第90章

BetweenKoporieandSt。Petersburgthereisonlyawretchedhutfortheaccommodationoftravellers。Thecountryisawilderness，andtheinhabitantsdonotevenspeakRussian。ThedistrictiscalledIngria，andIbelievethejargonspokenhasnoaffinitywithanyotherlanguage。Theprincipaloccupationofthepeasantsisrobbery，andthetravellerdoeswellnottoleaveanyofhiseffectsaloneforamoment。

IgottoSt。Petersburgjustasthefirstraysofthesunbegantogildthehorizon。Itwasinthewintersolstice，andthesunroseattheextremityofanimmenseplainattwenty—fourminutespastnine，soIamabletostatethatthelongestnightinRussiaconsistsofeighteenhoursandthreequarters。

IgotdowninafinestreetcalledtheMillione。Ifoundacoupleofemptyrooms，whichthepeopleofthehousefurnishedwithtwobeds，fourchairs，andtwosmalltables，andrentedtomeverycheaply。

Seeingtheenormousstoves，Iconcludedtheymustconsumeavastamountofwood，butIwasmistaken。RussiaisthelandofstovesasVeniceisthatofcisterns。Ihaveinspectedtheinteriorofthesestovesinsummer—timeasminutelyasifIwishedtofindoutthesecretofmakingthem；theyaretwelvefeethighbysixbroad，andarecapableofwarmingavastroom。Theyareonlyrefuelledonceintwenty—fourhours，forassoonasthewoodisreducedtothestateofcharcoalavalveisshutintheupperpartofthestove。

Itisonlyinthehousesofnoblementhatthestovesarerefuelledtwiceaday，becauseservantsarestrictlyforbiddentoclosethevalve，andforaverygoodreason。

Ifagentlemanchancetocomehomeandorderhisservantstowarmhisroombeforehegoestobed，andiftheservantiscarelessenoughtoclosethevalvebeforethewoodisreducedtocharcoal，thenthemastersleepshislastsleep，beingsuffocatedinthreeorfourhours。Whenthedoorisopenedinthemorningheisfounddead，andthepoordevilofaservantisimmediatelyhanged，whateverhemaysay。Thissoundssevere，andevencruel；butitisanecessaryregulation，orelseaservantwouldbeabletogetridofhismasteronthesmallestprovocation。

AfterIhadmadeanagreementformyboardandlodging，bothofwhichwereverycheap（nowSt。Petersburg，isasdearasLondon），Ibroughtsomepiecesoffurniturewhichwerenecessariesforme，butwhichwerenotasyetmuchinuseinRussia，suchasacommode，abureau，&c。

GermanisthelanguageprincipallyspokeninSt。Petersburg，andI

didnotspeakGermanmuchbetterthenthanIdonow，soIhadagooddealofdifficultyinmakingmyselfunderstood，andusuallyexcitedmyauditorstolaughter。

AfterdinnermylandlordtoldmethattheCourtwasgivingamaskedballtofivethousandpersonstolastsixtyhours。Hegavemeaticket，andtoldmeIonlyneededtoshewitattheentranceoftheimperialpalace。

Idecidedtousetheticket，forIfeltthatIshouldliketobepresentatsonumerousanassembly，andasIhadmydominostillbymeamaskwasallIwanted。Iwenttothepalaceinasedan—chair，andfoundanimmensecrowdassembled，anddancinggoingoninseveralhallsineachofwhichanorchestrawasstationed。Therewerelongcountersloadedwitheatablesanddrinkablesatwhichthosewhowerehungryorthirstyateordrankasmuchastheyliked。Gaietyandfreedomreignedeverywhere，andthelightofathousandwaxcandlesilluminatedthehall。Everythingwaswonderful，andallthemoresofromitscontrastwiththecoldanddarknessthatwerewithout。AllatonceIheardamasquerbesidemesaytoanother，——

"There’stheczarina。"

WesoonsawGregoryOrloff，forhisordersweretofollowtheempressatadistance。

Ifollowedthemasquer，andIwassoonpersuadedthatitwasreallytheempress，foreverybodywasrepeatingit，thoughnooneopenlyrecognizedher。Thosewhoreallydidnotknowherjostledherinthecrowd，andIimaginedthatshewouldbedelightedatbeingtreatedthus，asitwasaproofofthesuccessofherdisguise。SeveraltimesIsawherspeakinginRussiantoonemasquerandanother。Nodoubtsheexposedhervanitytosomerudeshocks，butshehadalsotheinestimableadvantageofhearingtruthswhichhercourtierswouldcertainlynottellher。ThemasquerwhowaspronouncedtobeOrlofffollowedhereverywhere，anddidnotletheroutofhissightforamoment。Hecouldnotbemistaken，ashewasanexceptionallytallmanandhadapeculiarcarriageofthehead。

