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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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