. -Flags waved everywhere. The officers in their -brightest uniforms stood at their posts; the -sailors at the masts. From all the ships floated -the most delicious music. The waves gently -rocked us. The receding shore was covered with -spectators.</p> - -<p>As we touched the admiral’s ship, the <i>Three -Hierarchs</i>, a splendid gilt arm-chair was let<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> -down, in which first of all the Princess was -pulled up, and then the other ladies. We -mounted the trap. The ladies had hardly -stepped on deck, when from all sides came cries -of “Hurrah!” and cannon were fired. The sight -was splendid. The spectators in the streets and -on shore merrily waved their hats and handkerchiefs. -All were in high expectation that Orloff -would conduct the manœuvres, and, to make the -illusion more complete, would burn some old -useless ship. A great many glasses were pointed -at us from the shore. Dozens of little boats, -filled with onlookers, started from the shore in -the direction of our ship. On board the <i>Three -Hierarchs</i> there seemed to be great commotion. -The whole staff of the admiral’s servants were -running to and fro, with trays loaded with wine, -bon-bons, and fruit. There was dancing in the -saloon. The younger gentlemen and ladies were -dancing with all their heart the <i lang="fr">contre-danse</i> and -<i lang="fr">cotillon</i>. The wives of the admiral and consul -surrounded the Princess with little attentions.</p> - -<p>The ladies were soon invited into a special -cabin, where presently they were joined by the -count and the admiral, who were busily talking -together. The latter seemed quite out of sorts, -and very gloomy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> - -<p>“They are going to marry the count and the -Princess,” I heard one of the officers whisper to -another.</p> - -<p>I was dumbfounded.</p> - -<p>“But why here?” asked the one to whom the -question was addressed. “Why all this mystery, -all this haste?”</p> - -<p>“There’s no Russian church here. The admiral -has lent his, and that accounts for the Princess’s -arrival at Livorno, and her presence on board.”</p> - -<p>After a little while the decks began to be -deserted, and many of the suite, getting into -the barges, were rowed back to land, amongst -others, the two cunning and clever Greeks, Ribas -and Christianok.</p> - -<p>On seeing them, I do not know why, there -flashed through my mind the words of the count -to Ribas,—“Priest and vestments.” In the meantime -there were no clergy to be seen on board. -The deck was becoming more and more deserted. -The officers were walking backwards and forwards, -gaily chatting and pointing their glasses -at the occupants of the boats. The band played -a very gay march, and then an aria from a well-known -opera.</p> - -<p>What took place below all this while has remained -a mystery. Several asserted afterwards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -that nothing particular had occurred, but that -at table the betrothal of the count and Princess -had been solemnly announced, and that all had -drunk the health of the bridal couple. Others -on oath protested that in another cabin there -had been a mock marriage between the count -and Princess, so that Orloff, in her eyes at least, -might seem to be keeping his word, and that -in this sacrilegious ceremony the <i lang="fr">rôle</i> of Priest -and Deacon had been played by Christianok -and Ribas, who were dressed up in the vestments -of the clergy of the fleet, the first acting -the part of deacon, and the second that of -priest.</p> - -<p>But I am running on too fast; let us return to -the deck of the <i>Three Hierarchs</i>.</p> - -<p>My strength fails me; my heart bursts; the -pen falls from my fingers when I recollect all -that I was so soon to see.</p> - -<p>Wherever I shall be,—if I remain, by a miracle -of God, alive, or if I am destined to perish in the -waves,—the remembrance of all that I then saw -will only be effaced from my mind with my last -dying groan.</p> - -<p>The deck was full of life. All had left the -cabins, and were now sitting in detached groups; -there was laughing and talking on all sides;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -servants were running to and fro, with cooling -drinks and wine.</p> - -<p>The Princess was leaning over the side of the -vessel. The wind was rising; it was getting -cool. She called me to her side with a friendly -nod. I helped her to put on her mantilla.</p> - -<p>“If I live a hundred years I shall not forget -this,” she whispered, with a happy smile, shaking -me warmly by the hand. “You have kept your -word. All is being fulfilled. I shall soon be in -Russia, and once there—why not hope? They -will proclaim the future Empress Elizabeth II.… -Oh! now is the time for wonders. The -present empress, what was she a little while -ago?”</p> - -<p>Those words filled me with astonishment. I -was silent, bewildered by the wild fantasies of -this poor blinded creature.</p> - -<p>On board the <i>Three Hierarchs</i> they hoisted a -signal flag. Again the roar of the cannon was -heard, mingled with the cries of “Hurrah!” The -bands on all the ships again began playing; the -flotilla was beginning its manœuvres. Enchanted -by all this attention on the part of her future -subjects, the Princess, still leaning against the -side of the ship, seemed plunged in agreeable -thought, as her eyes followed the curling smoke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> -from the shots and the movements of the different -ships.</p> - -<p>I see her now, as she then stood, in her blue -velvet mantilla, a small black straw hat, and a -white parasol in her hands.</p> - -<p>I also was lost in thought. Yes, all is finished -now! The count has found a companion for -life. He will know how to persuade her. Together -they will fly to the feet of a merciful -empress.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>TREACHERY.</i></span></h3> - -<p>“Your swords, gentlemen!” resounded a most -loud and commanding voice near me.</p> - -<p>I glanced round. Captain Litvenoff addressed -himself by turn to all the adjutants and others -in the count’s retinue, demanding their swords. -The deck was covered with armed sailors. Admiral -Greig, his wife, and the consul were nowhere -to be seen. Quite bewildered, I surrendered -my sword, as did all the others. The Princess, -hearing the clatter of arms and loud words, -turned rapidly round. She was as pale as death; -she had taken in the situation at a glance.</p> - -<p>“What does all this mean?” she asked in -French.</p> - -<p>“In the name of the empress, you are arrested,” -answered the captain.</p> - -<p>“Violence! force!” screamed the Princess. -“Help,—here,—to me!”</p> - -<p>She rushed to the trap, forcing her way with -her feeble hands through the ranks of armed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> -men. The sailors, sunburnt and sullen, looked -at her in astonishment. Litvenoff stopped her.</p> - -<p>“Impossible!” said he. “Be calm.”</p> - -<p>“Perfidy! Malediction!” madly cried she. -“How dare you—with a woman—with a Russian -Princess. Do you hear? Let me pass,” she -cried to the soldiers in French. “Where is Count -Orloff? Call him here. Bring him here. You -shall answer for all this!”</p> - -<p>“The count, by order of the empress and -admiral, is also arrested,” answered Litvenoff, -respectfully bowing. “He is arrested just as you -are!”</p> - -<p>The Princess gave a loud scream, and drew -back.</p> - -<p>Her reproachful glance fell upon me. It seemed -to pierce my heart like a dagger, as though saying, -“It is your fault. You have ruined me.”</p> - -<p>She staggered back a few steps, and then -fainted away.</p> - -<p>The sailors carried her into the cabin. All -the servants, except her maid, who remained with -her, had been arrested, and under a strong escort -had been transferred to another ship.</p> - -<p class="tb">Shattered in my innermost soul by all that -I had seen, I recovered my senses to find myself<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> -in a small dim cabin. Lifting up my head, I saw -that I was shut in with that dastard Christianok, -the principal author of our misery, the perpetrator -of the treachery. I cannot say what -astonishment I showed. My comrade, at all -events, was very calm. He was lounging, and -eating some bon-bons he had snatched up from -the table, and glancing from time to time at our -closed door.</p> - -<p>“You’re astonished?” he asked me. “Is it -not true? What wonderful things! Yes?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, there’s enough to be astonished at!” I -answered, concealing my disgust with difficulty.</p> - -<p>“It was impossible otherwise,” said he.</p> - -<p>“Why?”</p> - -<p>“Because only the bait of marriage could -tempt this adventuress.”</p> - -<p>“Yes! but why play with her feelings, with -her heart?” said I, impatiently.</p> - -<p>“We should never have got her on board -otherwise.”</p> - -<p>“There were many other ways. I know myself -that the count promised her on his oath to -marry her, and that once his wife, she would -have trusted herself with our fleet.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! my dear Konsov, what simplicity!” -chuckled the cunning knave. “Is it possible you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -have not yet guessed? Why, at the very moment -when the count was playing with the Princess -at the most tender protestations of love, I was -writing under his dictation, and in his name, a -letter to the empress, telling her that he had -decided to do everything to catch the adventuress, -and even, if need be, to tie a stone to her neck, -and throw her into the river.”</p> - -<p>“And why didn’t you straightway drown -her?” I cried out, scarcely knowing what I said. -“It would have been far more merciful than -to deceive the poor unfortunate, consumptive -creature.…”</p> - -<p>“She’ll live long enough, yet,” said Christianok. -“The orders were to catch her quietly, -cleverly, without any noise. That’s just what we -have done.”</p> - -<p>I heard these cold hard words with the greatest -indignation. I was almost beside myself at the -heartlessness of the wily Greek.</p> - -<p>“No! enough, old man. Calm your knightly -feelings; that’s all bosh. In our time, remember, -the most important thing is courage, and impudence -itself must be clever and sharp. Success -means might and riches; non-success, poverty, -or what is worse, Siberia. No, you had better -get up. Don’t you see that it’s time?…”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> - -<p>Raising my head, I saw that our door was -open, and through it I could see the whole crew, -walking to and fro, and talking gaily. The -Greek and I were taken into the ward-room. -There on the table stood a whole battery of wine -bottles. The room was filled with the fumes of -tobacco and punch. We were forced to drink, -and then sent on shore. There I learnt that -the count had all this time been with the admiral -at the consul’s, discussing their future -movements.</p> - -<p>In the evening the streets of Livorno were -filled with turbulent and indignant crowds. The -Russians shut themselves up in their houses. -Involuntarily I grasped my hat and cloak, and -taking the most deserted streets, proceeded to -the sea-shore.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>REMORSE.</i></span></h3> - -<p>I fell down on the shore. Oh! my God! what -anguish! Tears blinded me. Sobs stifled me. -I hated, I cursed the whole world. “How,” -thought I, “could such a dastardly, godless deed -be perpetrated, and I all the while a partaker in -the crime?” My whole frame shook with indignation, -with madness, as with horror I turned -over in my mind every little detail; thought over -all the disgusting and dastardly meanness, the -fiendish calculation, the treachery of him to -whom I had been so faithful and so devoted, and -who had not scrupled to sport with that most -sacred feeling—love. I could fancy to myself -at that very minute that poor deserted woman, -half killed with misery. I could picture her in -my mind sitting in her dark prison, her soul torn -with anguish; who knows, perhaps chained and -watched over by coarse, brutal soldiers. “And -when did all that take place?” I repeated to -myself. “When all seemed so smiling, when all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> -her golden dreams seemed ready to be fulfilled.” -The obscure daughter of the late empress had -seen at her feet the highest dignitary of the new -empress. The whole fleet had met her with -cries of joy, with roars of cannon. What must -she have felt? what must she have experienced? -From under the rock where I was lying I could -see the lovely sunset, gilding with its last rays -the top of the hills, the crosses on the town -churches, and, fading almost entirely, the outlines -of the ships at sea. “Oh! infamy! infamy!” -I whispered. “Count Orloff has sullied -his soul with an action still darker than all the -rest. No laurels, not even the laurels of Chesma, -will now be able to shield him from the justice -of God or man. And also, according to our -services, shall justice be meted out to us—his -accomplices in that dark deed.”</p> - -<p>My despair was so strong that I was ready to -have done with life.</p> - -<p>“No; repent all thy life, repent,” seemed to -whisper an inner voice. “Search for means to -redeem thy dark crime.”</p> - -<p>A gun was fired from the flag-ship, and on all -the other ships nearer were heard the strains of -the vesper music, and then the prayers rose on -the still air. The sable veil of night descended<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -on the sea; on the guard-ship, and along the -shore, the watch-fires began to be lighted. I -rose, and, hardly able to drag my feet along, -crawled home. There I found the orderly of the -count waiting for me. I followed him.</p> - -<p>“Well! Konsov! now confess you were a little -astonished,” said the count coming to meet me.</p> - -<p>My tongue clove to the roof of my mouth. -Well, what could I have said in answer to him? -He, gifted with all the blessings of life; this <i lang="fr">preux</i> -chevalier; this dignitary, brave, bold, daring, -courageous, loaded with honours, a short time ago -my idol, was now to me loathsome, unbearable.</p> - -<p>“Do you think that I don’t remember? that I -have forgotten?” he continued, avoiding looking -me straight in the face. “Oh! I know well that -for the most important part I am indebted to you.… -Had it not been her faith in you, and -in your interest, it would not have been so easy -to cage the bird.…”</p> - -<p>The words of the count literally stung me. I -stood confused, bewildered.</p> - -<p>“But, perhaps you do not know, you have not -heard,” as if to console me, said the count—“do -not take on so—we had received from Petersburg -the most formal and detailed instructions concerning -this usurper, this person who had taken to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> -herself a name and lineage not belonging to her. -The order was to arrest her at any cost, and -bring her there. Well, now have you understood?”</p> - -<p>In my confusion and trouble I could make no -answer.</p> - -<p>“The Pretender is now in our hands. The will -of our Sovereign has been fulfilled, and the -prisoner will soon sail for the north. There’ll -be enough inquiries set on foot; they’ll dig -down to the very roots.… All that’s not -the work of foreigners alone. I think there’ll be -mixed up in this not a few of our own travellers. -In the papers of that liar there are not a few -well-known signatures.…”</p> - -<p>“Yes, you’re rejoicing; there’ll be again new -arrests, again inquiries,” thought I. “And yourself, -what did you do, stony-hearted man?”</p> - -<p>“Why don’t you say something?” asked the -count.</p> - -<p>“The whole town is in agitation; there are -mobs, screams, threats. Have a care, count,” I -added, unable to conceal my disgust; “this is not -Russia.… You might get a stab when -least expecting it.”</p> - -<p>“Ah, well, my fine fellow,” said he frowning, -“whoever touches you or any other of ours, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> -even threatens, just point to the sea.… -Seven hundred cannon, all sweeping the whole -shore. I’ve only to raise my hand, and the whole -town will be level and clear. There, go now, -and tell every one that, and add that I fear no -one.…”</p> - -<p>“Braggart!” thought I to myself, shivering -with rage.</p> - -<p>I left the count without opening my mouth, -and without even a bow.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>THE BOTTLE CAST INTO THE SEA.</i></span></h3> - -<p>Several wretched, unbearable days passed. -Livorno really rose, and began to threaten us -with an open attack. The indignant populace by -night and by day surrounded the palace of the -count, and from time to time threw stones at the -building. The count was protected by a bodyguard -of sailors. Boats filled with ladies and -gentlemen were constantly sailing between the -ships to try and catch a glimpse of the unfortunate -prisoner. I was sent on board the <i>Three -Hierarchs</i> with a letter and parcel of books which -had been confided to me by the count, as I learnt -afterwards, for the Princess. As I was returning -to the shore I heard a cry, and turning round, -was petrified. At the open window of the <i>Three -Hierarchs</i> I could see, pressed to the iron grating, -a pale countenance and a hand waving a handkerchief. -I also answered by waving my hand. -Was it noticed or not from the ship, behind the -high waves? I never knew. The sailors plied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> -their oars sturdily; there was a strong breeze, -and the boat flew on the dancing waves.</p> - -<p class="tb">Rumours began to circulate that the fleet -would soon set sail. Where for was not yet -known.</p> - -<p>I got ready to go out and learn, if possible, if -I was to remain on the Count’s staff. I was just -taking up my hat, when some one entered the -room. I turned round. At the door stood a -dark figure. On looking at her, I recognised the -Russian stranger of the Church Santa Maria.</p> - -<p>Her travel-stained dress showed she had just -come a long journey.</p> - -<p>“You recognise me,” said she, throwing back -her veil, and I could see that her golden, wavy -hair had become grey.</p> - -<p>“What do you want?” I asked her.</p> - -<p>“That’s how you answered for her. Those -are your promises,” said she, advancing a step -towards me. “Where are your assurances, your -word of honour as a true man?”</p> - -<p>“Listen to me.… I am innocent,” I began.</p> - -<p>“Dastards! ruffians!” she screamed. “They’ve -laid a trap, they’ve enticed her, they’ve ruined -the poor unfortunate, and then, think <em>you</em>, they -will all go scot free? You are easy now, you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> -think. You mistake. The hour of retribution is -near; it will come—it will come—”</p> - -<p>She advanced on me so menacingly, that I -retreated to the open window. We were on the -second storey, and the window looked out on the -garden. I was very glad that at this minute the -garden was quite deserted. The noise could -have attracted eaves-droppers, who might have -insulted the stranger, whose visit I could in no -way understand, and who, as it seemed to me, -was quite incapable of being convinced.</p> - -<p>“<em>You’re</em> innocent?” she asked. “<em>Innocent?</em>”</p> - -<p>“Yes. I acted honestly. You will see. I’ll -show you; I’ll prove it to you.…”</p> - -<p>“Answer me.—You advised the Princess to -come here.—You persuaded her!”</p> - -<p>“I persuaded her.”</p> - -<p>“You convinced her of the possibility of a -marriage with Orloff. No prevarication. You -hear; give me a straight answer,” repeated this -woman, trembling with emotion.</p> - -<p>“The count himself assured me, on his word -of honour, that he meant marriage.”</p> - -<p>“Perfidious betrayer! Death to you!” cried -the stranger, throwing her hands wildly about.</p> - -<p>I had no time to step back. A bullet whizzed -by me. I was blinded by the smoke. I caught<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> -the mad woman by the wrist. She began struggling -with all her might, her face distorted with -passion, and once more fired at me, luckily with -no more success than at the first time. Wresting -the pistol from her hands, I threw it in the -garden. The noise had attracted the servants. -I heard knocks at the door. I flew to open it, -and trying to appear as calm as possible, I -assured them that having unloaded my pistol at -the window, it had gone off, but that nothing had -happened. They all left me and went away, -throwing side-glances at me. Having shut the -hall door, I returned to the stranger. I was in -a state of mind impossible to describe.</p> - -<p>“Ah! ah! what have you done? How could -you? And for what? Why?”</p> - -<p>My visitor put her head on the table and sobbed -wildly.</p> - -<p>I began to pace the room up and down, and, -happening to glance at the mirror, I saw a face -which I could with difficulty recognise as my own.</p> - -<p>“Look here,” at last said I to my visitor, “dry -your tears. You must know that I myself was -the victim of the most abominable deceit.” I -began relating to her everything that had passed. -“You see,” said I, finishing, “God is merciful, -and I am still alive. Now in your turn; explain.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span></p> - -<p>The stranger could not for a long time utter -one word. Having given her some water, I invited -her to follow me into the garden. Here, -finally, she recovered her power of speech. Two -or three times she looked at me humbly, as -though asking for pardon, then at length she -began.</p> - -<p>“My tale is sadder than yours is,” she said, -sobbing, after we had taken a few turns in the -garden, and had sat down; “but I have been so -guilty towards you,” covering her face with her -hands, “that you will never forgive me.”</p> - -<p>“Forget all about that,” said I, recovering my -composure. “I am ready to forgive everything.… -All comes from God.… Everything -is in His hands.…”</p> - -<p>The stranger turned towards me her pale, -sorrowful countenance, and taking me by the -hand again began sobbing.</p> - -<p>“You are so generous,” she whispered. “Did -you ever hear of the fate of Merovitch?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, yes! of course!”</p> - -<p>“Well! I am—the guilty cause of his tentative.… -I was his affianced bride, Polixena -Pchelkina.”</p> - -<p>I was speechless.… All the details of the -attempt of Merovitch, which I had heard ten<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> -years ago from my old grandmother, memory -brought back vividly.</p> - -<p>Bending towards her, I took her hand, the -one that had just fired at me, and pressed it with -emotion.</p> - -<p>“Speak! speak!” whispered I.</p> - -<p>“I could no longer remain in Russia,” she -continued in a strange hurried voice. “For ten -years I’ve wandered in all directions. I lived -in the nunneries of Volhynie and Lithuania. I -tended the sick and afflicted. A year ago, residing -on the borders of the Volga, I first heard -about the Princess Tarakanova, Dame D’Azow, -and Wladimirskaya. Persons, quite unknown to -me, called me to her side. You can understand -how I longed to be near her. I tried to get an -interview with her. Furnished with means by -those same unknown persons, I first made the -acquaintance of the Princess by letter, and then -personally at Ragusa. I instinctively believed -her. Oh! I did wish her happiness. Retribution -for the past! I took care of her, taught -her her native language and history, counselled -her, informed her on all points. I followed her -everywhere. After her departure from Ragusa -to Rome, I wrote to her, exhorted her to take -care. I was so convinced of her high destiny.