IarrestedmyprogressinahallwheretheFrenchsquaredancewasbeingperformed，andsuddenlythereappearedamasquerdisguisedintheVenetianstyle。ThecostumewassocompletethatIatoncesethimdownasafellow—countryman，forveryfewstrangerscanimitateussoastoescapedetection。Asithappened，hecameandstoodnexttome。

"OnewouldthinkyouwereaVenetian，"IsaidtohiminFrench。

"SoIam。"

"Likemyself。"

"Iamnotjesting。"

"NomoreamI。"

"ThenletusspeakinVenetian。"

"Doyoubegin，andIwillreply。"

Webeganourconversation，butwhenhecametothewordSabato，Saturday，whichisaSaboinVenetian，IdiscoveredthathewasarealVenetian，butnotfromVeniceitself。HesaidIwasright，andthathejudgedfrommyaccentthatIcamefromVenice。

"Quiteso，"saidI。

"IthoughtBernadiwastheonlyVenetianbesidesmyselfinSt。

Petersburg。"

"Youseeyouaremistaken。"

"MynameisCountVolpatidiTreviso。"

"Givemeyouraddress，andIwillcomeandtellyouwhoIam，forI

cannotdosohere。"

"Hereitis。"

AfterleavingthecountIcontinuedmyprogressthroughthiswonderfulhall，andtwoorthreehoursafterIwasattractedbythevoiceofafemalemasquerspeakingParisianFrenchinahighfalsetto，suchasiscommonatanoperaball。

IdidnotrecognizethevoicebutIknewthestyle，andfeltquitecertainthatthemasquermustbeoneofmyoldfriends，forshespokewiththeintonationsandphraseologywhichIhadrenderedpopularinmychiefplacesofresortatParis。

Iwascurioustoseewhoitcouldbe，andnotwishingtospeakbeforeIknewher，Ihadthepatiencetowaittillsheliftedhermask，andthisoccurredattheendofanhour。WhatwasmysurprisetoseeMadameBaret，thestocking—selleroftheRueSt。Honor&Myloveawokefromitslongsleep，andcominguptoherIsaid，inafalsettovoice，——

"Iamyourfriendofthe’Hoteld’Elbeuf。’"

Shewaspuzzled，andlookedthepictureofbewilderment。Iwhisperedinherear，"GilbertBaret，RuedesProuveres，"andcertainotherfactswhichcouldonlybeknowntoherselfandafortunatelover。

ShesawIknewherinmostsecrets，anddrawingmeawayshebeggedmetotellherwhoIwas。

"Iwasyourlover，andafortunateone，too，"Ireplied；"butbeforeItellyoumyname，withwhomareyou，andhowareyou？"

"Verywell；butpraydonotdivulgewhatItellyou。IleftPariswithM。d’Anglade，counsellorintheCourtofRouen。Ilivedhappilyenoughforsometimewithhim，andthenlefthimtogowithatheatricalmanager，whobroughtmehereasanactressunderthenameofdel’Anglade，andnowIamkeptbyCountRzewuski，thePolishambassador。Andnowtellmewhoyouare？"

Feelingsureofenjoyingheragain，Iliftedmymask。Shegaveacryofjoy，andexclaimed，——

"MygoodangelhasbroughtyoutoSt。Petersburg。"

"Howdoyoumean？"

"RzewuskiisobligedtogobacktoPoland，andnowIcountonyoutogetmeoutofthecountry，forIcannolongercontinueinastationforwhichIwasnotintended，sinceIcanneithersingnoract。"

Shegavemeheraddress，andIleftherdelightedwithmydiscovery。

Afterhavingpassedhalfanhouratthecounter，eatinganddrinkingofthebest，Ireturnedtothecrowdandsawmyfairstocking—sellertalkingtoCountVolpati。Hehadseenherwithme，andhastenedtoenquiremynameofher。However，shewasfaithfultoourmutualpromise，andtoldhimIwasherhusband，thoughtheVenetiandidnotseemtogivetheleastcredencetothispieceofinformation。

AtlastIwastiredandlefttheball，andwenttobedintendingtogotomassinthemorning。Isleptforsometimeandwoke，butasitwasstilldarkIturnedontheothersideandwenttosleepagain。

AtlastIawokeagain，andseeingthedaylightstealingthroughmydoublewindows，Isentforahairdresser，tellingmymantomakehasteasIwantedtohearmassonthefirstSundayaftermyarrivalinSt。Petersburg。

"Butsir，"saidhe，"thefirstSundaywasyesterday；weareatMondaynow。"

"What！Monday？"

"Yes，sir。"

Ihadspenttwenty—sevenhoursinbed，andafterlaughingatthemishapIfeltasifIcouldeasilybelieveit，formyhungerwaslikethatofacannibal。