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> -You know the rest.… What was my horror -when I heard she was arrested! But I shall -remain at Livorno. I shall wait.… Oh! the -Livornians will set her free! But tell me, what -do you think of her? Are you also convinced -she is no Pretender, but really the daughter of -the Empress Elizabeth?”</p> - -<p>“I can neither affirm nor deny.”</p> - -<p>“But I am convinced. That idea is entwined -round my heart, and I cannot abandon it.”</p> - -<p>My visitor rose. Having thrown her veil over -her head, she fixed her eyes upon me, pressed -my hand, and, looking as though she wished to -say something more, with faltering steps she took -her leave.</p> - -<p>“You are good; you are compassionate,” said -she, turning round on reaching the garden gate. -“Till better times!”</p> - -<p>I saw this mysterious person once or twice. -I went to her by invitation. She was living in -a small <i lang="it">asteria</i>, at the sign of “The Lily,” -within the walls of the convent of the Ursulines, -whither she had taken refuge. She still -hoped that the Princess might be saved, in -England or in Holland, which our squadron had -to pass.</p> - -<p>“She—the persecuted—she is sent from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> -Heaven to resuscitate her birthland,” constantly -repeated Polixena, at our last meeting. “I -believe in her. She will not be lost. She will be -saved!”</p> - -<p class="tb">In the night of the 26th of February, our -fleet, under the flag of the Vice-Admiral Greig, -was suddenly ordered to raise anchors and sail -for the West. Christianok, with the report of -the count to the empress, travelled by land. -He was ordered to go on to Moscow, where, after -the execution of Pougachoff, the empress had -taken up her residence. Count Alexis Gregorevitch -at the same time left Livorno. His residence -there was attended with too much risk. -Indignant at his dastardly act, the sons of the -ardent and free Italy became at last so enraged -against him, that the count, notwithstanding his -strong escort, dared not leave the house, and, -fearing poison, partook of only bread and milk.</p> - -<p>I started later on. As if at the dictates of a -fatal destiny, I was ordered on board the newly -manned frigate, <i>The Northern Eagle</i>. This frigate -took not only the sick men of the crew, but also -the great collection which the count had been -at so much pains to acquire, consisting of pictures, -statues, bronzes, and other rare things. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> -were the fruit of the count’s victories in the -Turkish and Grecian waters. Amongst other -things I found several presents made by the -Princess to the count, and, to my astonishment, -her portrait, resembling so much Elizabeth. -“But God’s ways are not our ways.” Hardly -had we loaded the frigate with the riches of -Orloff, and left the harbour, when we encountered -a most awful storm. I could not say to -the frigate, “You carry Cæsar!” Long were -we tossed on the waves, thrown first on the coast -of Algiers, then on that of Spain. Near Gibraltar -our two masts and all our sails were wrenched -away. Finally, we lost our rudder. For more -than a week the current and a light breeze have -borne us along the African coast. We have all -lost courage, and can but pray. On the tenth -day, that is to say, yesterday, the wind quite -fell. I go on writing—but can we expect to -be saved in this condition? The frigate, like a -lifeless corpse, maimed and disfigured in battle, -is borne whither the waves drive her—</p> - -<p class="tb">Again another hopeless day has passed. The -dark terrifying night is coming on. Clouds are -gathering; again the wind is rising; now it is -raining. The coast of Africa has disappeared,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> -and we are carried on to the West. The waves -are lashing against the sides of the ships, splashing -the deserted deck. The leak in the hold is -getting larger every minute. The exhausted -sailors can hardly pump any longer. The cannon -have been thrown overboard. At night we fire -our muskets, vainly imploring aid, but there’s -not a sail to be seen. We, doomed to perdition, -are alone. No one hears us. Tragic, awful fate. -To be lost on a solitary ship, without hope, and -with all the spoils of the commander-in-chief. -When will the end come? On which rock is our -ship destined to be wrecked, on which fated to -founder? Fit retribution for the action of others. -The fatal cargo of Count Orloff is hateful to God.</p> - -<p class="tb">Three o’clock in the night. My confession is -ended. The bottle is ready; and if there’s no -hope of being saved, I’ll throw it in the sea.</p> - -<p>One word more. I should like to let Irena——my -last greeting; my last wish.—She ought to -know—Good God! what is that? Impossible! -Already the end? What an awful crash!—The -frigate has struck something. Ah! screams.—I -must run to my crew.—His Holy Will be done.</p> - -<p class="tb">The bottle was thrown overboard, with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> -diary and a note. The last was written in -French: “Whoever finds this diary is requested -to forward it to Livorno, to the Russian lady, -Mistress Pchelkina. Should she not be found, -to Russia, Chernigoff, Brigadier Leon Rakitin, -for his daughter, Irena Rakitin. May 15th, 1775. -Pavel Konsov, lieutenant of the Russian fleet.”</p> - -<p class="titlepage">END OF PART I.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> - -<h2 id="PART_II">PART II.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>RAVELIN ALEXEEF.</i></span></h2> - -<hr /> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>EKATERINA AT MOSCOW.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The Empress Ekaterina spent the summer of -1775 in the <i lang="ru">alentours</i> of Moscow, honouring with -her presence the village of Kolomensk, and -then that of Chërnaya-griaz, which she had -bought from Prince Kantomir. It had been -named in honour of its new mistress Tzaritzin. -She, in buying it, intended it to take the place -of the Muscovite Tzarskoë-selo.</p> - -<p>On the borders of a dark forest, in the midst -of fallen maples, a two-storied wooden palace had -been hastily erected, with a few outhouses, some -stables and a poultry yard.</p> - -<p>From the windows of her new palace the empress -could admire the extensive and deep clear -lakelets shaded by wooded hills, the boundless -newly-mown plains, with, scattered here and -there, the white shirts of the mowers, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> -blue and red <i lang="ru">sarafans</i> of the hay-makers. Beyond -these plains others could be seen, yet -untouched by the sickle, sparkling in all their -emerald beauty; and again, beyond these, the -newly-ploughed corn-fields, and behind these, as -far as the eye could reach, green plains and -wooded hills; all this coloured and warmed by a -lovely sun in a blue cloudless sky.</p> - -<p>Life here was simple and free. Through the -constantly open windows the scent of the newly-mown -hay and of the forest depths penetrated -everywhere. Often would a blackbird fly in from -the river, and from the plains came the grasshoppers -and the moths. From the early morning -the whole Court would be scattered in the forest, -picking flowers, looking for mushrooms, fishing -or sailing on the lakes, riding and driving in the -neighbourhood. Ekaterina, for the time being -clothed in a simple white morning robe, and -wearing a cap over her simply twisted hair, -would be seated at her writing table, writing -out schemes and drafts of various ukases, or -letters to the Parisian philosopher and <i lang="fr">publiciste</i> -Baron Grimme. She complained to him that her -servants would not give her more than two quills -a day, as they knew very well that she could not -regard with indifference a piece of white paper<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> -and a well-trimmed quill, but must sit down and -indulge her mania for paper soiling.</p> - -<p>At the very time when all the world were -tiring their brains over the politics of the Russian -empress, as to what she would undertake in -regard to Turkey, which she had desolated, or -were discussing the delayed news of that recently-stifled -insurrection on the Volga, the late execution -of Pougachoff, and of the mysterious Princess -Tarakanova arrested lately at Livorno, -Ekaterina was describing to the Baron Grimme -the lives of her pet dogs.</p> - -<p>These dogs were called at Court “Sir Tom -Anderson, and his consort” (by second marriage) -“Mimi, Lady Anderson.” They were such tiny, -shaggy little things, with sharp, intelligent noses, -and comical wiry tails, just like brooms. These -dogs had nice little soft mattresses and wadded -silk counterpanes, stitched by the hands of the -Empress herself. Ekaterina wrote to Grimme, -how fond she and Sir Tom were of sitting at the -open window, and how Tom, with his fore-paws -on the window-sill, notwithstanding his contemplation -of nature, would bark and snarl at the -horses towing the barges up the river. “The -views around are lovely, though a trifle monotonous, -and Sir Tom is delighted with the woods,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> -the hills, and with the lovely quiet gardens and -manors, half buried in bright green, beyond which, -in the far-off blue, you can just distinguish the -tops of the golden Muscovite churches. This -village wilderness and solitude just suit the hearts -of Sir Anderson and his consort. Forgetting the -noise of the city and its gaiety, they admire the -beauties around them, and it is only at a late -hour that they allow themselves to be persuaded -to seek their warm wadded coverlets. The mistress -of the house also likes these solitary Russian -hamlets, forests and plains. I love these -unploughed new places,” wrote Ekaterina to -Grimme, “and I must say that I feel from my -heart that I only fit in where all is untouched -and unspoilt.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>THE PRINCESS AT ST. PETERSBURG.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The fresh and clear atmosphere of the Muscovite -environs began to be foggy. Clouds were -gathering, lightning darting, thunder rolling. -The Court also had its storms. Ekaterina had -no easy task in investigating the insurrection of -Pougachoff. He astonished every one by preserving -to the very last minute the firm conviction -that he would be pardoned, that they -would never execute him. “The wretch has not -much sense—he still hopes!” wrote the empress, -after reading the interrogation of the -Pretender. “Human nature is unfathomable.”</p> - -<p>Pougachoff was executed in January.<a name="FNanchor_35" id="FNanchor_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a></p> - -<p>About the middle of May Ekaterina received -information that the squadron under the command -of Greig had anchored at Cronstadt. The -empress sent her whole correspondence with -Orloff about the Pretender to the governor-general<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> -of Petersburg, Prince Galitzin, and gave -him the following order:—“Have the <i lang="fr">voyageurs</i> -transferred secretly from the ship, and submit -them to the severest interrogation.”</p> - -<p>Prince Alexandre Michaelovitch Galitzin, defeated -by Frederick the Great, and afterwards -for his victories over the Turks elected to the -post of field-marshal, seemed a very imposing -personage; but in reality he was the best-hearted -and most modest and just of men, and an entire -stranger to all Court intrigues. He was loved -and respected by all.</p> - -<p>On the 24th May the prince summoned an -officer of the Préobrajenski regiment, by name -Tolstoï, made him take an oath of secrecy, and -ordered him to start for Cronstadt to receive the -prisoner who would be given over to him, and -carefully hand her over to the commandant of -the Petropavlovski fortress, André Gavrilovitch -Tchernishoff.</p> - -<p>Tolstoï fulfilled his mission on the night of the -25th of May. In a specially manned yacht, he -sailed down the Neva very gently to the fortress, -where he gave up his prisoner. At first she was -lodged hastily in a room just under the apartment -of the commandant. Afterwards she was transferred -to the Ravelin Alexéef. Oushakoff, secretary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> -to the Prince Galitzin, had already prepared -a report about her from the papers sent by the -empress. Oushakoff was brisk, paunchy, stout, -and always panting and repeating with a knavish -smile in his eyes—“Oh! my dear fellow, so much -to do, so much to do! I only serve the prince -for the honour of it, but I ought long ago to have -taken my <i lang="de">abshiede</i>,<a name="FNanchor_36" id="FNanchor_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> I am literally worn out.”</p> - -<p>The Prince Galitzin pondered long over the -report of Oushakoff, drew up a whole list of -questions, and with a very important mien, which -did not in the least become his good-natured face, -entered the prison of the captive. He was very -much put out by the news which he had just -heard, that on the journey, not far from England, -the captive had nearly escaped; that at Plymouth -she had all at once thrown herself overboard into -a small vessel, which was in readiness for her (as -was easily to be seen), and that it was with great -difficulty and disregard for her cries and groans -that they had managed to get her on board -again. The prince was afraid that some one -might attempt to effect her escape here. The -captive, terrified, confused by all that had happened, -by her gloomy and dismal prison, did not -deny that she was called and was looked upon as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> -a Russian grand-duchess. She even went so far -as to declare that, recollecting her childhood, -she, on the strength of circumstances, believed -herself to be the grand-duchess of whom mention -was made in the will of the Emperor Peter I., -which, she said, she had found among her -papers, and which was all in favour of the late -Empress Elizabeth, and by the will of Elizabeth -made in favour of her daughter. A copy of this -interrogation was sent to Moscow to the Empress -Ekaterina, who was very indignant at the impudence -of the captive, and especially when she -found a letter addressed to herself, signed “Elizabeth.” -“Well, that woman is a <i lang="fr">fieffée canaille</i>,”<a name="FNanchor_37" id="FNanchor_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> -exclaimed Ekaterina, crumpling the letter in her -hands, after having read it. Potemkin was at -that time sitting in the study of the empress. -“Of whom are you speaking?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Oh! always about the same vagrant, Batiushka; -about that Italian vagabond.”</p> - -<p>Potemkin,—who really pitied Tarakanova, for -two reasons: first, because she was a woman; -and then, because she was the prey of Orloff, to -him hateful,—began to speak in her favour. The -empress, without a word, handed him a whole -parcel of German and French newspapers, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> -then told him that he would do better to look and -see for himself all the calumnies spread about her -and this Pretender; whereupon he, snuffling and -grumbling, began to scan the papers with his -short-sighted eyes.</p> - -<p>“Well!” asked Ekaterina, looking up from -some papers she had been glancing at.</p> - -<p>“Incredible.—So much slander! It’s difficult -to give an opinion.”</p> - -<p>“To me, it’s all clear,” said Ekaterina. “Just -a second edition of the Marquis Pougachoff; and -you must agree, prince, with me, that it is impossible -to have any pity for this ‘victim,’ if -you like, ‘of foreign intrigues.’”</p> - -<p>Galitzin received another order. He was to -put down the impudence of the adventuress, -especially, as in the words of the English ambassador, -“she was no princess, but the daughter -of an innkeeper of Prague.”</p> - -<p>The information of the ambassador regarding -her was told to the Princess, at which she was -very indignant.</p> - -<p>“If I only knew who slandered me thus,” she -exclaimed furiously, “I would scratch his eyes -out.”</p> - -<p>“Good God! what can all this mean?” she -would cry out, horrified at her position. “I so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> -ardently, so blindly believed in myself, in my -mission. Can it be that they are right? Is it -possible that under the load of these horrible -proofs which are constantly cropping up, I shall -have to bid adieu to all my convictions, to all my -hopes? Never, that shall never be. I will rise -above all; I will never give in!” That her pride -might be taken down, the captive was treated -much more severely. She was deprived for some -time of the services of her maid, and of many -other little comforts. Her food was much more -simple, almost coarse; but all in vain. Neither -prayers, nor threats to take away from her her -own garments and furnish her with prison -clothes could awaken any repentance in her, or -extort from her the confession that she was an -impostor and not a princess.</p> - -<p>“I am not a pretender, do you hear?” she -would scream in furious indignation to Galitzin. -“You are a prince; I only a feeble woman.… -In the name of the All-Merciful God, do -not torment me; have pity upon me.”</p> - -<p>The prince, forgetting his orders, would begin -consoling her.</p> - -<p>“I am pregnant,” inadvertently said the captive, -crying. “I shall perish, but not alone.… -Send me where you like—to the Eskimos, to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> -snows of Siberia, to a convent.… No, -on my word of honour, I’m innocent.…”</p> - -<p>Galitzin became thoughtful.</p> - -<p>“Who is the father of your unborn child?” he -asked at last.</p> - -<p>“Count Alexis Orloff.”</p> - -<p>“Again a lie,” said Galitzin. “And why, -what for? Are you not ashamed to answer like -that? To a man whom the empress trusts so -highly, to an old man?”</p> - -<p>“It is only the truth. Before God!” answered -the captive, sobbing. “The admiral, the officers, -the whole fleet can bear witness to it.…”</p> - -<p>The bewildered Galitzin put a stop to his -interrogation, and sent a report of the new confession -to the empress at Moscow.</p> - -<p class="tb">“Miserable, impudent wretch!” screamed out -Ekaterina, after reading this report to Potemkin. -“See how this new edition of Pougachoff, sent -to us by the Poles—how she knows how to -slander and calumniate others!”</p> - -<p>“Well; but if there should be some truth in -it,” slowly said Potemkin. “It’s so easy to -betray a poor, weak, confiding woman.”</p> - -<p>“Oh, that’s impossible!” answered Ekaterina. -“At any rate, Orloff will soon be here. He’ll<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> -soon tell us all about this false Elizabeth.… -And you, prince, in your knightly defence of a -woman, do not forget the most important thing—the -peace of the kingdom. We went through -enough in the last insurrection.”</p> - -<p>Potemkin was silent.</p> - -<p>From day to day Orloff was expected. He -was hastening from Italy to be present at the -celebration of the peace with Turkey. At this -time Galitzin had received other orders,—to deprive -the captive of everything except what was -strictly necessary, to make her put on prison -clothes, and having sent her maid away, to put -two sentinels as a constant watch over her.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>THE HISTORIOGRAPHER, MILLER.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The obstinacy of the captive astonished and -angered Ekaterina very much.</p> - -<p>“How is this?” she reasoned. “I have conquered -Turkey; Pougachoff has been caught, -has acknowledged his imposture, and been -publicly executed; … and that miserable, -puny woman, that adventuress, … will not -acknowledge anything, and dares to threaten me, -from her cellar … from her den.”</p> - -<p>Potemkin, after having heard from Christianok -all the details of the arrest of the Princess, was -very morose and silent. Ekaterina ascribed it -to his frequent fits of melancholy.</p> - -<p>Soon it became known to many of those about -the empress, what means Orloff had employed -to entice and then betray the unfortunate captive, -and these were soon communicated to the -empress through the medium of her maid -Perekousikhin. At first Ekaterina would not -believe any of these rumours, and severely reprimanded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> -her maid on this account. The -secret report of the honest and incorruptible -Galitzin concerning the position and condition -of the captive, all the courtiers had made known -to the empress. The womanly heart of Ekaterina -was moved with indignation. “Not Radzivill,” -she said; “he, threatened with confiscation of his -enormous estates, did not betray the devoted -woman!”</p> - -<p>“Betrayer by nature!” shot through the brain -of Ekaterina, when she recollected the services of -Orloff; … “ready for anything, unscrupulous -in all; stopping at nothing in his own interests,” -and then Ekaterina remembered the phrase, -“Matoushka Tzaritza, pardon. You didn’t think, -you did not guess—”<a name="FNanchor_38" id="FNanchor_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a></p> - -<p>“Not for nothing do they call him butcher,” -contemptuously murmured Ekaterina. “Oh! -he’ll just say that, out of devotion, he ‘oversalted -it.’ … Well! he’ll soon be here. He must -be made to mend that affair. That fallen one, -without family, nameless, tribeless; a toy in -the hands of the wicked, in his arms she’ll be -powerless.… And she, after selling beer -at Prague, well! how dares she disdain Russian -dignitary or count? Where’s—the <i lang="fr">mésalliance</i>?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> - -<p>The calm village scenes of Tzaritzin and Kolomenski, -began to weary Ekaterina. The forests, -the lakelets, the birds and the butterflies no -longer brought her peaceful dreams.</p> - -<p>The empress suddenly started for Moscow -alone.</p> - -<p>There, in the Chinese city, or Kitaï-Gorod, she -visited the archives of the Minister of the Interior, -where several important papers had been sent -for revision. The director of the archives was -the celebrated author of the “History of Russia” -and of “The Description of the Empire of -Siberia;” late editor of the academical journal, -“Monthly Compositions;” traveller and Russian -historiographer;—the academician Miller. He -was then already seventy. The empress herself -was very fond of history, and knew him very -well, having often had very long conversations -with him about his works, and in general about -history. She found him in his room, near the -archives, busily turning over a heap of old -Muscovite manuscripts.</p> - -<p>Miller was very fond of flowers and birds. The -rooms of his governmental department, not very -lofty, were hung all around with cages of blackbirds, -bullfinches, and others of the feathered -tribe, which quite deafened Ekaterina with their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> -loud whistling and twittering. A glass door -opened from the study of the master of the house -into another room, ornamented with large plants -set in green tubs. The windows were open, but -a net which covered them prevented the birds, -which were flying about, from taking their departure. -The neat and pretty, although simple, -room was filled with the perfume of roses and -heliotropes. The greatest cleanliness reigned -everywhere. The floors were as polished as a -mirror. Miller was writing at his table near the -glass door leading to his aviary. The empress, -passing by, motioned the officious servant away, -and came up to him unnoticed.</p> - -<p>“I have come to you, Gerard Feodorovitch, -with a request,” said Ekaterina, on entering the -room.</p> - -<p>Miller jumped up, apologising for his morning -costume.</p> - -<p>“Command me, your Majesty,” said he, hastily -arranging his dress, and searching with his eyes -for his spectacles, which he missed.</p> - -<p>The empress took a seat, invited him to do -the same, and the conversation began.</p> - -<p>“Is it true,” she began, after having made -several gracious inquiries after his health, and -that of his large family, “is it true?—it is said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> -that you have collected evidence, that you are -convinced that it was not a usurper, a pretender -who ascended the throne of Moscow; -that Grishka Otropieff was the real Tzarevitch -Dimitri? You said something about it—to the -English traveller, Cox.”</p> - -<p>The good-natured, absent-minded Miller, always -lost in his researches, was very much puzzled -at this question of the empress.</p> - -<p>“Where on earth could she have heard that?” -thought he. “Could Cox have blundered it -out?”</p> - -<p>“Let us be candid; I’ll help you,” continued -Ekaterina. “You possess a wonderful memory, -and withal you are so very perspicacious in deciphering -and comparing manuscripts. Give me -openly and boldly your opinion. We are alone; -no one can hear us. Is it true that the evidence -for the condemnation of the Pretender was weak, -almost nothing?”</p> - -<p>Miller became thoughtful. His grey hair was -ruffled, and his good-natured, intelligent mouth, -which just before the entrance of the empress -had held a half-finished cigar in an amber -mouth-piece, was now unconsciously nervously -twitching.</p> - -<p>“Yes, it is true,” he answered, hesitating;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> -“but, excuse me, that is quite my own personal -opinion, nothing more.”</p> - -<p>“But if so, then why do you not publish such -a very important judgment?”</p> - -<p>“But, your Majesty,” stammered Miller, looking -about him with a bewildered gaze, pulling at -his waistcoat, “I read the account of the researches -made by Vassili Shouiski at Ouglitch. -He made those researches by order of Godounoff. -It was to his interest to please Boris, and he did -this by bringing to him the evidence only of -those who affirmed that the Tzarevitch had really -been killed. Of course, any one can see that all -other evidence which might have been disagreeable -to Godounoff he would suppress.”</p> - -<p>“Which other?” asked Ekaterina.</p> - -<p>“That another one was killed, and that the -former was hidden; but of course, you know -yourself, that this very same Shouiski publicly -acknowledged the resuscitated Dimitri.”</p> - -<p>“A very witty proof,” said Ekaterina. “Not -for nothing does General Potemkin, great amateur -historian, advise me to have all that -published, if you are really convinced of its -truth?”</p> - -<p>“Excuse me, your Majesty,” stammered -Miller; “the will of the empress—is an important<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> -guide; but there’s another, a power still -higher—Russia. I am a Lutheran; the body of -the recognised Dimitri lies in the cathedral of -the Kremlin. What would become of all my -researches, what would become of my own -person, amidst your own nation, if I dared to -assert that not Grishka Otropieff had ascended -the Muscovite throne, but the real Tzarevitch -Dimitri?”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>MILLER’S REPLY.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The words of Miller disturbed Ekaterina very -much.</p> - -<p>“Well, candid at any rate,” thought she; -“just like a philosopher.”</p> - -<p>“Very well,” said the empress; “let the dead -rest in peace; we will talk about the living. I -think General Potemkin has sent you the examination, -and the evidence taken in respect of that -impudent Pretender, the arrest of whom you -have heard about, I suppose?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, he sent them,” answered Miller, remembering -at last that the spectacles for which -he had been constantly searching with his eyes -were on his forehead, and wondering how he -could have forgotten that.</p> - -<p>“Well, and what have you to say of that -worthy sister of the Marquis Pougachoff?” -asked Ekaterina.</p> - -<p>Miller at that very moment caught sight, -through the glass door, of one of his canaries, -a very quarrelsome bird, who had just flown<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> -into another’s nest, the mistress of which was -twittering, flying round, and trying to turn her -out. His eyes also wandered to a sick blackbird -with its leg bound up.</p> - -<p>Miller, recollecting himself, and colouring at his -own timidity and absent-mindedness, answered,—</p> - -<p>“The Princess, if she is Russian, learnt Russian -history very insufficiently; that’s the main -thing I have to say, after reading her papers; -but of course, that would be more her teacher’s -fault.”</p> - -<p>“Well, what do you think? Can it be that -there is a spark of truth in her tale?” asked -Ekaterina. “Do you suppose for one moment -that the Empress Elizabeth might have had -such a daughter, and hidden her from all eyes?”</p> - -<p>Miller was just on the point of answering: -“Oh! yes, of course; what is there in all that -so very improbable?” but he remembered at -that minute about the mysterious youth, Alexis -Shkourin, travelling now in foreign parts, and in -his confusion fixed his eyes on the glass door of -his aviary.</p> - -<p>“Well, and why do you not answer?” said -Ekaterina, smiling. “Your Lutheranism does -not stand in the way here.”</p> - -<p>“Well, everything is possible, your Majesty,”<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> -said Miller, shaking his grey curly head. “People -do say all sorts of things; some of them may -be true.”</p> - -<p>“Look here—would it not be strange?” said -Ekaterina. “The late Razoumovski was a very -good man, and although secretly, still he was -the lawful, husband of Elizabeth. Why trample -under foot all the laws of nature? Why this -heartless denial of their own daughter?”</p> - -<p>“Then it was one century, now it’s another,” -answered Miller. “Morals differ; if the new -Shouiski-Shouvalovi could hide for so many years -in solitary confinement the, to them, dangerous -Prince John, proclaimed in his infancy emperor, -what is there here so very strange, if, in their -thirst after influence and power, they should -have sent to the end of the earth, or, at any rate, -hidden another infant, this unfortunate Princess?”</p> - -<p>“But, Gerard Feodorovitch, you forget the -most important thing—the mother! How could -the empress have borne that? You cannot deny -her heart was in the right place; and then, all -this was not about a strange child, like Ivanushka, -but about her own forsaken daughter.”</p> - -<p>“Well! oh, it is very simple,” answered -Miller. “Razoumovski, I should think, had -nothing at all to do with it. The whole intrigue<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> -was brought to bear on the empress—not on the -mother.… Very likely, many reasons were -brought forward, and she consented. This secret -daughter was hidden, sent to the South, and then -over the Urals. In the papers of the Princess -she speaks of poison, of flight from Siberia -to Persia, afterwards to Germany, and then -to France.… The Shouiskis of our days -have repeated the old tragedy. In guarding -the empress, they still kept in readiness for -any emergency, a new refugee, saved by them -from another world.”</p> - -<p>Ekaterina here remembered that Orloff, in one -of his letters, had spoken of a Russian traveller, -Ivan Shouvaloff, who was even now in foreign -parts.</p> - -<p>“With you, one might go on talking for ever,” -said Ekaterina, rising. “Your memory in itself -is a whole archive, and a priceless one, too; and -Russian history, is it not true? like Russia -itself, is richest virgin-soil. How lovely our -boundless corn-fields! But then, again, the -weeds. Ah, <i lang="fr">àpropos</i>! I do always admire your -flowers and your birds. Now, do pay me a visit -at Tzaritzin. Grimme has sent me a whole -family of the loveliest cockatoos. One of them -is always repeating ‘<i lang="fr">où est la vérité?</i>’”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> - -<p>Having with special graciousness thanked -Miller for his information, the empress returned -to the palace. Soon after this event, the hero of -Chesma, Orloff, made his appearance.</p> - -<p>Alexis Gregorevitch failed to recognise the -court. With new faces, a new order of things -had been introduced. The count did not at -once receive the honour of an interview with the -empress. He was told she was not quite well. -This made him feel very anxious. Well versed -in court life, he scented disfavour in the air. It -became urgent to take measures. Very diffidently, -Alexis Gregorevitch turned to some of -the courtiers to try and get an audience with the -new sun, Potemkin. The interview took place -with great politeness on both sides, but no -geniality. Their old friendship and fraternity -had been left far behind. They conversed till -midnight, but the guest felt he had learnt very -little.</p> - -<p>“Yes, now it’s all without measure, all overflowing,” -said Potemkin <i lang="fr">en passant</i>, speaking -about something. Orloff long pondered over -those words. “Overflowing!”—well, had not he -also filled the measure too full?</p> - -<p>In the morning he was invited to go to the -empress, whom he found bathing her dogs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> -“Sir Tom Anderson,” who had already been -taken out of the bath and wiped dry, was warming -himself under his coverlet. His consort, -“Mimi,” was still in the water. Ekaterina sat -near, holding ready the warm coverlet. Perekousikhin, -in a large apron, her sleeves rolled up to -the elbows, was very energetically rubbing the -little dog with a sponge and soap. Quite wet, -and white from the soap, Mimi, on seeing the -big goggle-eyed stranger, began barking most -furiously and straining to get at him.</p> - -<p>“Ah! from water to water,” said Ekaterina -jokingly. “Welcome back to your native land. -We shall soon be ready.”</p> - -<p>Having wrapped Mimi up warmly and put her -in the basket, the empress dried her hands, and -remarked:—</p> - -<p>“As you see, friends first of all!” She took -a seat, pointed out a chair to Orloff, and began -questioning him about his journeys, about Italy, -and the Turkish affairs.</p> - -<p>“But, oh! Batiushka Alexis Gregorevitch, -you oversalted, oversalted it,” said the empress, -producing her snuff-box, and slowly taking a -pinch.</p> - -<p>“In what, your Majesty?”</p> - -<p>“In that certain little affair,” smilingly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> -answered Ekaterina, menacing him with her -finger.</p> - -<p>Orloff noticed the smile, but at the same time, -in that very same joke, he noticed a well-known—to -him—bad sign. The round, strong chin of -Ekaterina trembled slightly.</p> - -<p>“In what? Matoushka Tzaritza, and in what -is my crime?” he asked, stammering.</p> - -<p>“<i lang="fr">Comment donc, Monsieur?</i> Yes, really oversalted -it,” continued Ekaterina, slowly taking -another pinch from her snuff-box.</p> - -<p>At this, Orloff, like a child, lost all self-possession; -his eyes wandered timorously round -the room.</p> - -<p>“You know; our captive,” said the empress,—“Oh, -I suppose you’ve heard it; she’ll soon be -two.…”</p> - -<p>The athlete Orloff knew not what to do in his -confusion.</p> - -<p>“I am lost, completely lost!” thought he; -and his disgrace, his downfall arose before his -eyes. “Mercy, oh God!”</p> - -<p>“But that we may arrange, matters may be -mended,” continued Ekaterina. “You might go -to Petersburg, see the captive. To celebrate the -peace, you have returned to her as her bridegroom.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> - -<p>Orloff knit his brows, bent one knee to the -ground, kissed the hand that was held out to him, -and silently left the room. At the door, he regained -his self-composure.</p> - -<p>“Well! what! the empress! What did she -say?” asked the courtiers.</p> - -<p>“I have been honoured with a special invitation -to the fêtes,” answered the count, “and now -I am going to Petersburg to arrange my brother’s -affairs.”</p> - -<p>Count Orloff tried to seem very elated, very -proud.… He understood that it was better -for him to make haste. It was clear that the -empress was not joking. Under pretence of an -interview with his brother, he hastened the preparations -for his journey, and was soon on his -way to Petersburg.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>ORLOFF AND THE PRINCESS.</i></span></h3> - -<p>Worn out with her long sea voyage and imprisonment, -the captive dragged on a miserable existence -in the fortress. An acute fever, a sharp -cough, accompanied by frequent hemorrhage, had -developed into rapid consumption.</p> - -<p>The frequent visits and questions of the field-marshal -Galitzin always threw the Princess into -fits of passion.</p> - -<p>“What right have you to treat me like this?” -she would say in an imperative voice. “What -reason have I given for such treatment?”</p> - -<p>“Written orders from a higher power—the -will of the empress!” answered, panting and -puffing, the secretary, Oushakoff.</p> - -<p>In the capacity of secretary to the Commission -which had been appointed, he had large means -placed at his disposal. Therefore, continually -complaining of fatigue, of a mass of occupations, -and even of pains in his spine, he lingered over -the evidence, brought forward a multitude of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> -facts, began a long correspondence about her -affairs, and in general led the good-natured -Galitzin by the nose, and on the savings made -from the money allotted for the keep of the -captive managed to buy a nice little house in the -courtyard already belonging to him in the Gorokhoviya.<a name="FNanchor_39" id="FNanchor_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a></p> - -<p>In the interval, the false testament found -among the papers of Tarakanova was shown to -her.</p> - -<p>“Well, what have you to say to that?” asked -Galitzin.</p> - -<p>“I swear by the Almighty God, by eternal -damnation, that I am the author of none of those -unfortunate papers. I was told all that.”</p> - -<p>“But they are in your own handwriting.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps—it interested me.”</p> - -<p>“Then you do not wish to confess to anything, -or explain the truth?”</p> - -<p>“I’ve nothing to confess. I lived in freedom, -I did harm to no one. I was betrayed, made -prisoner by treason.”</p> - -<p>Galitzin began to lose patience. “What a -she-devil they’ve handed over to me!” thought -he. “Extract a secret from a stone like that!” -The prince groaned aloud and rubbed his nose.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> - -<p>“But, your Grace, recollect,” once whispered -the officious Oushakoff, “your hands are unfettered. -In the last ukase it makes mention -of the utmost severity, of investigation without -partiality.”</p> - -<p>“Well, of course, one might try,” muttered -the bewildered prince, who was in general averse -to any severe measure. “Shall I try? It won’t -be worse than it is.”</p> - -<p>“In the name of the empress,” severely said -the field-marshal to the commandant, in the -presence of the captive, “in view of her obstinacy—deprive -her of everything, except the strictly -necessary clothing and bedding. You hear, everything—books, -and other things, there; and then, -if that does not answer, put her on common -prison food.”</p> - -<p>The orders of the prince were carried out. -The poor, ailing girl, brought up in luxury and -comfort, began to receive nothing but black -bread, soldier’s <i lang="ru">kasha</i> (porridge), and <i lang="ru">schi</i> (sour -cabbage soup). Although hungry, she would sit -for hours shedding bitter tears over the wooden -bowl, but not touching it. On the way to Russia, -near the shores of Holland, where the squadron -had anchored to take in provisions, she had read -in a newspaper, which had fallen by accident into<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> -her cabin, all the past life of Orloff, and trembling -with passion, she had cursed her folly in having -believed in such a man. But worse misery -awaited her. Two soldiers were assigned to the -captive, and kept watch in her room, night and -day. All this would throw the prisoner into fits -of passion.</p> - -<p>“Repent,” Galitzin would say to her. “I pity -you from my heart, but without repentance, -don’t expect forgiveness.”</p> - -<p>“I’ll accept every torment, even death, Sir -Marshal; I’ll accept everything,” said the captive. -“But you are mistaken.… Nothing -can make me withdraw my evidence.”</p> - -<p>“Think over it.…”</p> - -<p>“God is my witness.… My torments will -fall on the heads of my tormentors.”</p> - -<p>“She’ll think over it, your Grace!” whispered -Oushakoff, turning over some papers. “One -more experiment. She’ll come round all right.”</p> - -<p>The experiment was tried. Her Venetian silk -nightdress was exchanged for one of sackcloth.</p> - -<p>“Almighty God! be witness of my most secret -thoughts,” prayed the captive. “What am I to -do, what shall I undertake? I believed in my -past. It all seemed so plain. I was accustomed -to think of it all, to live in that idea. Neither<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> -the treason of that monster, nor my captivity, -has been able to shake my conviction. No, and -not even this iron dungeon, which seems to crush -me, can do that. Death is not far off. Oh! -Mother of God, oh! lowly Jesus, help me. Who -will give me strength, who will guide me, who -will save me—from all these horrors, from this -prison?”</p> - -<p class="tb">One cold rainy evening, a hired carriage with -the blinds drawn down drove up to the <i lang="fr">perron</i> of -the commandant of the fortress of Petropavlovski, -André Gavrilovitch Tchernishoff. Half an hour -afterwards, Orloff and the commandant walked -in the direction of the Ravelin Alexéef.</p> - -<p>“Failing,” said the commandant, walking on, -“failing rapidly, especially with this dampness. -Yesterday, your Grace, she begged for her own -clothes and books; they were returned to her.”</p> - -<p>The sentinels were called out of the room of -the Princess. Orloff entered the room alone. -Tchernishoff remained outside the door. In the -dusk, the count could hardly see the low-ceilinged -room, with two deeply set windows with thick -iron gratings. Between the two windows stood -a small table with two chairs. A few books were -scattered on the table together with some other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> -things, and, covered with a coarse cloth, stood the -untouched food. On the right-hand side stood a -screen. Behind the screen was a small table -with a water-bottle, a glass, and a cup, and surrounded -by chintz curtains, a small iron bedstead. -On the bed, in a white dressing gown and cap, -lay a girl, so pale, one might think she was dead, -covered with a blue velvet mantilla.</p> - -<p>Orloff was struck by the frail look of her, who -such a short time ago had been so stately, and so -charmingly beautiful. There flashed across his -mind remembrances of Italy, tender letters, the -ardent courtship, the journey to Livorno, the feast -on the ship, Ribas and Christianok travestied in -the old clerical vestments. “Oh! why did I -play that comedy with the marriage ceremony?” -thought he. “She was really on board my ship, -in my hands.” And vividly there flashed through -his mind the picture of the arrest of the Princess. -He remembered her cries on deck, and the next -day his message to her through Konsov, a letter -in German, describing his own false sorrow, oaths -of faithfulness till death, and assurances of love. -“What sorrow has fallen upon us”—trying to -write the most tender words, he had said. “We -are both arrested, in chains; but God, the All-merciful, -will not forsake us. Let us put our trust<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> -in Him. As soon as I get my liberty, I’ll search -the whole world till I find you, to guard and -serve you all my life.” “And I have found her; -here she is!” thought Orloff, involuntarily shuddering, -not daring to cross the threshold. At -last he ventured near her, close to the screen. -At the sound, the unfortunate girl opened her -eyes, looked at her visitor, and rose. Her auburn -hair, at one time so luxuriant, fell from under her -cap, and half-covered her poor pale face, distorted -by illness and passion.</p> - -<p>“You? You—in this room—near me!” -screamed out the Princess, recognising her -visitor, and stretching out both her hands in -front of her, as though driving away some awful -apparition.</p> - -<p>Orloff stood motionless.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER XXII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>ORLOFF’S INTERVIEW WITH THE PRINCESS.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The words seemed to burst from her throat, and -die upon her lips. She threw herself back on -the bed to the farthest side of the wall, where -with flaming eyes she looked ready to devour -Orloff, who stood gazing at her horror-stricken.</p> - -<p>“Yes! we are married, are we not? Ha, ha, -ha! we are man and wife?” said she, but a convulsive -cough cut short her indignation for the -moment. “Where have you been all this time? -<em>You</em> promised, <em>I</em> waited.”</p> - -<p>“Look here,” gently said Orloff, “let us forget -the past, let us play comedy no longer. You -must realize by this time that I was the faithful -slave of my sovereign, and that I only obeyed -her commands.”</p> - -<p>“Treachery, deceit!” screamed the unhappy -girl; “never will I believe it.… Do you hear -me? The great and powerful Russian empress -would never have had recourse to such perfidy.”</p> - -<p>“I swear to you they were her orders.…”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> - -<p>“No, I do not believe one word of it, traitor,” -screamed the unfortunate girl, shaking her fists -at him. “Ekaterina could command anything—demand -my surrender, burn down the town that -gave me refuge, take me by force, but not that. -But <em>you</em>, you yourself, might have pierced me -with a dagger, poisoned me. You knew of -poisons,—but what have you done with me? -what?”</p> - -<p>“One moment of calmness, I implore you,” at -last said Orloff. “Answer me one word, only one—and -I promise you, on my word of honour, -that you shall be set free immediately.</p> - -<p>“What new invention is that, monster? Speak, -traitor,” said the Princess, recovering some composure, -as shudderingly she drew the blue mantilla, -so well known to the count, closer around -her.</p> - -<p>“You have been questioned so long, and with -such persistency,” began Orloff, trying to give -his voice a tender and convincing tone, “tell me -now all—we are alone; God only can see and -hear us.”</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 365px;"> - -<img src="images/illus4.jpg" width="365" height="600" alt="Catharina II" /> - -<div class="poetry-container smaller"> -<div class="poetry"> -<div class="verse"><i>“Peter created Russia,</i></div> -<div class="verse"><i>Ekaterina gave her a soul!”