ThisistheonlydaywhichIreallylostinmylife；butIdonotweepliketheRomanemperor，Ilaugh。ButthisisnottheonlydifferencebetweenTitusandCasanova。

IcalledonDemetrioPapanelopulo，theGreekmerchant，whowastopaymeahundredroublesamonth。IwasalsocommendedtohimbyM。daLoglio，andIhadanexcellentreception。Hebeggedmetocomeanddinewithhimeveryday，paidmetheroublesforthemonthdue，andassuredmethathehadhonouredmybilldrawnatMitau。Healsofoundmeareliableservant，andacarriageateighteenroubles，orsixducatspermonth。Suchcheapnesshas，alas！departedforever。

Thenextday，asIwasdiningwiththeworthyGreekandyoungBernardi，whowasafterwardspoisoned，CountVolpaticameinwiththedessert，andtoldushowhehadmetaVenetianattheballwhohadpromisedtocomeandseehim。

"TheVenetianwouldhavekepthispromise，"saidI，"ifhehadnothadalongsleepoftwenty—sevenhours。IamtheVenetian，andamdelightedtocontinueouracquaintance。"

Thecountwasabouttoleave，andhisdeparturehadalreadybeenannouncedintheSt。PetersburgGazette。TheRussiancustomisnottogiveatravellerhispassportstillafortnighthaselapsedaftertheappearanceofhisnameinthepaper。Thisregulationisfortheadvantageoftradesmen，whileitmakesforeignersthinktwicebeforetheycontractanydebts。

ThenextdayItookaletterofintroductiontoM。PietroIvanovitchMelissino，colonelandafterwardsgeneralofartillery。TheletterwaswrittenbyMadamedaLoglio，whowasveryintimatewithMelissino。Iwasmostpolitelywelcomed，andafterpresentingmetohispleasantwife，heaskedmeonceforalltosupwithhimeverynight。ThehousewasmanagedintheFrenchstyle，andbothplayandsupperwereconductedwithoutanyceremony。ImetthereMelissino’selderbrother，theprocuratoroftheHolySynodandhusbandofthePrincessDolgorouki。Farowenton，andthecompanywascomposedoftrustworthypersonswhoneitherboastedoftheirgainsnorbewailedtheirlossestoanyone，andsotherewasnofearoftheGovernmentdiscoveringthisinfrigementofthelawagainstgaming。ThebankwasheldbyBaronLefort，sonofthecelebratedadmiralofPetertheGreat。Lefortwasanexampleoftheinconstancyoffortune；hewasthenindisgraceonaccountofalotterywhichhehadheldatMoscowtocelebratethecoronationoftheempress，whohadfurnishedhimwiththenecessaryfunds。Thelotteryhadbeenbrokenandthefactwasattributedtothebaron’ssupposeddishonesty。

Iplayedforsmallstakesandwonafewroubles。ImadefriendswithBaronLefortatsupper，andheafterwardstoldmeofthevicissitudeshehadexperienced。

AsIwaspraisingthenoblecalmnesswithwhichacertainprincehadlostathousandroublestohim，helaughedandsaidthatthefinegamesterIhadmentionedplayeduponcreditbutneverpaid。

"Howabouthishonour？"

"Itisnotaffectedbythenon—paymentofgamingdebts。ItisanunderstoodthinginRussiathatonewhoplaysoncreditandlosesmaypayornotpayashewishes，andthewinneronlymakeshimselfridiculousbyremindingtheloserofhisdebt。"

"Thentheholderofthebankhastherighttorefusetoacceptbetswhicharenotbackedbyreadymoney。"

"Certainly；andnobodyhasarighttobeoffendedwithhimfordoingso。GamingisinaverybadstateinRussia。Iknowyoungmenofthehighestrankwhosechiefboastisthattheyknowhowtoconquerfortune；thatis，tocheat。OneoftheMatuschkinsgoessofarastochallengeallforeigncheatstomasterhim。Hehasjustreceivedpermissiontotravelforthreeyears，anditisanopensecretthathewishestotravelthathemayexercisehisskill。HeintendsreturningtoRussialadenwiththespoilsofthedupeshehasmade。"

AyoungofficeroftheguardsnamedZinowieff，arelationoftheOrloffs，whomIhadmetatMelissino’s，introducedmetoMacartney，theEnglishambassador，ayoungmanofpartsandfondofpleasure。

HehadfalleninlovewithayoungladyoftheChitrofffamily，andmaidofhonourtotheempress，andfindinghisaffectionreciprocatedababywastheresult。TheempressdisapprovedstronglyofthispieceofEnglishfreedom，andhadtheambassadorrecalled，thoughsheforgavehermaidofhonour。Thisforgivenesswasattributedtotheyounglady’sskillindancing。Iknewthebrotherofthislady，afineandintelligentyoungofficer。IhadthegoodfortunetobeadmittedtotheCourt，andthereIhadthepleasureofseeingMdlle。