</i></div> -</div> -</div> - -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> - -<p>“<i lang="it">Gran Dio!</i>” said the unfortunate girl, “he -invokes the name of God,” added she, raising her -eyes to the image of the Saviour which hung on -the wall over the head of her bed; “he! Very -likely you have arranged this slow torture, this -torment! and yet you boasted that torture was -abolished here. The empress, I am sure, knows -nothing of all this. In this matter she has been -deceived, as in everything else.”</p> - -<p>“Be calm, be calm.… Tell me, who -are you?” continued Orloff; “hide nothing. -I’ll implore the empress; she will be merciful -to you and to me.…”</p> - -<p>“<i lang="it">Diavolo!</i> he asks, ‘Who am I!’” she -stammered, half stifled by a new fit of anger. -“But cannot you see I have done with the world? -I am dying; then to what end all this?” She -again began to cough most awfully, and leaning -her head against the wall, was silent.</p> - -<p>“There,—she’ll die without having confessed -anything,” thought Orloff, as he stood by her.</p> - -<p>“In riches and in happiness,” said she, coming -to herself, “in humiliation and in prison, I repeat -constantly the same thing—and you know it -well. I am the daughter of your late empress,” -proudly said she, rising. “Do you hear me, -miserable, wretched slave, I am your born grand-duchess.…” -A bold idea flashed through -Orloff’s mind.… “Ah! what’s in a word?” -thought he; “she won’t live long, and at one -stroke I’ll please them both.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> - -<p>He bent on one knee, grasped the frail pale -hand of the captive, and ardently pressed it to -his lips.</p> - -<p>“Your Highness!” stammered he. “Elise! -pardon, I swear—yes, I am guilty,—but those -were the orders. I myself was arrested. Only -now have I received my liberty.…”</p> - -<p>The poor girl raised her big, astonished eyes -to his face, covering her mouth with her handkerchief -to stop the blood.</p> - -<p>“I implore you, I promise you, we will be -really solemnly married,” continued Orloff. “You -shall be my wife—and then, your Highness—my -darling, … my own Elise, rank, riches, -faithfulness, life-long devotion.…”</p> - -<p>“Out! away! monster!” screamed the captive, -jumping up. “This bruised hand princes, -kings sought—it’s not for you to touch it, -branded traitor, inquisitor.”</p> - -<p>“Well, she doesn’t choose her words,” thought -to himself the Commandant Tchernishoff, who, -standing outside the door, could easily hear the -French abuses and the curses of the prisoner; -“better take myself off. If the count knows all -this has been heard, his little vanity will be -pricked, and it is just possible he may take his -revenge.” The commandant walked off.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> - -<p>The jailer, standing in the long corridor, with -his keys, and also hearing the, to him, quite -unintelligible cries, the stamping of feet, and, as -it seemed to him, the noise of things being thrown -at the visitor, also walked off into a corner, thinking -to himself: “Ha, ha, Mamzoulka (Mademoiselle), -it seems, is asking for better food; it -seems it’s not in the articles. She’s screaming at -the general, oho! Of course it’s not for such as -she, so thin, to eat <i lang="ru">schi</i> and <i lang="ru">schi</i>. Yesterday, for -the first time, they gave her milk.” The furious -screams continued. Then came the sound of -broken glass. The door of the dungeon was flung -open rapidly, and Orloff, humbly bending under -the door, too low for his tall person, came out. -His face was purple; he lingered for a moment in -the corridor, and stared about him, as if collecting -his thoughts. Having felt under his arm for -his cocked hat, passed his fingers through his -hair, and pulled down his coat, he briskly and -smartly drew himself up, and silently walked out -in the pouring rain, jumped into the carriage, -and shouted to the coachman, “Général Procureur.”</p> - -<p>As he left the fortress behind him, Orloff began -turning over in his mind the details of the -last interview.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Well, she <em>is</em> a serpent, a viper!” he whispered -to himself, looking out into the streets from the -carriage window; “didn’t she sting!”</p> - -<p>Very reservedly, and with plenty of self-composure, -he entered the house of the Prince -Alexander Alexéeovitch Viazimski. It was already -late. The candles were lighted. Orloff -shivered, and rubbed his hands together.</p> - -<p>“Take a seat,” said the général procureur. -“What! cold?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, prince, a little.”</p> - -<p>Viazimski ordered a servant to bring in liqueurs. -The servant soon came, bringing a lovely decanter, -and a silver basket containing ginger biscuits.</p> - -<p>“Pray help yourself, count.… Well! -what about our usurper?” continued the général -procureur, putting aside some papers that he had -just been looking over.</p> - -<p>“Impudent beyond all bounds; still persists.…” -answered Count Alexis, pouring himself -out a wineglassful of the rich liqueur, and raising -it first to his nose, and then to his lips.</p> - -<p>“Well, of course!” said the prince; “she has -no wish to part with her so-called titles and -rights cheaply.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! she’ll give plenty of trouble yet; other -measures than those are wanted,” said Orloff.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p> - -<p>“But what others, Batienka? Her last minutes -are drawing near.… You would not have -her strangled?”</p> - -<p>“And why not?” whispered Orloff, as if to -himself, dipping a biscuit into a fresh glass of -liqueur. “Pity for such like!”</p> - -<p>The général procureur threw a side-long glance -from behind the green <i lang="fr">abat-jour</i> on his visitor. -“And you’re not joking, Alexis Gregorevitch? -It’s your advice?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! for the good of my country, and like a -true patriot—not only would I advise, but very -much recommend,” answered Orloff, walking -backwards and forwards, munching the sweet -melting biscuits.</p> - -<p>“<i lang="fr">Mais, c’est un assassin dans l’âme!</i>” thought -to himself the great judge,<a name="FNanchor_40" id="FNanchor_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> whose personal appearance -was austere and generally gloomy, as -he listened in horror to the soft, cat-like tread -of Orloff on the carpet; “<i lang="fr">c’est en lui comme une -mauvaise habitude</i>!”</p> - -<p>Orloff took out his eye-glass, and, biting a fresh -biscuit, began to admire a picture of Psyche and -Cupid on the wall.</p> - -<p>“Whence came this picture?” asked he.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p> - -<p>“It is a gift from the empress.… Count, -when do you think of returning to Moscow?”</p> - -<p>“To-morrow morning. I shall not of course -delay my information, but shall instantly report -the fresh obstinacy of that impudent liar.”</p> - -<p>Viazimski knit his bushy eyebrows. “Do you -know anything about the information of the -prisoner on your own account?” he grunted out, -turning over some papers.</p> - -<p>Orloff let drop his half-eaten biscuit.</p> - -<p>“Yes! Now, just fancy; you’ll not deny all -this is disgusting. My faithfulness, devotion, -honour, she has spared nothing.… And -let me tell you what is more astonishing than -everything else, that that she-devil fell over head -and ears in love with me, and invented, goodness -knows what; but even just now the hussy has -had the impudence to bid me acknowledge a -marriage with her.”</p> - -<p>“Well! I can only wonder,” said Viazimski; -“that disguise in clerical vestments—excuse me, -what need for such sacrilege? Oh! you’ll have -a deal to answer for, to God, Batiushka Count.… -All that would haunt me.”</p> - -<p>Orloff tried to turn it all off as a joke, tried to -go on talking, but the gloomy silence of the bear-like -Procureur showed him that his credit at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> -court had been long on the decline, and that he, -notwithstanding his late services, might, like useless -old rubbish, hope for only one thing—to be -left alone and forgotten.</p> - -<p>“My annals are finishing, it seems. I shall -soon be at the bottom of the river,” thought -Orloff, on leaving Viazimski. “They’ll put me -under hatches somewhere in Moscow, or perhaps -farther. We are grown old, out of fashion; we -must clear the way for new-comers.”</p> - -<p>He was so much disturbed by his reception at -the procureur’s that the next morning he had a -special service celebrated in the Church of the -Holy Virgin Mary, and before his departure for -Moscow he even paid a visit to an Armenian -fortune-teller on the Litienaya.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER XXIII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>ORLOFF AT MOSCOW.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The peace with Turkey was publicly celebrated -at Moscow on July 13th. Galitzin was not forgotten, -and, for having cleared Moldavia of the -Turks, received from Petersburg a rich sword -studded with diamonds. Orloff received a testimonial, -a rich dinner service, one of the Imperial -properties near Petersburg, and the title of -“Chesmenski.”</p> - -<p>“Put up on the shelves of the archives, wholly -thrown over!” thought Alexis Gregorevitch. He -was not allowed to follow the court to Petersburg. -From this time Moscow was assigned to him as a -residence, as also to many of the other supporters -of Ekaterina. It would have seemed that the -days of Chesmenski flowed on peacefully and -pleasantly in his splendid Muscovite palace; but -the retainers of the count began to notice that -he often had fits of melancholy—that very often, -without any reason whatever, he would have funeral<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> -masses celebrated, or a special service with -<i>Acathistus</i>,<a name="FNanchor_41" id="FNanchor_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> or would call in the gipsy fortune-tellers, -and they would hear him often murmur -and complain of the “Traitress Fortune,” who in -former times had so spoilt him with her favours.</p> - -<p>If Count Alexana would drive out his fleet -steeds on a beautiful frosty evening, flying along -the streets, glancing at the passers-by from under -his rich fur cap, thickly studded with frosty -diamonds, his thoughts would carry him back to -other blue, but warm skies, to the azure shores of -the Morea and the Adriatic, to the Roman and -Venetian marble palaces. If in autumn the sleet -were driving, promising a splendid hunt, the -count would ride in the neighbourhood of Otradi -or Niaskouchnavo, and, after having driven the -mother hare out of the birch copse, and started -his favourite harehounds on her track, would -gallop on his gallant Kabardinetz furiously in -pursuit, but all at once he would rein in his -steed and stop. The rain might brush the wet -branches of the birch in his face, the horse -might splash through the pools and mud, but the -count’s thoughts had wandered far away, to that -far-off Italy, to Rome, Livorno, to the unfortunate, -by him betrayed, Tarakanova.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Where is she? What has become of her?” -he would think. “Has she survived her child’s -birth? Is she still there, or have they hidden -her even farther away?”</p> - -<p>After the fall of the favourite, Prince Gregory, -his brother, Count Alexis Chesmenski, retired so -quickly from court that he not only knew -nothing positive, but even dared not try to know -anything positive about the unfortunate beauty -whom he had carried off and betrayed.</p> - -<p>That same year, in autumn, rumours were -spread in Moscow that a very important mysterious -personage had been brought over from -Petersburg, and sequestered in the Novo Spaski -Nunnery; that she had been compelled to take -the veil, and had been named Docifé,<a name="FNanchor_42" id="FNanchor_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> and was -now locked up in a secluded cell.</p> - -<p>The Muscovites whispered loudly that the new -nun was the daughter of the late Empress Elizabeth, -by her secret husband Razoumovski.</p> - -<p>What emotions the count underwent, are only -known to himself.</p> - -<p>“It is she! it is she!” he would murmur in -his agitation, not knowing that his victim, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> -Princess Tarakanova, still hopelessly languished -in the fortress. “It can be no one else; of course -not. She has renounced everything, she has -submitted, she has taken the veil.”</p> - -<p>Thoughts of the newly-arrived captive troubled -him so much that he even avoided driving in the -street where the convent was, and if this were -impossible, he would avoid looking up at the -windows.</p> - -<p>“Traitor, murderer!” would resound in his -ears, on recollecting his last interview with the -Princess. In bitter anguish he would remember -every detail of that interview, when she had -loaded him with curses, stamped at him, spat in his -face, and passionately flung at him whatever came -near her hand. Once, when the Prince Volkonski -had paid him an unofficial visit, to see over his -stables and horses, Chesmenski tried to bring the -conversation round to the Princess. They had -returned from their walk to the stables, and -were taking tea. The count began in a roundabout -way to refer to foreign and home news, and -rumours, and then, as if merely <i lang="fr">en passant</i>, asked -who the person was whom report said had been -brought to the convent?</p> - -<p>“Why do you ask that?” suddenly interrupted -the prince, Michael Nikititch.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> - -<p>“What?” asked the bewildered Chesmenski.</p> - -<p>“Nothing!” answered Volkonski, turning -round, and looking aimlessly out of the window. -“I was just recollecting a little Petersburg incident, -that happened last year at Court.”</p> - -<p>“What incident? Honour me, Batiushka -Prince!” said the count, with a smile and a bow. -“You see, here I hear nothing and see nothing -of the new, curious, and to us very often incomprehensible -occurrences in the court regions?”</p> - -<p>“Well! as you please,” said Volkonski, clearing -his throat, and continuing to gaze out of the -window. “The incident, if you like, is not very -important, rather comical than otherwise. You -know the wife of the General Major Kojin? -Marie Dimitrievna, who is so lively, so beautiful -and such a chatterbox?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, of course, who does not know her? I -often used to meet her, before my departure for -foreign parts.”</p> - -<p>“Well! you know, she babbled out, it is -said, somewhere … that some one … -well! we’ll call them the Abaloshoffs, it’s all the -same, I’ve forgotten who—had decided on patronising -the new lucky man, Peter Modrvinoff.… -Of course you know.”</p> - -<p>Orloff silently inclined his head.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Patronise … well! you understand, -trip him up.…”</p> - -<p>“Who?” asked Orloff.</p> - -<p>“Well! it would seem Gregory Alexandrovitch -Potemkin.”</p> - -<p>“Well! and what then?”</p> - -<p>“Well! this,” continued the prince. “In -somebody’s private rooms, Stephan Ivanovitch -Sheshkovski was hurriedly called, and the -following orders were given:—‘Batiushka, go -immediately, this very minute, to the masquerade, -find out the <i lang="ru">Generalsha</i> Kojin. Having found -her, carry her off to the secret department, and -having given her a slight taste of corporal -punishment, as a small token of remembrance, -bring back the aforesaid little lady, with all -honour, and deliver her safely over to the masquerade.”</p> - -<p>“And Sheshkovski?”</p> - -<p>“Well! he took the little lady, whipped her -soundly, and brought her back, with all honour, -to the masquerade, and she, that no one should -get a hint of this curious little incident, said -nothing, and very wisely and assiduously went -through all the dances to which she had been -invited—every one to the last—minuet, <i lang="fr">cotillon</i>, -and all.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> - -<p>Orloff understood well the bitter allusion, and -never mentioned Docifé again.</p> - -<p>Neither did the count find any pleasure in his -conversations with his intendant, Terentitch -Cabanoff, who sometimes used to come from -Krenova to Niaskouchnavo. Terentitch was a -serf, but knew how to read and write. He was -always dressed in the latest fashion, with a -pearl-grey <i>kaftan</i><a name="FNanchor_43" id="FNanchor_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> and waistcoat, shoes with -huge steel buckles, ruffles, and a black silk -purse<a name="FNanchor_44" id="FNanchor_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> to his powdered pigtail.</p> - -<p>The count would pour out for him a goblet -of rich foreign wine, saying, “Taste that, old -fellow.… It’s not wine I’ve poured out, -it’s a man’s life, … elixir.” Terentitch would -refuse.</p> - -<p>“No! No nonsense, old man!” would press -the count. “Don’t forget the proverb, ‘Enjoy -life while it lasts.’ Be merry, in that alone lies -happiness. Unfortunately, not for all.”</p> - -<p>“Too true, Batiushka Count!” would answer -Cabanoff, drinking off the goblet. “We, well! -we are but serfs; … but you, ought you -to sigh, ought you not to enjoy sweet life in your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> -own lovely, beautiful manors? The sites are -so dry, so gay, the sloping fields are so fruitful; -springs of water, forests, groves, everywhere. -The serfs so industrious, so hardy, no beggars, -thanks to you, our benefactor. We have noticed -long ago, sir, that you are always very sad, and -have heard something now and then which makes -us all very anxious.”</p> - -<p>“Doubt and suspicion, my dear fellow, will -constantly exist,” answered the count. “Last -autumn, you yourself wrote to me, when I was -in foreign parts, praising the coming crops, and -how did they turn out? to be of no account at -all? No, the proverb says, ‘Don’t count your -chickens before they’re hatched!’”</p> - -<p>“Yes, it’s the truth you’re saying,” answered -Terentitch, sighing.</p> - -<p>“And in all other things,” continued the count. -“I go about a great deal, and many come to me, -and, would you believe it? I know nothing of -what I used to know before. Phylia was high -in favour, every one sought his patronage, but -now, …” the count was silent and thoughtful.</p> - -<p>“See there!” thought Cabanoff, looking at -him, “with that strength, those riches, to be -thus slighted.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! yes, old man,” continued Orloff, “hard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> -times are come. I feel as if between two millstones. -My services are ended; no one requires -them any more, and here, at home, there is -nothing but <i lang="fr">ennui</i>.”</p> - -<p>“Count, fire purifies gold,” answered Terentitch, -“misfortune, man. Wood won’t burn without -shavings.… I might look out for some -for you.”</p> - -<p>“What?”</p> - -<p>“Get married, your Grace.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! well, prate about that to others, but not -to me,” answered Chesmenski, remembering that -Konsov had given him the same advice not long -before.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER XXIV.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>THE PRINCESS WRITES TO THE EMPRESS.</i></span></h3> - -<p>Meanwhile, the position of the Princess Tarakanova -had remained the same. During the -celebration of the peace with Turkey, in Moscow, -she had been forgotten. However, when all had -become quiet again, new points of condemnation -were found against her. She was again cross-examined. -Even Sheshkovski was called, and -let loose on her, and the cross-examinations were -more frequent. Worn out by her illness and -mental anguish, as well as by her miserable and -unusual surroundings, and by the presence of -the two sentinels in her room, she began fading -rapidly. There were even days when her end -was expected every minute. After one of these -terrible days, the unfortunate captive seized a -pen, and wrote a letter to the empress.</p> - -<p>“Snatching myself from the arms of death,” -she wrote, “I throw myself at your feet. You -ask, who I am? but can the fact of birth be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> -made a crime of, for any one? Night and day -men are in my room. My sufferings are such -that my whole being is shaken. In refusing me -mercy, it’s not to me alone you refuse it.” The -empress was very much troubled that she could -not leave Moscow herself and personally see the -captive, who excited in her by turns the deepest -anger, and, involuntarily, the most profound -pity.</p> - -<p>In the month of August, Field-Marshal -Galitzin paid the Princess another visit.</p> - -<p>“You called yourself a Persian. Then you -said you were born in Arabia; you gave yourself -out next as a Tcherkeshenka; and at last as -our grand-duchess,” he said. “You stated that -you knew the Oriental languages; we gave your -letters to persons who know those languages, but -they could make nothing out of them. Is it -possible—excuse me—that this is also deceit on -your part?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! how stupid all that is!” answered -Tarakanova, with a contemptuous smile, and again -coughing. “Do Persians and Arabs teach their -wives to read or write? In my childhood I -learnt a little by myself, and therefore I ought to -be believed more than your readers.”</p> - -<p>Galitzin was too sorry for her to go on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> -questioning her on all the points written down -by Oushakoff.</p> - -<p>“Look here,” said he, dashing away a tear, -seeming to recollect something which was a great -deal more serious and important, “there’s no -time for disputes now … your strength is -failing you.… I have not received permission; -yet I will give orders for you to be transferred -into a better and more spacious apartment, -and your food shall be brought you from the -table of the commandant.… Would you -not like a priest … you understand … -we are all in the hands of God … to prepare -you … for.…”</p> - -<p>“For death … is it not true?” interrupted -the captive, shaking her head.</p> - -<p>“Yes!” answered Galitzin.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I feel myself it is true.”</p> - -<p>“Whom would you like?” asked the prince, -leaning over her. “A Catholic, a Protestant, or -one of our own faith?”</p> - -<p>“I am Russian,” said the Princess, “therefore -send me one of our own faith, if you please.”</p> - -<p>“So, everything is finished!” thought she the -next night, sleepless as always; “darkness without -dawn, anguish without end, death … -there it comes. It will soon be here, soon—perhaps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> -to-morrow. And they’re not yet tired -of questioning.…”</p> - -<p>The captive arose, leaned her head on the side -of the bed. “But who am I after all?” she asked -herself, raising her eyes to the image of the -Saviour. “Is it so difficult to sum up everything -in these my last minutes? Perhaps.—Is -it possible that I am not really the one I thought -myself to be? No, I do not acknowledge that! -But why not? Is it from a feeling of disgust -towards them, or from too great a passion; or is -it revenge for a name disgraced, for a woman -crushed?”</p> - -<p>And then she tried again to remember all her -past, to recollect its smallest details. Days long -past crowded her memory. Her luxurious gay life, -her successes, her triumphs, her visits and her -levées, her balls. “Courtiers, <i lang="fr">diplomâts</i>, counts, -even reigning princes; how many adorers I -have had,” thought she. “There must have been -some reason why they should all have courted me -so, offered me their hearts, their riches, sought my -hand.… For what? for my beauty, for -my power of pleasing, for my talents? But there -are many beautiful, talented women far more -wily than I; why did not the Prince Limbourski -go mad over them? Why did he not give<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> -them, as he gave me, his lands, his castles? -Why didn’t he make these over to them instead -of to me, as ‘granted’ estates? Why only to me -did all the ‘Radzivills’ and ‘Pototskis’ cling? -Even the powerful favourite of the Russian -Court, Shouvaloff, sought an interview with me. -Why was I surrounded with such profound, -almost devotional respect? Why was my past -history so eagerly searched out? Yes, I was -selected by Providence for some special end, of -which I myself am ignorant.</p> - -<p>“Childhood!—there alone lies the key to it -all,” whispered the poor captive, grasping at -her earliest recollections; “there alone lie the -proofs.”</p> - -<p>But it was just that very childhood which was -so bewildering to her own mind. She recollected -the isolated hamlet somewhere in the South, in a -desert, the large shady trees, the low cottage, the -kitchen garden, and beyond, the boundless fields. -A good, kind old woman dressed and took care of -her. Then came the journey in the comfortably -balanced cart, filled with fresh, perfumed hay, -other boundless fields, rivers, mountains, forests. -“But who am I?” she would cry in anguish, -sobbing and striking her poor senseless head! -“They want proofs!—but where are these to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> -be found? What can I add to what I have -already said? How can I myself separate the -truth from the fiction which life has mixed up together? -And how could a poor, weak, deserted, -helpless child know that one day she would be -called to account for her own birth? The judgment -concerning me is unjust, illegal. It’s not -for me to help to convince my persecutors. Let -them disgrace me; let them hunt me down; let -them finish their work; I am not answerable, -either for my birth, or for my name.… I -am the only living witness of my past; there is -no other. Why are they so furious? God does -many wonders. Is it possible that He, to avenge -a poor, persecuted creature, will not perform a -miracle, will not open the door of this stone coffin, -of this awful fatal dungeon?”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER XXV.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>FATHER PETER ANDRÉEF.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The last warm days of autumn had already -passed, and cold and gloomy November had -brought its rains and mists.</p> - -<p>Father Peter Andréef, the high priest of the -Cathedral of Kazan, was a man in the prime of -life, highly educated and well read.</p> - -<p>In the autumn of 1775 he was expecting from -Tchernigoff, his niece and god-daughter Vâra. -She had written to her uncle, that she would -arrive in Petersburg with a companion, a young -lady, who was coming in the hope of presenting -personally to the empress a petition on a very -important subject. The little house of Father -Peter, with an <i lang="fr">entresol</i>,<a name="FNanchor_45" id="FNanchor_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> and a <i lang="fr">perron</i> standing -out in the street, was built behind the cathedral, -and stood by the side of the palace of the -Hetman, Razoumovski. The old oaks and the -lindens threw their shade over its red-tiled roof,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> -even extending their wide-spreading branches -over the priest’s little yard.</p> - -<p>A widower for already several years, the -childless Father Peter led the life of a hermit. -His gates were always closed, and an enormous -watch-dog, Polkan, on hearing the slightest noise -would bark in the most furious fashion. The -few and far between visitors who wished to -speak to the priest always came through the -street-door, which was also kept constantly closed. -The letter of his niece gave a great deal of -pleasure to Father Peter, but he also found in -it something very extraordinary. Vâra wrote to -him, that the young mistress of the neighbouring -estate had a little while ago received from -abroad, together with a letter addressed to her, -a packet of papers covered with writing, which, -as the letter told her, had been found on the sea-shore -in a bottle. “Dear godfather and uncle, -forgive my foolishness,” wrote Vâra to her uncle, -“but after having read these papers together, the -young lady and I have decided on coming to -Petersburg, and we shall soon be there. Whom -could I recommend the unfortunate orphan to -go to if not you. She buried her parents a year -ago. In the papers sent her there is so much -concerning an important person, that before deciding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> -on speaking about it, there is a great deal -to think over. First, the young lady thought -of sending the papers to Moscow, to the empress, -but on reflection we decided otherwise. You, -dear uncle, know everything. You go everywhere, -you are respected by every one, therefore -you can easily advise us what to do. The -name of the young lady is Irena Lvovna, and -her surname—she is the daughter of the -Brigadier Rakitin.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! youth, youth!” thoughtfully shaking -his head, said the priest on reading this letter. -“Ah! the magpies, what crazy ideas! to come -all the way from Tchernigoff to Petersburg to -get my advice.… They’ve fallen—well—they’ve -found some one!”</p> - -<p>Every evening, at twilight, Father Peter was -wont to light the candles, and having put on -his house cassock, to walk up and down the -little linen drugget which ran through all the -rooms, from the little hall, through the drawing-room, -dining-room, and into the bedroom. He -would look after his plants, especially his geraniums, -standing on the window-sills; pull off the -dry leaves and pick out the weeds; and would -arrange the books on the table, and gaze at his -favourite blackbird asleep in its cage, at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> -“ikons” and images in the corner, at the lighted -lamp, and would begin musing and thinking—when -at last would those rooms be filled -with mirth and life, when would his magpie -come?</p> - -<p>The two girls arrived. The house of the priest -became at once bright and lively. The sprightly -gay Vârushka quite bewildered her uncle with -news about his birthplace, their acquaintances, and -journey adventures. Listening to her, Father -Peter thought within himself, “How time flies! -Is it so long ago that she was brought here, a -wild, snub-nosed, and sulky little lass? and now—look -at her, so sprightly, so gay, so clever! -Yes, and her companion, she is a beauty! Those -thick black braids, and what eyes! But quite -in another style to my Vâra; so thoughtful, discreet, -serious and proud!”</p> - -<p>After the first joyful questions and answers, -the priest was obliged to celebrate the vesper -service, and his visitors having hastily established -themselves in the attic, took everything that was -necessary, and started for the bath, accompanied -by the cook. On returning home they established -themselves in the corner by the fireside, and -there Father Peter found them, as red as boiled -lobsters, their heads tied up with coloured handkerchiefs,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> -drinking tea. It was long past midnight -when they at last rose to go to bed.</p> - -<p>“Well! my young lady, and where are the -papers you have brought with you?” said Father -Peter, rising. “It interests me also; what is -it all about?”</p> - -<p>The girls began searching in their bundles, -found the roll—on it was the inscription, “Diary -of Lieutenant Konsov.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER XXVI.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>THE VISITORS’ QUEST.</i></span></h3> - -<p>Father Peter retired to his chamber, drew the -curtains, put the candle on the night-table, threw -himself without undressing on the bed, unrolled -the crumpled manuscript of blue foreign note-paper -with gilt edges, and began reading. He -did not close his eyes till morning.</p> - -<p>The whole history of the Princess Tarakanova, -or Princess Wladimirskaya, of which Father Peter -had only heard the most contradictory rumours, -was now open to him, with unexpected details.</p> - -<p>“Ah! that is what it is about,” he thought, -on reading the first lines; “about the mysterious -Princess.”</p> - -<p>Sometimes he would leave off reading the -manuscripts, and lie with closed eyes, then again -begin to read. “And where now is that poor -unfortunate, betrayed girl?” he asked himself, -on reading the incident of Livorno. “Where is -she now dragging out her miserable existence? -And he, who wrote these lines, was he saved?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> - -<p>One candle after another burnt out. Father -Peter finished the manuscript, snuffed out the -last little piece of candle, and began walking up -and down on the drugget. He went on walking -till dawn reminded him that he had not slept all -night. “What events! ah! what events! What -an unfortunate tissue of incidents!” whispered -the priest. “Poor martyr! May God help her!”</p> - -<p>The blackbird in the cage woke up, and seeing -the very unusual promenade of its master, set -up a loud unwonted scream.</p> - -<p>“He’ll wake every one up,” thought the priest.</p> - -<p>He returned on tiptoe to his bedroom, threw -himself on his bed, and began reflecting on all -that he had read. His thoughts wandered to the -last reign, to the sea of mysterious and common -events, known to others as well as to him; at -last he fell asleep.</p> - -<p>The sound of the bells ringing for morning -service awoke him. The pale November sun -was struggling through the curtains. Father -Peter locked up the manuscript in the drawer of -his table, went to church to celebrate morning -service, and returned home, through the back -door, into the kitchen. On seeing his god-daughter -going up the attic stairs with a hot iron -in her hands he beckoned her.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Tell me, Vâra,” he whispered; “he who -wrote that diary—Konsov—must, it’s plain, have -been her <i lang="fr">fiancé</i>?”</p> - -<p>Vâra moistened her finger and then touched -the hot iron; it fizzed.</p> - -<p>“He did woo her,” she answered, dangling her -iron.</p> - -<p>“Well! and what then?”</p> - -<p>“Well! Irena Lvovna liked him. Her father -would not hear of it.”</p> - -<p>“Then the match was broken off?”</p> - -<p>“Of course!”</p> - -<p>“And now?”</p> - -<p>“Well, what can I say? She is an orphan -now, and of course would be delighted. She is -her own mistress—but where is he?”</p> - -<p>“Oh! of course the ship was wrecked,” said -Father Peter.</p> - -<p>“And in our wilderness, what could we learn -about it? Uncle, you might go and make some -inquiries of naval people, because, you see, not -only the command was lost, but all the count’s -riches.… Somewhere, you would be sure -to learn something.”</p> - -<p>“Who sent your friend this diary?”</p> - -<p>“God alone knows. The post brought it; -Irisha received it. On the roll was only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> -‘Rakitin,’ and the address; and in the note, written -in French, it was merely said that the manuscript -had been found by some fishermen in a bottle -on the sea-shore. Irena is now the only survivor -of Rakitin … and so of course she received it.”</p> - -<p>The priest, without saying anything either to -his niece or her friend, began most energetically -to make inquiries in all directions, but his efforts -were fruitless.</p> - -<p>The only information he gained at the Marine -Department was that the frigate, <i>The Northern -Eagle</i>, which was laden with the rich collections -of Count Orloff, had been driven along into the -Atlantic Ocean—it had been seen for some time -beyond Gibraltar, near the African coast, not far -off from Tangiers—and that in all probability it -had been shipwrecked and sunk not far from the -Azores or the Canaries. Of the fate of Lieutenant -Konsov nothing could be gathered; it was -not even known for a surety whether he was on -the frigate or not, as the whole of the crew had -perished. The commander of the squadron, and -Admiral Greig, were both now in Moscow, and -there remained no one else to apply to. There -had been some rumours in foreign newspapers -that a disabled ship had been seen somewhere -about on the ocean, but with no crew on board,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> -as far as could be noticed; it was being driven -by the storm in the direction of the Azores or -Madeira. The violence of the storm had effectually -prevented any efforts being made to rescue it.</p> - -<p>“Poor young girl!” thought the priest, looking -at Rakitina; “so clever, so modest, so rich, -and so young. They would have been a couple, -if God had only spared him! No, he must be -dead. Had he been alive, he would have sent -some token to his native land, to his fellow -officers, to his relations.”</p> - -<p>Once, when he had some spare time, he took -the opportunity of speaking with Irena.</p> - -<p>“Young lady,” said he, “I have heard from -my niece of your loss. Of course, it is plain your -enemies had their own reasons for separating -you from your wooer and giving you another. -Why did it all happen? Why was Konsov -treated with such disdain?”</p> - -<p>“I know not myself,” answered Irena. “My -late father was very fond of Pavel Efstafitch, was -always very kind to him, treated him not only as -a near neighbour, but as one dear to him. And -I, what words can describe my love for him? I -lived only in his love.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then, how came this separation about?”</p> - -<p>“Oh, don’t ask me,” said Irena, covering her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> -face with her hands. “It is such anguish to me—such -grief. We saw each other often, corresponded; -we used to have meetings. I gave -him my word; we were only awaiting a fitting -time to tell all to my father.”</p> - -<p>Rakitina was silent for some minutes.</p> - -<p>“Oh, it is dreadful to recollect it all!” she -continued. “I suppose some one must have -calumniated Konsov to my father. All at once—it -was evening—I saw the horses being put to -the carriage. ‘Where to?’ I asked. My father -would answer nothing. My things were carried -out, put into the carriage. At that time a relative -from Petersburg was on a visit to us. We -three took our seats in the carriage. ‘Where -to?’ I again asked my father. ‘Oh, hereabouts, -not very far; we will just have a drive,’ said my -father, joking. Yes; it turned out a nice joke! -We went on with post-horses, without one relay, -as far as our other property, one thousand versts<a name="FNanchor_46" id="FNanchor_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> -distant. I could neither write nor send any -message to Konsov for a long time, I was watched -so closely. It was only when my father fell -dangerously ill that I implored him not to break -my heart, but to allow me to write to Konsov. -He began crying bitterly, and said, ‘Forgive me,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> -Irisha. We have both been deceived cruelly.’ -‘What? what?’ I could only ask. ‘Is it possible -that that cousin sought my hand?’</p> - -<p>“‘Not your hand, my dear, but the money,’ -my father said. ‘He intercepted one of Konsov’s -letters to you, and so stirred up my anger against -him, that I decided on carrying you off. Forgive -me, Irenushka, forgive me. God has punished -him, the wicked one. He borrowed a large sum -from me, lost it at cards in Moscow, and has blown -his brains out. He left a letter … there it -is, read it … I received it a few days ago.’</p> - -<p>“My poor father did not live long after this. -I returned to my own property, but of Konsov -I could get no tidings. His grandmother was -also dead. I wrote to Petersburg, whence he had -started, wrote into foreign parts, to the fleet; but -then war was raging, and of course he did not -get my letters. Then his captivity in Turkey -… then … and that is all my sad fate.”</p> - -<p>“Pray, my dear young lady, pray,” said the -priest. “Your lot is a bitter one; only the good -God above can help you.”</p> - -<p>Meantime, several days passed by. Rakitina, -ceaselessly without respite, went about gathering -all the information she could, regretting neither -time nor money, but all was of no avail.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I can see, Irena Lvovna,” said Father Peter -to his guest one day, “that you are constantly -going about, first to one, then to another, troubling -yourself and all for nothing. I have heard -it said that the empress will not be here for some -time yet; why should you not write to the -superior officer of Pavel Efstafitch, to Moscow? -may not the Count Orloff know of something?”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Father,” answered Rakitina, bowing. -“Let us pray God that we may learn something -about that unfortunate ship without a crew, -and if no one else were saved, perhaps Konsov.… -Yesterday Count Pânin promised me to -get some information from a foreign Marine -Department—in Spain—in Madeira; Von Viesing, -the author, has also offered his services. Shall -I not hear of something? I shall wait a little -longer; still I ought to be going home, but how -can I go without any hope! Oh! that unfortunate -ship, it haunts me night and day!…”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER XXVII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>A LATE VISITOR.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The evening of the 1st of December, 1775, was -particularly wet and windy. The snow which -had fallen in the morning was now all melted; -there were pools of water everywhere; the few -and far between carriages and pedestrians gloomily -splashed along the streets. There was a storm. -The wind howled over the house of the priest, -shaking the shutters, and bending the enormous -trees in the garden of the Hetman. The Neva -was swollen; an inundation was imminent. From -time to time could be heard the gloomy sound of -the cannon from the fortress.</p> - -<p>Father Peter was in the attic with the girls, -and very thoughtful. The conversation could not -be kept up to the accompaniment of the howling -wind; it frequently had to be broken. Vâra was -telling the cards; Irena appeared very displeased, -and was relating with a very discontented face -what leeches the secretaries in the Foreign Department -were, the interpreters, and even the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> -very scribes. Notwithstanding the orders and -personal interest of Count Pânin, they had as -yet done nothing in Spain or on the islands. -Projects were made on paper, copied, translated, -everything, only to drag on.</p> - -<p>“You should just oil a little … through -the servants, or somehow,” said the priest.</p> - -<p>“Oh! she gave without stint,” answered Vâra -for her friend.</p> - -<p>“Oh! those laggards,” said Father Peter. -“Yes, it’s high time our empress should return -from Moscow. We are badly off without her.”</p> - -<p>The rain beat furiously on the windows like -hail. The poor trembling drenched dog had -hidden himself in his kennel, as though acknowledging -that in such a storm, and with the cannon -firing, no one would take the trouble to disturb -him. All at once, after one of the booms of the -cannon from the fortress, the dog began to bark -most angrily, and, above the roar of the wind, -the noise of the shutting of the gate was distinctly -heard. Both girls shivered.</p> - -<p>“Axenia is asleep,” said Father Peter, speaking -of the cook. “Some one wants me, I suppose, -and could not make himself heard at the -front door.”</p> - -<p>“Uncle, I’ll go and open it,” said Vâra.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Oh! with your courage! You’d better sit -still.”</p> - -<p>The priest, taking the candle in his hand, went -down and opened the door. There entered a not -very tall, but stout man, with a red face. He -had a cocked hat and sword, and seemed as if -he had got rather wet while waiting at the -<i lang="fr">perron</i> to have the door opened.</p> - -<p>“Secretary to the commander-in-chief, Oushakoff,” -said he, shaking himself. “I am come -to you on a secret mission.”</p> - -<p>The priest felt a little frightened. He remembered -the papers brought by Rakitina. He shut -the door, and invited his guest into the study, -lighted a second candle, and having given his -visitor a chair, took one himself and sat down -to listen.</p> - -<p>“‘The Sermons of Massillon’?” said Oushakoff, -rubbing his cold hands, and looking at the book -of celebrated sermons lying on Father Peter’s -table. “Then I suppose you know the French -language well?”</p> - -<p>“I understand it a little,” said the priest, -thinking within himself, “What can he want with -me at this late hour?”</p> - -<p>“Very probably, Batiushka, you understand -German also; and, who knows, perhaps Italian?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I learnt German, and of course Italian resembles -Latin very closely.”</p> - -<p>“Consequently,” continued the stranger, “you -know a little of those languages?”</p> - -<p>“Well! here’s a Preceptor come to examine -me,” thought the priest.</p> - -<p>“Yes! a little,” he answered.</p> - -<p>“Is it not strange, Father Peter, such questions; -especially in the middle of the night?” -said the stranger. “Now, confess; you do find -it strange?”</p> - -<p>“Yes! it is rather late,” said the priest, gaping -and looking at him.</p> - -<p>Oushakoff crossed one leg over the other, and -looking up to the wall, saw a portrait of the then -disgraced Archbishop Arsénia Matzaevitch, and -thought to himself, “Ah! well, he sympathises -with that scoundrel. I shall have to be very -determined with him, very brusque!”</p> - -<p>“I will not delay any longer,” said he. “This -is what it is. His Grace, the commander-in-chief, -desires your Right Reverence to take all -the necessary vessels, and immediately, without -any delay, to follow me … to a foreigner—of -the Grecian Faith.…”</p> - -<p>“But what is all this about?”</p> - -<p>“To celebrate two Sacraments.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> - -<p>“But which?”</p> - -<p>“Excuse me, but is it necessary for you to -know, beforehand?” answered Oushakoff. “There -must be no hesitation. The orders come from -high powers.”</p> - -<p>“I must get everything ready,” answered the -priest, “so I must know which.”</p> - -<p>“First Baptism, then Confession, and Holy -Communion,” answered Oushakoff.</p> - -<p>“Now, in the night?”</p> - -<p>“Just so. A carriage is waiting.”</p> - -<p>“May I take the clerk?”</p> - -<p>“The orders are, ‘without any witnesses.’”</p> - -<p>“Where is it, if I may ask?”</p> - -<p>“I cannot answer. You will know all afterwards. -Now, only one thing; there must be no -delay, and the most profound secrecy,” said -Oushakoff, with a haughty inclination of his head, -although in earnest of his request, he pressed -with both his hands his cocked hat, dripping -with the rain, to his breast.</p> - -<p>“May I at least tell my household, and allay -their anxiety?”</p> - -<p>Oushakoff knit his brows, and silently shook -his head. The priest took the cross and books, -called to Vâra in the attic to shut the door, and -by the time his niece had descended, the carriage<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> -was rolling noisily away in the street. Driving -up to the palings of the church, Father Peter -woke up the clerk, went into the church, and -took the chalice.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER XXVIII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>BAPTISM.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The carriage stopped at the house of the Commander-in-Chief -Galitzin. The prince was informed -of the arrival of the priest, and ordered -him to be brought to his bedroom, where he was -awaiting him in his dressing-gown.</p> - -<p>“<i lang="fr">Mille pardons</i>, Batiushka,” said the prince, -hurriedly dressing. “Most important affair; -by orders of the highest authority. You must -first give me your oath that you will be silent -for ever on everything heard and seen this night. -Do you swear?”</p> - -<p>“As one offering up a bloodless sacrifice,” -answered Father Peter, “I will be faithful to -my Sovereign, without any oaths.”</p> - -<p>Galitzin was a little embarrassed at first, but -he did not insist. He related to the priest a -few of the circumstances concerning the captive.</p> - -<p>“Did you ever hear anything of her before?” -he asked the priest.</p> - -<p>“Yes! a few rumours did reach me.…”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Have you heard that she is now in Petersburg?”</p> - -<p>“I hear it for the first time.”</p> - -<p>Galitzin told him of the anxiety of the empress, -of the several foreign inimical parties, and -of the false wills.</p> - -<p>“The doctor has quite given her up,” added -the field-marshal. “Not only her days, but -her hours are numbered.”</p> - -<p>Father Peter crossed himself.</p> - -<p>“She wishes to be prepared,” continued the -prince, as if choosing his words. “It is not -for me to teach you what to do. Most probably, -like a good shepherd, you will lead her to a full -Confession and Repentance as to who she is, -and if she has taken a name not belonging to -her, and who incited her to do it?… Will -you do this?”</p> - -<p>The priest lingered with his answer.</p> - -<p>“Give your word that you will help justice.”</p> - -<p>“I know my duty and my obligations as -minister of God,” answered Father Peter, drily, -coughing.</p> - -<p>“You may go,” said the prince, bowing. -“You will be conducted where you are needed. -As to me, I hope you will excuse the trouble -I have given you at such a late hour.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> - -<p>The carriage, with the priest and Oushakoff, -took the road to the fortress. At the door of -the commandant’s they noticed another carriage.</p> - -<p>The priest was led into a special room, where -he saw the Général Procureur, Prince Viazimski. -Near the prince stood the tall, manly, ruddy-faced -commandant of the fortress, Tchernishoff, -and, near the latter, his still young-looking and -smartly dressed wife.</p> - -<p>“Is everything ready?” asked Viazimski, -looking round.</p> - -<p>“Everything is ready,” answered the <i lang="ru">Commandantsha</i>,<a name="FNanchor_47" id="FNanchor_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> -trembling and bowing in her -rustling farthingale.</p> - -<p>“Be so good as …” said the Prince -Viazimski to the priest.</p> - -<p>They all went into the next room, where -candles in the tall silver candlesticks had already -been lighted. Between them stood a font, and -near it a woman, commonly dressed, and holding -in her arms something wrapped in white.</p> - -<p>“Begin, Holy Father,” said Viazimski, pointing -to the font and to what the woman held.</p> - -<p>Father Peter put on his vestments, took the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span> -censer from the hands of Tchernishoff, opened -the Prayer-Book, and began the ceremony.</p> - -<p>The sponsors were the finely dressed, affected -wife of the commandant, and the général procureur -himself.</p> - -<p>They gave the newly christened babe the name of -Alexander. The ceremony was finished; the <i lang="ru">commandantsha</i>, -with the babe in her arms, continued -turning and twisting about, trying with her airs -and graces to attract the attention of the général -procureur to herself and her rustling silk dress.</p> - -<p>“Whose child?” asked the priest, lowering his -voice, and respectfully inclining the cross towards -the godfather, who drew near.</p> - -<p>Viazimski looked at him, quite taken aback.</p> - -<p>“Under what name must I inscribe him in the -register?” asked Father Peter. “Who are the -parents?”</p> - -<p>“But is that absolutely necessary?” asked -the général procureur, in a displeased voice.</p> - -<p>“As you may order.… By right, the ceremony -requires it. Who knows what may happen -in the future?… We are bound.…”</p> - -<p>“Right,” said Viazimski. “Alexander Alexéef, -son of Chesmenski.”</p> - -<p>The priest silently, with a trembling hand, -inscribed the name in the baptismal register.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Now another Sacrament.… Here is your -guide,” said the Prince Viazimski sighing, pointing -to the smart commandant, who was standing -drawn up to his full height. “I hope that -everything will be fulfilled according to orders.”</p> - -<p>With these words, he left the room and drove -home.</p> - -<p>Father Peter, holding the chalice to his breast, -followed Tchernishoff. His heart beat faster -when, having crossed the little bridge in the -interior, they entered a special yard, surrounded -by a high wall. He at once understood that they -had entered the fatal Ravelin of Alexéef.…</p> - -<p>The priest and his guide, mounting a few steps, -entered a long, dimly lighted corridor, and stopped -before a low door.</p> - -<p>“She is here,” whispered the priest to himself. -The door led into a rather low but very comfortable -room. There were no sentinels now. -The candle near the bed shed a feeble light on -the other part of the room, through a purposely -arranged silk curtain. The room was close, and -a faint odour of medicine and incense pervaded -it. The priest glanced around, and silently -stepped behind the screen.</p> - -<p>The sick girl lay motionless on her bed, but -was quite conscious.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p> - -<p>She slowly raised her eyes to the visitor, and -recognising that it was the priest by his dress, -gently sighed, and held out her hand.</p> - -<p>“I am very, very glad, Holy Father,” she whispered -in French. “Perhaps you would prefer -German?”</p> - -<p>“<i lang="fr">Oui! Oui, comme il vous plaît</i>,” stammered -Father Peter, shivering involuntarily at the -sound of that deep, broken contralto.</p> - -<p>“I am ready; ask,” stammered the captive. -“Pray for me.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER XXIX.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION.</i></span></h3> - -<p>The priest carefully put the chalice on the table, -drew a chair near the bed, passed his fingers -through his bushy hair, and glancing at the -image over the head of the sick girl, gently bent -over her.</p> - -<p>“Your name?” he asked.</p> - -<p>“Princess Elizabeth.…”</p> - -<p>“I conjure you, speak the truth,” continued -Father Peter, trying to recollect the French -words. “Who were your parents, and where -were you born?”</p> - -<p>“I swear by the Almighty God that I do not -know,” answered the captive, with a hollow -cough. “I knew and believed only what others -told me.”</p> - -<p>She answered all the other questions in a voice -broken and so low as to be scarcely heard. She -touched lightly on her childhood, the South of -Russia, the village where she had lived, Siberia, -her flight to Persia, and her residence in Europe.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> - -<p>“You are a Christian?” asked the priest.</p> - -<p>“I was baptized into the Russian faith, and -therefore look upon myself as belonging to the -Russian Church, although until now, for many -reasons, I have been deprived of the blessings -of Confession and Holy Communion.… I -have sinned a great deal. Trying to tear myself -from my awful position, I gave my friendship to -people who only betrayed me.… Oh, how -thankful I am for your visit!”</p> - -<p>“Among your papers were found two wills.… -From whom did you receive them, and—hide -nothing from God and from me—by whom was -your Manifesto to the Russian fleet written?”</p> - -<p>“All that was sent to me quite ready by persons -quite unknown to me,” said the sick girl. -“I had secret friends who pitied me. They tried -to restore to me my lost rights.”</p> - -<p>“But what is this?” thought the bewildered -priest, listening to her. “Is all this fiction or -truth? If this is deceit, my God, at what a -moment!”</p> - -<p>“You are on the borders of the grave,” said he, -in a trembling voice; “on the verge of eternity.… -Repent.… Between us there is -only one witness—God.”</p> - -<p>The penitent struggled within herself. Her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> -bosom rose and fell, and her hand convulsively -clutched her handkerchief and held it to her -lips.</p> - -<p>“In expectation of God’s judgment and my -near death,” said she, turning her eyes to the -image of the Saviour, “I confess and swear that -all that I have told you and others is the truth. -I know nothing more.…”</p> - -<p>“But all this is impossible,” said Father Peter, -in an agitated voice. “All that you have told me -is so very improbable.”</p> - -<p>The poor girl closed her eyes, as if from unendurable -acute suffering. Large tears rolled down -her thin and faded cheeks.</p> - -<p>“Who were your accomplices?” asked the -priest, after a short pause.</p> - -<p>“Oh, no one! Have pity, have mercy; … -and if I, weak, persecuted, without means.…”</p> - -<p>The Princess did not finish. A hollow cough -shook her frame. She suddenly raised herself, -clutched at her breast, at the bed, and fell back, -apparently lifeless.</p> - -<p>The fainting fit lasted several minutes. Father -Peter, thinking she was dying, began reading the -prayers. The sick girl came to herself.</p> - -<p>“Do not agitate yourself; be calm,” said the -priest, noticing she was coming to.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Oh, I cannot any more! Leave me! Go -away!” murmured the sick girl. “Another time.… -Let me rest.”</p> - -<p>“I have just christened your son,” said the -priest, wishing to give her a little courage. “I -wish you joy for him. God is merciful; you may -yet live for him.…”</p> - -<p>A faint smile came on the poor parched lips -of the captive. Her eyes wandered aimlessly -around, as though seeing beyond that room, that -fortress, beyond everything surrounding her, far -away.…</p> - -<p>Father Peter blessed the poor girl, gazed at her -for some time, took the chalice, and having postponed -the celebration of the Holy Communion, -left the room.</p> - -<p>“Well! what?” asked the commandant, who -was waiting for him in the corridor; “has she -confessed, communicated?”</p> - -<p>The priest inclined his head, silently bowed to -the commandant, entered the carriage, and left -the Ravelin.</p> - -<p>On the morning of the 2nd of December, he -was asked to come to the fortress, and to bring -the Elements of the Eucharist with him. The -sick girl was fading rapidly.</p> - -<p>“Think well, my daughter, and ease your soul,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> -by repentance,” extorted the priest. “I conjure -you, in the name of God, for the sake of the -future life!”</p> - -<p>“I am a sinner,” answered the dying girl, in -a strangely quiet voice; “from my very youth -I have sinned against God, and feel myself to be -a great impenitent sinner.”</p> - -<p>“I absolve thee from thy sins, my daughter,” -said the priest, devoutly praying and blessing -her; “but thy Pretendership, thy sins against -the empress,—thy accomplices?”</p> - -<p>“I am a Russian grand-duchess! the daughter -of the late empress,” faintly murmured the -captive, hardly moving her benumbed lips. The -priest bent over her to administer the Sacrament; -but the captive lay motionless, almost lifeless.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER XXX.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>“WHAT IF THE CAPTIVE BE INNOCENT?”</i></span></h3> - -<p>Father Peter returned home in a very agitated -frame of mind. “Is she a usurper?” thought -he. “Of course, man will stick to anything in his -own interests. But dying—almost with her last -breath, after such terrible privations, almost torture! -What if she’s innocent, not an adventuress? -remembers her childhood, repeats always -the same—of course, in all this, she is the only -witness. Is it her fault that her proofs are so -scanty, so insignificant?”</p> - -<p>The priest, on coming home, went straight to -his study. Having learnt that the girls were not -at home, he lighted his stove, shut the door, and -once more took the diary of Konsov in his hands. -Having again glanced over the manuscript, he -wrapped it in a sheet of paper, tied it round with -a string, sealed it, and wrote on the outside paper—“To -be opened only after my death.” This -roll he put at the bottom of a trunk, where he -kept many precious documents and manuscripts.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> -He had hardly shut the lid down, when a knock -was heard at the door.</p> - -<p>“Who’s there?”</p> - -<p>“Friends!” and his niece entered with Rakitina.</p> - -<p>“What is the matter with you, dear uncle,” -asked Vâra, looking at the priest; “you look -agitated—this is the second day you’ve been out -driving?…”</p> - -<p>Irena looked at him inquiringly. “Perhaps he -has some news for me,” thought she.</p> - -<p>“About other people’s business; of no interest -to you, my dear; and you, Irena Lvovna, be -magnanimous and forgive me,” continued the -priest, turning round to Rakitina. “Times are -troublous, it is now too dangerous to keep the -manuscripts you brought from home. I know -you will soon go away, but the village even is not -safe. You’ll forgive an old man.”</p> - -<p>Irena turned pale.</p> - -<p>“All sorts of rumours are floating about—search -may be made,” continued Father Peter. -“Scold me, young lady, but your manuscript.…”</p> - -<p>“Where is it? oh, you’ve not burnt it?” -cried Irena, involuntarily glancing at the lighted -stove.</p> - -<p>Father Peter silently bowed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> - -<p>Irena clasped her hands.</p> - -<p>“Oh! my God!” she cried, unable to keep -back her tears; “the last consolation, the last -token of remembrance, and that is gone! What -shall I carry away with me now?”</p> - -<p>Vâra looked reproachfully at her uncle.</p> - -<p>“Afterwards, dear young lady; in time you -shall know everything, but now it is better to be -silent,” said the priest in a decided voice. “God’s -ways are not our ways. The enemy’s path is full -of snares. Pray to God; He will have mercy.”</p> - -<p>But the priest was not to be left in peace. -That very day he was again called to the commander-in-chief.</p> - -<p>“Well, did you get anything from the captive?” -asked Galitzin.</p> - -<p>“Excuse me, your Grace,” answered Father -Peter, “but the secrets of the Confession.… -No! I cannot, I dare not.”</p> - -<p>Galitzin became embarrassed.</p> - -<p>“What a commission!” thought Galitzin, blushing. -“Ah, those counsellors.… Orloff, -you can see, unable to rest, is again inventing -something at Moscow, and I—play the Inquisitor.…”</p> - -<p>“Well, Batiushka! that’s my orders from -high.…”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> - -<p>“I cannot, your Grace; ’twould be against -my conscience.”</p> - -<p>Galitzin moved his lips, not finding a way out -of his embarrassment.</p> - -<p>“Who <em>is</em> she?” said he, trying to look very -important and determined. “Cannot you see this -is a State secret, a most important one. You see -I must send a report. There will be inquiries; -I’m answerable for everything, for order. Here, -I … I alone!”</p> - -<p>“One thing I may tell your Grace—while I am -alive, I’ll keep the oath exacted by you.”</p> - -<p>The field-marshal was all ears.</p> - -<p>“I’ll not let one word fall of what I heard at -the Confession,” continued Father Peter. “You -exacted from me an oath of silence, but I can -inform you of one thing, prince, although it is -my own personal opinion: the captive has been -much calumniated, a great deal has been invented, -… and what if she.…”</p> - -<p>“Oh! speak, speak!” said the field-marshal.</p> - -<p>“What if the captive were innocent?” said the -priest; “why should she suffer all that?”</p> - -<p>If a thunderbolt had fallen at the feet of the -prince, he could not have been more wonderstruck.</p> - -<p>“You assure me—do you mean to say, that she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> -had no accomplices?” said he; “that she was -no traitor? But then, am I to understand that -she is our own truly born grand-duchess! But -is it possible? No, not for one minute can I -think it!”</p> - -<p>Father Peter, with his head bent down, was -silent.</p> - -<p>“No! you make a mistake, that’s all a dream, -delirium,” cried out the field-marshal, clutching -at the bell rope. “Horses!” he called to the -orderly, who at once came in, “I’ll try; time is -not yet quite lost. I’ll see for myself.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER XXXI.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>RELEASE.</i></span></h3> - -<p>“Oh! I myself have sinned against her in my -reports,” thought Galitzin, on his way to the -fortress. “I fell under the influence of others, -hastened on everything without judgment. I -grasped at the guessings and conjectures of -others!”</p> - -<p>The ice on the surface of the Neva was still -under water, the remains of the previous day’s -inundation. The prince’s carriage drove on very -slowly, and with difficulty through the pools of -water. He did not find the commandant at home. -Ever since evening the latter had been in the -Ravelin. At the door stood Oushakoff with -papers in his hand. He walked up to the prince, -and was beginning—</p> - -<p>“As your Grace knows, the expenses for this -person.…”</p> - -<p>“Lead me to the captive,” said the prince, -addressing the officer on guard, and turning his -back on Oushakoff. “Umph! found occupation!—And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> -our sick captive? Is she still conscious?”</p> - -<p>“She is dying,” answered the officer.</p> - -<p>Galitzin devoutly crossed himself.</p> - -<p>On entering the Ravelin, he met Tchernishoff. -The prince did not recognise him. The brave, -fine, spruce officer, Tchernishoff, who was never -once in his life embarrassed by his service, was -now quite bewildered and pale as death.</p> - -<p>“Poor thing!” murmured the field-marshal, -following Tchernishoff. “Can it be that she will -die? Has the doctor been?”</p> - -<p>“He has not left her since evening; the agony -has already begun, she is quite unconscious. She -is raving!”</p> - -<p>“What does she rave about? Speak, speak!” -and the agitated prince leant forward to Tchernishoff. -“Were you there? Did you hear her -ravings?”</p> - -<p>“I went in several times,” answered the commandant. -“I only heard some unintelligible -words, amongst them Orloff … Princess … -Gran Dio … Mio caro.…”</p> - -<p>“And the child?” asked the prince, dashing -away a tear.</p> - -<p>“Is well, your Grace, in the hands of a wet -nurse. My wife found a very good one.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> - -<p>“See that everything necessary is found—everything. -Do you hear me, sir? everything,” -said the prince very seriously and impressively, -trying to give his voice a most imperious and -commanding tone. “In a Christian manner, do -you understand?… In case, here … -in secret … you understand me? without any -fuss … suffering humanity … a martyr.”</p> - -<p>The prince wanted to say something more, but -could only sob. Tears were choking him. He -merely nodded, and, pulling himself together as -well as he could, he briskly walked out on the -<i lang="fr">perron</i>. Here he glanced at the dismal grey sky, -covered with big heavy clouds. A whole flight -of ravens was whirling round over the Ravelin. -The iron leaves<a name="FNanchor_48" id="FNanchor_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> of the roof, half torn away by -the storm, were creaking dismally. The field-marshal -drew his sable collar close round him, -jumped into his carriage, and shouted, “Home!”</p> - -<p>“God has had pity on her, poor thing; in past -years, how often these small casemates have been -flooded during the inundations. Yes, of course, -it’s quite clear,” he went on musing. “The unfortunate -girl has only been a toy in the hands of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> -others. A usurper or not, who can tell? That’s -just what I shall write to Her Imperial Highness—her -death will not be on our heads.”</p> - -<p>The carriage rolled along quickly over the -newly-fallen snow, now passing carts loaded with -wood or hay, now an elegant carriage, or a -pedestrian feeling his way carefully through the -pools and the snow,—those very same houses, -churches, the same bridges, ensigns, that the -prince had looked at for so many years, rushed -past unnoticed by the now anxious and gloomy -commander-in-chief of the northern capital. -Then came the Police Department, at the Green -Bridge over the Nevski, and at last the apartment -of the field-marshal. His heart was very heavy.</p> - -<p>“Well! and if, after all, she’s no pretender,” -flashed through the mind of the prince, as he -saw the Elizabeth Palace rising in the gloom, -near the bridge on the Moïka, and a little farther -on, on the Nevski, the Anitchkoff Hall, the residence -of Razoumovski.</p> - -<p>Galitzin remembered now all the late reign, -the great of that time, his connections, his own -youthful years, and the years and persons that -time had carried away.</p> - -<p class="tb">On the evening of 4th of December, 1775, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> -Princess Tarakanova, Dame d’Azow, Ali Emeté, -and Princess Wladimirskaya, expired. No one -was present at her last moments; she was found -lying still, as though she had fallen asleep. Her -dim open eyes were fixed on the image of the -Saviour. On the next day the invalid watch of -the garrison of the Petropavlovski fortress dug -a grave, with the help of crow-bars<a name="FNanchor_49" id="FNanchor_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> and spades, -in the middle of the little yard in the Ravelin -of Alexéef, under the shade of the lindens. And -there, secretly from all, they buried the body of -the unfortunate girl, filling the grave up with -clods of frozen earth. The invalid watchman, -Antipitch, on his own initiative, planted a birch -tree over that grave. The servitors of the Princess, -her maid Meshade, and secretary Charnomski, -as the inquest now was terminated, were sent -away to foreign parts, after having been sworn -to secrecy.</p> - -<p>Father Peter guessed at the death of the captive, -from the tears and insinuations of the <i lang="ru">commandantsha</i>, -and said to himself, “Oh, God! Thou -hast at last delivered the poor unfortunate captive -from her burden, and given rest to her soul.” -And, without any fuss or noise, went immediately<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> -to the church and celebrated a funeral -mass, for the fallen asleep bond-slave of God, -Elizabeth; and at the oblation, remembering her -soul, cut a small piece from the consecrated loaf.</p> - -<p>“For whom did you have that funeral mass?” -asked Vâra of her uncle, noticing the loaf on the -breakfast table.</p> - -<p>“For that person you know of, that poor -sufferer.”</p> - -<p>“But who was she?”</p> - -<p>“A slave, and child of a bond-slave,” mysteriously -answered Father Peter. “We are all in the -hands of God, the rich and the poor, the slaves -and the kings.”</p> - -<p class="tb">The Field-Marshal Galitzin was unable for a -long time to decide on the means of letting the -empress know of the death of Tarakanova. He -would take a pen, write a few lines, dash them -out, and again begin thinking.</p> - -<p>“Ah! come what may,” said he to himself, -“the dead will not be called to account, and for -the living, it’s a vindication.”</p> - -<p>The prince took out a clean sheet of paper, -dipped his pen in the ink, and began very carefully -to trace, in an old-fashioned hand, the -following words:—</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> - -<p>“The person so well known to your Imperial -Highness as having usurped a name and rank -not belonging to her, died on the 4th of December, -an unrepentant sinner, having confessed to -nothing and betrayed no one.”</p> - -<p>“And if any of the great should learn anything -about her, and let it out,” thought Galitzin to -himself, “we can set rumours afloat that she was -drowned in the inundation. Just at that very -time, they fired enough cannon from the fortress, -and the lovely Neva played her pranks.”</p> - -<p>And this is the origin of the legend of the -drowning of Tarakanova.<a name="FNanchor_50" id="FNanchor_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a></p> - -<p class="tb">Irena Lvovna Rakitina, after having gone about -from department to department, was at last convinced -of the hopelessness of her case, and returned -to her native village accompanied by Vâra. -This was in December, 1775. In Moscow, she -tried to give a personal petition to the empress, -but this was just the day before the departure of -Ekaterina for Petersburg. The petition of Irena -was graciously accepted; but somehow very -likely, in the confusion dependent on the departure -of the Court,—it got lost and was forgotten, -as she never received any answer or resolution.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> -Irena, while at Moscow, determined to find out -Orloff, but afterward was dissuaded from her -purpose.</p> - -<p>On her arrival in Petersburg, the empress -most assiduously questioned Galitzin about the -last days of the captive; and notwithstanding all -the endeavours of the old man to soften his -tale, she understood what an awful tragedy -had overtaken the blind victim of foreign intrigue.</p> - -<p>“Yes; you and I, prince, have also ‘oversalted’ -it!” said Ekaterina. “Why not more frankness -with me?”</p> - -<p class="tb">“I am the cause of everything,” decided Irena, -after long hours of doubt and anguish. “I was -the cause of Konsov’s leaving his native land. -It was on my account he gave way to despair, -and tried to help that unfortunate person, and -then perished. I must make amends now for his -broken life, and implore God to forgive me my -share of sins in all this unhappy affair. I am -now alone, and have nothing to expect from the -world.”</p> - -<p>In 1776, Rakitina left her estate in the hands -of her father’s serfs, and accompanied by Vâra -(who had that year become engaged to one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> -teachers of the Muscovite Seminary), started for -a small nunnery not far from Kieff, and entered -it as a novice, hoping soon to be able to take the -veil. However much Vâra implored her, or tried -to convince her, to dissuade her from taking such -a step, Irena was firm, and having put on the -hood and nun’s dress, repeated only one thing—“I -am the cause of all, and therefore must pray -for him, and suffer all my life.” But Irena could -not give up all her thoughts to prayer, however -much she wished to.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER XXXII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>“A ROSE AND A MYRTLE.”</i></span></h3> - -<p>Five years passed by, and in May, 1780, Rakitina -was again in Petersburg. Her friend Vâra -was already married and in Moscow. Father -Peter was, as before, priest of the Cathedral of -Kazan. Irena went to see him. He was delighted -and eagerly began to ask her about past -and present events.</p> - -<p>“Is it possible that you are even till now -waiting and hoping that your <i lang="fr">fiancé</i> is yet alive?” -he asked. “For how many years you are uselessly -tormenting yourself! Were he alive, be -sure he would have sent some message—I do not -say to you—to his friends, to his relations.”</p> - -<p>“Oh! don’t, don’t, Father,” answered Irena, -drying her eyes; “I will give up all, sacrifice -everything.…”</p> - -<p>“Young lady, that is a sin; you are tempting -Providence, you are imitating the heathens.”</p> - -<p>“But what can I do?” answered Irena; “I -am always seeing such awful prophetic dreams,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> -one especially. Oh! that dream; it came to me -not long ago, several nights together.”… -Irena was silent.</p> - -<p>“What dream was it? Tell me all; confide -in me.”</p> - -<p>“It seemed to me that he approached my bedside—he -was not a bit altered—just as he was -the last time I saw him in our village, stately, -handsome, amiable; and he said to me, ‘I am -still alive, Irenushka. Where the sea murmurs, -night and day, I look for you, morning and -evening, thinking perhaps you’ll come, find me, -and set me free.’… Ah! tell me, where must -I look, what must I do, whom must I ask? I -dare not trouble the empress another time.…”</p> - -<p>“I often thought of you,” said Father Peter. -“Here I only see one person, and that is—the -Tzarevitch, Pavel Petrovitch;<a name="FNanchor_51" id="FNanchor_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> he is Grand-Master -and Protector of the Order of Maltese -Knights—he alone can help you. If he will only -stoop to you, to your petition, he alone can do -something for you. In him you’ll find everything—talent, -honour, always used in the interest of -anything high and noble, secret relations with all -the most powerful and celebrated philanthropists.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> -And what goodness, what knightly nobility! No; -it is not Tiberius, as his enemies say; it’s the -future beneficent Titus.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I have heard that,” answered Irena.</p> - -<p>“You have heard? then go to him, find him -at his manor house, seek for an audience.”</p> - -<p>The priest gave Irena all possible information -and advice, as well as a letter to his god-daughter, -housekeeper in the household of the Tzarevitch. -Rakitina hired a <i lang="ru">kibitka</i><a name="FNanchor_52" id="FNanchor_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> and started for Pavlovski, -the personal property of the grand-duke.</p> - -<p>The housekeeper received Rakitina very hospitably. -She took her into her own apartment, -and then, to amuse her a little, pointed out to her -all the curiosities in the garden and park of the -grand-duke; the little cottage Cric-Crac, the hut -of the hermit, the caverns, lakes, and rustic -bridges. It was decided that Irena should first -relate everything to the favourite maid of honour -of the grand-duchess, Ekaterina Ivanovna Nelidova, -who had only just terminated her education -at Smolney Institute.<a name="FNanchor_53" id="FNanchor_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span></p> - -<p>“When shall we go to see Ekaterina Ivanovna?” -said Irena, longing for the promised -audience.</p> - -<p>“We shall have to wait; she is very much -occupied now, learning a hymn on the clavichord. -It’s the favourite piece of the grand-duke; she -is getting it ready for the concert.”</p> - -<p>One day Irena was walking in the park with -her hostess. All at once from behind the trees, -a fair lady in a light blue silk dress, without any -hoops, came towards them.</p> - -<p>“Who is that?” asked Irena.</p> - -<p>“The Tzarevna,” whispered the housekeeper, -bowing very respectfully.</p> - -<p>Irena turned faint.</p> - -<p>The elegant, though a little inclined to embonpoint, -Grand Duchess Marie Feodorovna was then -twenty-two, and very lovely.</p> - -<p>In passing by Irena, she turned her rather -bewildered and short-sighted eyes upon her, as -though astonished at her nun’s dress. The Tzarevna -was followed by a very tall, thin, pock-marked -man in a dark <i>kaftan</i> and cocked hat, -carrying a roll of music and a fiddle under his -arm.</p> - -<p>“And who is that?” asked Rakitina, when -they had gone by.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> - -<p>“Paëzsïllo,” answered the housekeeper; -“music master to her Imperial Highness.”</p> - -<p>Irena admired the rare beauty of the Tzarevna, -the delicate pink and white complexion, the -splendid golden hair, in which nestled some blue -and red flowers, contained in a tiny bottle of -water to keep them fresh.</p> - -<p>The Tzarevna was followed at some distance -by two maids of honour. One of them, a short, -thin, sprightly brunette, struck Irena by the -brightness of her black, sparkling eyes, which -literally seemed to shoot forth sparks. She was -gaily talking with her companion. It was Nelidova. -Mischievously winking at the stout housekeeper, -who was respectfully bowing to her, she -said to her with a charming smile, “I’ve had no -time yet, Anna Romanovna,—always that hymn; -to-morrow morning.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! at last, to-morrow,” thought Irena, in -ecstasy, and following with enraptured eyes the -enchanting, elegant fairies, who so unexpectedly -had passed before her eyes. At the appointed -hour, Anna Romanovna took Irena to the -pavilion of the maids of honour, not far from -the guard-house, and led her into the drawing-room.</p> - -<p>“It would seem that Ekaterina Ivanovna has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> -not yet returned from the palace of the grand-duchess,” -she said; “we will wait for her here, -my dear; take off your hood, it’s too warm.”</p> - -<p>“It does not matter; I’ll leave it.”</p> - -<p>The room was filled with vases, statuettes, and -medallions hung on the walls.</p> - -<p>“This is all the work of the grand-duchess,” -said the housekeeper. “Look here, dear, -what talent! how she paints on porcelain! -And look here, in this black cupboard, these -ivory things, that’s her work. She can engrave -also on stones, on gold, lovely <i lang="fr">paysages</i>; she can -also turn on the lathe, and how fond she is -of Ekaterina Ivanovna! those are all presents -to her. Look, she embroidered this beautiful -cushion for her. Look, what a rose! and this -myrtle! What a delicate design, and the colours, -you might mistake it for a painting.”</p> - -<p>Irena gave no answer.</p> - -<p>“Why are you so silent, my dear? What are -you thinking about?”</p> - -<p>“A rose and a myrtle,” whispered Irena, sighing; -“life and death. What will be the end of -all my efforts, my researches, my hopes?”</p> - -<p>At that very minute, the notes of the clavichord -were heard from the room of Nelidova. A -melodious splendid contralto was singing the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> -very solemn and sad hymn from Glück’s opera, -“Iphigenia in Tauridus.”</p> - -<p>“Well, Irena Lvovna, let us go; I suppose -we are too late. Ekaterina Ivanovna is at her -music, and no one will dare disturb her. Very -likely the grand-duchess is with her now.”</p> - -<p>Irena made a sign to her companion to wait a -little, and with a beating heart she listened to -the so well known notes of the imploring hymn -of “Iphigenia.” In past days she had herself -sung that to Konsov. “Oh! if I could only -implore them like that; but when will that be? -They have their own cares, they have no time,” -thought she, feeling that her tears were choking -her.</p> - -<p>“Let us go, let us go,” said Anna Romanovna, -hastily. They both went out together, went -down the steps, round the pavilion of the maids -of honour, and into the garden. The wicket-gate -banged to.</p> - -<p>“Where are you off to?” they heard a voice -gaily calling out.</p> - -<p>They both raised their eyes. Looking at them -from the open window was the smiling face of the -black-eyed Nelidova.</p> - -<p>“Come in; I’m quite free now. I was waiting -for you, and so began to sing. Come in.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> - -<p>The visitors retraced their steps.</p> - -<p>Anna Romanovna presented her companion to -Nelidova, who made her sit down beside her.</p> - -<p>“So young, and yet in such a gloomy dress,” -she said; “speak now, without any ceremony, -tell me all, I am listening.”</p> - -<p>Irena began about Konsov, then went on to -the arrest and captivity of Tarakanova. At each -of her words, at each detail of the sad event, the -bright playful face of Nelidova became more and -more troubled and sad.</p> - -<p>“Great God! what mysteries, what tragedies!” -thought she, shivering; “and all that in our -days. But it’s the dark middle ages over again, -and no one knowing anything of it.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Mademoiselle Irena,” said -Ekaterina Ivanovna, after having listened attentively -to Rakitina. “I am very much obliged to -you for all you have related to me; if you will -allow me, I will tell it all again to their Imperial -Highnesses.… I am convinced that the -Tzarevitch, that wise just knight, that angel of -goodness and honour … will do everything -for you. But to whom must he apply?”</p> - -<p>“How! to whom?” asked the astonished -Irena.</p> - -<p>“You see, I do not know very well how to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> -explain it,” continued Nelidova; “the Tzarevitch -takes no part in State affairs, he can only ask -others. On whom does all this depend?”</p> - -<p>“The Prince Potemkin might …” answered -Irena, remembering the counsels of Father Peter, -that the Prince could send orders to the different -ambassadors and consuls. “Lieutenant -Konsov is perhaps now a prisoner of the Moors -or negroes, on some wild island in the Atlantic -Ocean.”</p> - -<p>“Will you remain long here?” asked Nelidova.</p> - -<p>“The Mother Superior of the Nunnery where -I live has been summoning me to return this -long while. Every one blames me; calls my -researches sinful.”</p> - -<p>“How and where can I send you a message?”</p> - -<p>Irena named the convent, and then became -thoughtful, looking at the cushion worked by the -grand-duchess.</p> - -<p>“I’ve suffered so much, I’ve waited so long,” -she murmured, stifling her tears. “Do not write -anything—not one word—but, see, send me, -should there be success, a rose; if failure, a -myrtle leaf.”</p> - -<p>Nelidova kissed Irena.</p> - -<p>“I will do everything I can,” she said gently.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> -“I will appeal to the grand-duchess, to the -Tzarevitch. There remains nothing more for -you to do here. Better leave, my dear one; -as soon as I learn anything, I will let you -know.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER XXXIII.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>PAVEL PETROVITCH AND THE ENCHANTER.</i></span></h3> - -<p>There was still no news. It was the beginning -of the year 1781. With the retirement of Prince -Gregory Orloff, and the fallen fortunes of the -tutor of the Tzarevitch, Pânin, the new counsellors -of the Empress Ekaterina, having in view -the lessening of the influence of her son, Pavel -Petrovitch, advised her to send the Tzarevitch and -his wife on a long foreign journey, ostensibly -to make the acquaintance of foreign courts.</p> - -<p>Irena learnt this with a beating heart from -Vâra’s letter. Their Imperial Highnesses left -the environs of Petersburg on the 19th of September, -1781. Under the name of Count and -Countess “du Nord,” they passed the Russian -frontier of Poland, at the little town of Oukraine, -Vasilkoff, in the middle of October.</p> - -<p>A young person, dressed in the dark vestments -of a nun, who arrived the day before by the -Kieff track,<a name="FNanchor_54" id="FNanchor_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> was waiting here to meet Nelidova.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> -She was taken into the apartment of Ekaterina -Ivanovna. Into this room there entered also, -from the garden, the Count and Countess du -Nord, as if by accident, whilst the horses were -being changed. They remained several minutes, -and when they came out, the count was fearfully -pale, and the countess in tears.</p> - -<p>“Poor Penelope,” said Pavel to Nelidova, -getting into the carriage, on observing through -the trees the dark figure of Irena.</p> - -<p>The conversation of Ekaterina Ivanovna with -the stranger after the departure of the august -travellers was so prolonged that the carriage of -the maid of honour was much behindhand, according -to the <i lang="fr">marche-route</i>, and the horses had to be -cruelly driven to catch up the Imperial carriages.</p> - -<p>“A rose, a rose! Not myrtle!” cried out -Nelidova in French,—very mysteriously to all -around,—to the stranger, to whom she waved her -handkerchief from the carriage window, by way -of encouragement.</p> - -<p>“She is truly a sorrowing Penelope,” said -Ekaterina Ivanovna, as, driving away, she lost -sight in the distance of the dark motionless -figure of Irena.</p> - -<p>The journey of the Count and Countess du -Nord was very interesting. They travelled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> -through all Germany, and spent the New Year -in Venice. The 8th of January, 1780, the grand-duke, -Pavel Petrovitch, wrapped in the picturesque -Italian cloak <i lang="it">Tabaro</i>, and the grand-duchess, -in the graceful Venetian mantilla and -the <i lang="it">Cendadi</i>, visited the picture gallery and the -palace of the Doge in the morning, and in the evening -went to the theatre of the “Prophet Samuel,” -where “Iphigenia in Tauridus,” was to be played -in honour of the august visitors, as it was known -to be their favourite opera. The celebrated -composer Glück himself conducted the orchestra.</p> - -<p>After the opera, the public poured out, and -crowded the square of St. Mark, where a national -masquerade had been organised in honour of the -Imperial travellers.</p> - -<p>The square was covered with a noisy, vivacious -crowd. Every one noticed that the Count du Nord, -after having led the Countess straight from the -theatre to the palace which had been prepared -for them, was walking, wearing a mask, up and -down, a little out of the way of the crowd, with -a very tall foreigner, also masked, whom Glück -himself had presented to him at the opera.</p> - -<p>The full moon shed her silvery light, and all -around there were many coloured fires and lamps. -The noise and chattering of the mixed crowd<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> -failed to attract the attention of the two interlocutors.</p> - -<p>“Who is that?” asked a lady of her husband, -turning his attention to the fact that the Count -du Nord was attentively listening to the conversation -of the foreigner by his side. “Don’t you -know him again—the friend of Glück—our celebrated -necromancer, our raiser of ghosts?”</p> - -<p>Pavel was very much agitated, and in a bad -humour. He had wanted to make fun of the -stranger, but the recollection of a certain fact had -involuntarily embarrassed him.</p> - -<p>“You, Enchanter, living, according to your -own words, an innumerable number of years,” -said he, very politely, although in a slightly -mocking tone; “you are in connection not only -with the living, but with those beyond the tomb. -That is, doubtless, one of your jokes, and I, of -course, do not believe one word of it,” he added, -trying to be very amiable; “it would be silly to -believe such tales. But there are tales and tales, -you understand me?… I should very much -like to question you concerning a certain incident.…”</p> - -<p>“I am at your orders,” said the stranger.</p> - -<p>“For instance,—and this is quite a conversation -<i lang="fr">àpropos</i>,” continued the Count du Nord; “I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> -have always been very much interested in the -supernatural, especially in the inexplicable interference -of supernatural agents in our intellectual -life. I should very much like … I would -ask you, as we have met so unexpectedly, to -explain to me one very mysterious event, a very -strange meeting.…”</p> - -<p>“I am quite at your service,” answered the -stranger, politely bowing.</p> - -<p>His companion walked on a few steps silently.</p> - -<p>Pavel struggled within himself, trying to trip -up the conjurer, and at the same time to stifle -in his own heart something very sad, torturing, -which was perhaps one of his mental tribulations. -Raising his mask, he wiped his brow.</p> - -<p>“I once saw a spirit,” he said, hesitatingly, -unable to restrain his emotion; “I saw a shadow, -sacred to me.…”</p> - -<p>The stranger bowed slightly, following Pavel, -who turned the corner of the square to the -dimly-lighted river side.</p> - -<p>“It was in Petersburg,” again began the -count. He then related to his companion the -celebrated fact, already made known somehow -abroad, of his having seen the spirit of his -ancestor; how, on a certain moonlight night, -walking along the streets with his aide-de-camp,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> -he had felt that between him and the wall of the -house on the left side there rose all at once -something in a long cloak and old-fashioned -cocked hat—how he had “<em>felt</em>” that apparition, -by the icy cold which had frozen his left side, and -with what horror he had followed step by step -the apparition, which noisily struck the pavement—it -was the noise of stone against stone.</p> - -<p>The apparition, invisible to the aide-de-camp, -had addressed Pavel in a sad, reproachful voice: -“Pavel, poor Pavel, poor prince, do not love the -world too much; you will not remain long in it; -fear the reproaches of thy conscience; live by the -laws of justice … in life.…”</p> - -<p>“The apparition did not finish,” said the -count. “I still did not understand what it was. -At last I looked up and turned giddy; before me, -in the full moonlight, stood my grandfather, -Peter the Great, just as I remembered him. I -recognised directly his caressing look of love, -fixed on me. I wanted to ask him … but -he disappeared, and I remained leaning against -the bare, cold wall.” Saying these last words, -Pavel again raised his mask, and wiped his face -with his handkerchief; he was pale and very -much embarrassed. It seemed as though before -his eyes there again rose, the dear, sad apparition.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER XXXIV.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>A MYRTLE LEAF.</i></span></h3> - -<p>“What do you think, Signor?” asked the count, -after a short pause. “Was it a dream, or did I -really see the spirit of my grandfather?”</p> - -<p>“It was his spirit,” answered his companion.</p> - -<p>“What did his words mean, and why did he -not finish them?”</p> - -<p>“Would you like to know?”</p> - -<p>“Of course.”</p> - -<p>“Some one disturbed him.”</p> - -<p>“But who?” asked Pavel, continuing to walk -along the deserted river side.</p> - -<p>“The apparition disappeared at my approach. -I was just leaving at that time your banker, -Sutherland. You did not notice me, but I saw -you both, and I involuntarily startled the apparition -of the great man.”</p> - -<p>The count stopped; he was amused, and at the -same time indignant at the impudence of the -magician, and yet there remained something more -to be learnt.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p> - -<p>“You are joking,” said he. “How is it you -were in Petersburg, and no one heard anything -of it?”</p> - -<p>“I had that pleasure—but for a very short -time. I was received in a very unfriendly -manner. As a foreigner, and one fond of knowledge, -I had expected to obtain more attention. -But the first minister offended me deeply; he -invited me to leave the country. I withdrew my -money from the bankers, and that very same -night left Petersburg.”</p> - -<p>“Fool, jackanapes!” thought the count, contemptuously -smiling; “what inventions, what -yarns he can spin.”</p> - -<p>“Allow me to offer my apologies for the rudeness -of our ministers,” said the count, with the -most elaborate politeness, slightly touching his -hat with his hand. “But can you explain to me -the meaning of the words of the apparition?”</p> - -<p>“It would be better not to seek to know -the meaning of the apparition,” answered the -stranger. “There are things … on which -it is better to let the Fates be silent.…”</p> - -<p>At that moment the sounds of a lute came -floating from the great lagoon. Some one seated -in a gondola was singing. Pavel eagerly listened; -it was his favourite hymn. It brought back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> -to his recollection the Manor of Pavlovski, the -musical mornings at Nelidova’s, and her intercession -for Rakitina.</p> - -<p>“Very well,” said he; “let it be so; the future -will reveal the truth. But I have another favour -to ask of you.… A certain person, whom -I wish from my whole heart to help at any cost, -would very much like to know one thing.”</p> - -<p>“I shall be most happy,” answered the stranger; -“if I can be of any use to your Highness.”</p> - -<p>“A certain person,” continued the count, -“begged me to make inquiries here in Italy, in -Spain, and in general, of seamen, if a certain -naval officer is still living. He was on that ship -which was totally shipwrecked, five years ago, -and of which literally nothing has been heard.”</p> - -<p>“A Russian ship?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“It was carried away, and dashed to pieces by -the storm in the ocean, not far from Africa?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“The <i>Northern Eagle</i>?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but how came you to know?”</p> - -<p>“It’s not in vain I’m called an Enchanter.”</p> - -<p>“Speak! make haste, was he saved? is he still -alive, this officer?” said the count, impatiently.</p> - -<p>At that moment they were both standing on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> -water side. The silvery waves gently rippled up -to the stone steps. In the distance, in the dim -twilight, the outline of a ship with her sails -furled was just discernible.</p> - -<p>“To-morrow,” said the stranger, “I leave -Venice on that schooner; but before sailing, or -answering your question, I should like—excuse -me—to know … whether the Count du -Nord, on ascending the throne, will be more -indulgent to me than the ministers of his august -parent? Will he allow me then to visit that -country again, whatever the tenor of my answer -concerning that naval officer?”</p> - -<p>The deep agitation which Pavel had experienced, -on relating his adventure with the apparition, -had already subsided, and he was regaining -his self-composure. The question of the man -aroused his indignation.</p> - -<p>“Impudent, audacious impostor,” thought he, -in a fit of suspicious anger. “What insolence! -and what a turn he has given to the conversation. -Street acrobat! charlatan!…”</p> - -<p>Pavel could scarcely contain himself, and -crushed his glove in his hand.</p> - -<p>“According to your own words it is rather difficult -to answer for the future,” said he thoughtfully, -after a short pause. “Nevertheless, I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> -convinced, that on a second journey to Russia, -you will meet with a reception more polite and -more befitting a foreigner.”</p> - -<p>His interlocutor bowed profoundly.</p> - -<p>“So you wish to know the fate of that naval -officer?” he said.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” answered Pavel, prepared, however, to -hear some tomfoolery, some imposture.</p> - -<p>“Send that certain person awaiting your news -a myrtle leaf.”</p> - -<p>“How? what did you say? Say it again,” -cried out Pavel. “Myrtle! myrtle? then he is -lost.…”</p> - -<p>“He was saved on a fragment of the ship -near the island of Teneriffe, and for some time -remained with the poor monks of the coast.”</p> - -<p>“And now? oh! speak, I implore you.”</p> - -<p>“A year after he was killed by pirates, who -pillaged the monastery where he was living.”</p> - -<p>“How did you learn all this?”</p> - -<p>“At that time I was myself living on the isle -of Teneriffe,” he answered. “I was copying an -old Latin manuscript, which was very precious to -me, from the archives of the monastery.”</p> - -<p>“But what does all this mean? Is he only a -juggler, or an all-powerful seer?” thought Pavel, -torn with doubts. “A clever diviner, or a bold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> -charlatan, but from where?… All my most -secret … coast of Africa … the -name of the lost ship … and then that -token, the fatal myrtle. Is it possible Ekaterina -Ivanovna should have betrayed me? But he -never saw her; she is ill, has never been once -out of her room, received no visits, and has been -nowhere.…”</p> - -<p>Pavel wanted to say something else, but could -find no words.</p> - -<p>Beyond the schooner the dawn was breaking.</p> - -<p>“I will accompany your Highness to the -palace,” said the stranger with elaborate politeness -and a cringing bow; “have I your permission?”</p> - -<p>Pavel slightly glanced at the tawdry cotton-velvet -bespangled costume of the wizard, looking -so shabby in the morning light, and taking off -his mask, without saying one word more, strode -gloomily and proudly along the deserted shore.</p> - -<p>“Poor sorrowing Penelope! unfortunate lovely -Irena!” thought he. “No one has been able to -solve that anguishful enigma—neither ministers, -nor knights, nor ambassadors; let us send her -the myrtle leaf of the Italian wizard and juggler.”</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span></p> - -<h3 id="CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER XXXV.<br /> -<span class="smaller"><i>FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER.</i></span></h3> - -<p>Fifteen years had passed away; the year 1796 -was drawing to its end. It was in the beginning -of the reign of Pavel I. All Petersburg was hailing -joyfully the liberation of the celebrated Novikoff -from the fortress, and the return from Siberia -of Radischeff. The emperor, with his august -consort and several courtiers, went to visit the -fortress of Petropavlovski. The chief of the -police, Arharoff, asked the emperor if he would -not like to visit the Ravelin of Alexéef, where -great alterations and repairs were taking place. -One of the dungeons attracted the attention of -the Imperial visitors.</p> - -<p>“Were any Italians ever confined here?” -asked the emperor of the commandant.</p> - -<p>“Never, your Highness; only schismatics.”</p> - -<p>“Well, look here,” and the Emperor pointed to -the window, “here’s an inscription on the glass, -cut with a diamond. ‘O, Dio mio.’”</p> - -<p>Arharoff and the commandant both bent towards -the window eagerly. The commandant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> -was new, and therefore had not yet had time to -become acquainted with all the legends and past -days of the fortress.</p> - -<p>“It would be very interesting to know,” said -the Empress Marie Feodorovna. “It’s a woman’s -hand. Poor thing, who could it have been?”</p> - -<p>“Was it not Tarakanova?” said Nelidova, -standing by. “Have you forgotten, your Highness, -the unfortunate Konsov, and the young -lady from Little Russia?”</p> - -<p>“Tarakanova was drowned here at the time of -the inundation,” said somebody.</p> - -<p>Every one was silent; the Empress Marie -Feodorovna alone looked at Nelidova, and pointed -with her eyes out of the window at a solitary -silver birch tree, growing in the middle of the -little neglected garden of the Ravelin.</p> - -<p>“That’s her grave,” she whispered. “Do you -remember? But what can have become of the -diary?”</p> - -<p>It was plain that the emperor had heard the -words. As he took his seat in the carriage, he -remarked to Arharoff, “At whatever cost this -affair must be looked into; a most painful event -here took place. They were troublous times; -the attempt of Merovitch, the insurrection of -Pougachoff, and then … this unfortunate.… -I saw my mother’s tears; to her very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> -last days she could not forgive herself for allowing -the poor girl to be interrogated during her -absence from Petersburg.”</p> - -<p>The police were all set on foot.</p> - -<p>Somewhere in an almshouse they discovered -the poor blind invalid, Antipitch. He had been -watchman in the fortress twenty years before. -The invalid directed them to a gardener, and this -one again to the warden of the cathedral of -Kazan, who said that he had found a trunk filled -with papers after the death of Father Peter, and -that he knew that in it there had been a roll of -very important papers. Search was made for the -family of Father Peter. He had left no direct -heirs, but his grand-niece, the daughter of his -niece Vâra, was found. Arharoff went himself -to see her, but she knew nothing. No one knew -what had become of the trunk of papers of Father -Peter, or whether it had been sent to Moscow with -his other things. Everything was found out in -time. In the poor retired nunnery of the Oukraine, -where Irena had sought refuge, after having taken -the veil, she peacefully died, at an advanced age, -fervently praying for her <i lang="fr">fiancé</i>, the lost Konsov. -Amongst the effects of the deceased lay a packet -of papers, with the inscription “From Father -Peter,” and there, together with a letter from a -very influential personage, a faded myrtle leaf. A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> -neighbour, who was very fond of antiquities, had -borrowed these papers from the Lady Superior. -He had subsequently died abroad.</p> - -<p class="tb">Count Alexis Gregorevitch Orloff-Chesmenski -married, the very year that the Count and -Countess du Nord were travelling abroad. His -illegitimate son by the Princess Tarakanova, Alexander -Chesmenski, died, in the rank of Brigadier, -at the close of the last century. Having survived -the Empress Ekaterina and the Emperor Pavel, -the Count Orloff died in Moscow, in the reign -of the Emperor Alexander I., on Christmas Eve, -1807, leaving an only unmarried daughter, the -well-known Countess Anna Alexéevna. It remains -a secret till now whether his conscience tormented -him for his treachery to Tarakanova, or whether -the stings of remorse had no hold on his hardened -soul. However, it is a well-known fact, -that the agonies of death must have been for -Count Orloff especially terrible, because, in order -to drown the horrible screams and groans of the -dying “Giant of his time,” it was found necessary -to make his private orchestra, at that time learning -a sonata in the neighbouring pavilion, play -as loudly as possible.</p> - -<p class="titlepage">THE END.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="footnotes"> - -<h2>FOOTNOTES</h2> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Lit., <i>word and deed</i>.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_2" id="Footnote_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> <i>The original painting (by Constantine Flavitski) hangs -in the famous private gallery of M. Tretiakoff.</i></p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_3" id="Footnote_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> The Bulgarian language is similar to the Russian, being -a Sclavonic dialect.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_4" id="Footnote_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> The Russians have no “Mr.,” “Mrs.” or “Miss” before -names. They use the patronymic, which consists in adding -<i lang="ru">vitch</i>, for the masculine, and <i lang="ru">vna</i>, for the feminine, to the -name of the father, with sometimes a contraction.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_5" id="Footnote_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Little mother,—a caressing term.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_6" id="Footnote_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Pavel the son of Efstaffi (see note on page 8).</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_7" id="Footnote_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Pet name for Irena.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_8" id="Footnote_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> The man who cries the hour for prayer from one of the -mosque towers.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_9" id="Footnote_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> The banks on either side of the Volga.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_10" id="Footnote_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> A Persian garment worn by Russian men.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_11" id="Footnote_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> A Polish garment.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_12" id="Footnote_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Seven days after the accession to the throne of Ekaterina -II. her husband, Peter III., died, it is supposed, a violent -death. Some time after a simple Cossack, named Pougachoff, -an escaped convict from the mines of Siberia (whose -torn nostrils showed that his crime had been murder), succeeded -in raising the whole of the Urals (such was the -credulity of Russians at that time) by giving himself out as -Peter III.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_13" id="Footnote_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> <i>Lit.</i> “mistress-woman,” <i>i.e.</i>, a clever manager, one quite -capable of conducting her affairs.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_14" id="Footnote_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> The Pânins were, and are, a celebrated noble family -holding various court appointments.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_15" id="Footnote_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Dimitri Tzarevitch was the son of Ivan the Terrible, the -last of the house of Ruric, and was said to have been killed -at the age of nine at Ouglitch. He of whom the Princess -speaks was a pretender, a runaway novice, so it is said. -But historians differ as to this. Some say that when Boris -Godounoff (the Russian Oliver Cromwell) planned to kill -Dimitri, some faithful friends hid the Tzarevitch, and sent -him to the Polish Court, where he was brought up, and that -afterwards he came into Russia with many adherents and an -army of several thousands, the majority of whom were Poles. -He reigned less than a year, being killed during an insurrection, -1595-96.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_16" id="Footnote_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Steps before a house.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_17" id="Footnote_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> “Tarakanova” and “Tarakanovka” have the same -meaning, and apply equally to persons and property, but the -latter, being the more playful term, is used for a child. -“Tmoutarakanova,” or “Tmoutarakanovka,” was a pet name. -It is the name of a town opposite Kertch, and of a Prince -whose capital it was. <i lang="ru">Tarakan</i> means “cockroach.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_18" id="Footnote_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> Aloshki was a native of Oukraine, but was brought -thence to sing in the choir of the Imperial chapel. His -splendid voice first attracted the attention of the Empress -Elizabeth Petrowna. His handsome figure and beautiful face -did the rest.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_19" id="Footnote_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> The title given to the chief over all the Cossacks in -Little Russia.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_20" id="Footnote_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> A pet name. Nearly all family names admit of this -suffix. The Russians have any number of pet names and -diminutives. “Aloshki” (p. 44), for instance, is the diminutive -for Alexis.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_21" id="Footnote_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> The Russian version of this nursery tale is rather -different to the English.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_22" id="Footnote_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> To this day this breed remains unrivalled, and it is -called, after the Count, “Orlovski Rissak.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_23" id="Footnote_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> A sheepskin coat with the wool inside. The hide is embroidered -with gaily-coloured silks, and being peculiarly -tanned, is very expensive.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_24" id="Footnote_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> <i lang="fr">Chic.</i>—A diminutive expressive of endearment.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_25" id="Footnote_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> A species of dove, remarkably short-beaked and short-winged. -In flying they turn over and over.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_26" id="Footnote_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> There are a hundred different ways of saying Russian -names.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_27" id="Footnote_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> “If you play me false, you forfeit your head.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_28" id="Footnote_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> Generally miswritten in English “Leghorn.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_29" id="Footnote_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> That, namely, which placed Ekaterina on the throne.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_30" id="Footnote_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> “What an impatient, impulsive, hot-headed fellow!” -Compare the English idiom, “What a brick!”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_31" id="Footnote_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> A small Italian coin.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_32" id="Footnote_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Members of the higher society in Russia are accustomed -to interlard their conversation with foreign,—especially -French,—phrases. This is not astonishing when we consider -what splendid linguists they are.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_33" id="Footnote_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> An anachronism of the author.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_34" id="Footnote_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> An Asiatic dagger.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_35" id="Footnote_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> His hands and feet were chopped off, and he was then -hanged. He himself had executed hundreds thus.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_36" id="Footnote_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> German.—“Leave of Absence.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_37" id="Footnote_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> <i>i.e.</i> “A good-for-nothing hussey.”</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_38" id="Footnote_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Ekaterina is here referring to a letter of Orloff’s.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_39" id="Footnote_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> A street in St. Petersburg.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_40" id="Footnote_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> The général procureur is the highest authority in legal -matters.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_41" id="Footnote_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> A service in honour of our Lord and the Virgin Mary.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_42" id="Footnote_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> “Docifé” is supposed to have been another daughter of -Elizabeth Petrowna. It is known that she died in the -nunnery referred to.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_43" id="Footnote_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> A Persian coat.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_44" id="Footnote_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> A fine black silk net as worn in England about the time -of George II. and George III.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_45" id="Footnote_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> <i lang="fr">Entresol</i>, a suite of apartments between ground and first -floor.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_46" id="Footnote_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> 663 miles.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_47" id="Footnote_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> A wife, in Russia, always takes her husband’s title, -adding only a feminine suffix.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_48" id="Footnote_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> In Russia the roofs of all Government buildings and of -substantial houses are made of iron sheets painted dark red -or bright green.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_49" id="Footnote_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> These are always used instead of picks, as the ground -here is sometimes frozen more than a yard deep.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_50" id="Footnote_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> See Frontispiece.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_51" id="Footnote_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> The heir-apparent, son of Ekaterina, afterwards ascended -the throne as Pavel I.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_52" id="Footnote_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> A hooded sledge, lined with furs, and with large fur -curtains and panes of glass let in. It is used for long winter -journeys.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_53" id="Footnote_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> A school in St. Petersburg for the daughters of the -nobility, endowed by Ekaterina II.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_54" id="Footnote_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> That is, the high road from Kieff.</p> - -</div> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Princess Tarakanova, by G. P. 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