Chitroffdancing，andalsoMdlle。Sievers，nowPrincesss，whomIsawagainatDresdenfouryearsagowithherdaughter，anextremelygenteelyoungprincess。IwasenchantedwithMdlle。Sievers，andfeltquiteinlovewithher；butaswewereneverintroducedIhadnoopportunityofdeclaringmypassion。Putini，thecastrato，washighinherfavour，asindeedhedeservedtobe，bothforhistalentsandthebeautiesofhisperson。

TheworthyPapanelopulointroducedmetoAlsuwieff，oneoftheministers，amanofwitandletters，andonlyoneofthekindwhomI

metinRussia。HehadbeenanindustriousstudentattheUniversityofUpsala，andlovedwine，women，andgoodcheer。HeaskedmetodinewithLocatelliatCatherinhoff，oneoftheimperialmansions，whichtheempresshadassignedtotheoldtheatricalmanagerfortheremainderofhisdays。Hewasastonishedtoseeme，andIwasmoreastonishedstilltofindthathehadturnedtaverner，forhegaveanexcellentdinnereverydaytoallwhocaredtopayarouble，exclusiveofwine。M。d’Alsuwieffintroducedmetohiscolleagueintheministry，Teploff，whosevicewasthathelovedboys，andhisvirtuethathehadstrangledPeterIII。

MadameMecour，thedancer，introducedmetoherlover，Ghelaghin，alsoaminister。HehadspenttwentyyearsofhislifeinSiberia。

AletterfromDaLogliogotmeawarmwelcomefromthecastratoLuini，adelightfulman，whokeptasplendidtable。HewastheloverofColonna，thesinger，buttheiraffectionseemedtomeatorment，fortheycouldscarcelivetogetherinpeaceforasingleday。AtLuini’shouseImetanothercastrato，Millico，agreatfriendofthechiefhuntsman，Narischkin，whoalsobecameoneofmyfriends。ThisNarischkin，apleasantandawell—informedman，wasthehusbandofthefamousMariaPaulovna。Itwasatthechiefhuntsman’ssplendidtablethatImetCalogesoPlato，nowarchbishopofNovgorod，andthenchaplaintotheempress。ThismonkwasaRussian，andamasterofruses，understoodGreek，andspokeLatinandFrench，andwaswhatwouldbecalledafineman。Itwasnowonderthatherosetosuchaheight，asinRussiathenobilityneverlowerthemselvesbyacceptingchurchdignities。

DaLogliohadgivenmealetterforthePrincessDaschkoff，andI

tookittohercountryhouse，atthedistanceofthreeverstsfromSt。Petersburg。Shehadbeenexiledfromthecapital，because，havingassistedCatherinetoascendthethrone，sheclaimedtoshareitwithher。

Ifoundtheprincessmourningforthelossofherhusband。Shewelcomedmekindly，andpromisedtospeaktoM。Paninonmybehalf；

andthreedayslatershewrotetomethatIcouldcallonthatnoblemanassoonasIliked。Thiswasaspecimenoftheempress’smagnanimity；shehaddisgracedtheprincess，butsheallowedherfavouriteministertopayhiscourttohereveryevening。Ihaveheard，ongoodauthority，thatPaninwasnottheprincess’slover，butherfather。SheisnowthePresidentoftheAcademyofScience，andIsupposetheliteratimustlookuponherasanotherMinerva，orelsetheywouldbeashamedtohaveawomanattheirhead。Forcompleteness’saketheRussiansshouldgetawomantocommandtheirarmies，butJoand’Arcsarescarce。

MelissinoandIwerepresentatanextraordinaryceremonyontheDayoftheEpiphany，namelytheblessingoftheNeva，thencoveredwithfivefeetofice。

Afterthebenedictionofthewaterschildrenwerebaptizedbybeingplungedintoalargeholewhichhadbeenmadeintheice。OnthedayonwhichIwaspresentthepriesthappenedtoletoneofthechildrenslipthroughhishands。

"Drugoi！"hecried。

Thatis，"Givemeanother。"ButmysurprisemaybeimaginedwhenI

sawthatthefatherandmotherofthechildwereinanecstasyofjoy；theywerecertainthatthebabehadbeencarriedstraighttoheaven。Happyignorance！

IhadaletterfromtheFlorentineMadameBregonciforherfriendtheVenetianRoccolini，whohadleftVenicetogoandsingattheSt。

PetersburgTheatre，thoughshedidnotknowanoteofmusic，andhadneverappearedonthestage。Theempresslaughedather，andsaidshefearedtherewasnoopeninginSt。Petersburgforherpeculiartalents，buttheRoccolini，whowasknownasLaVicenza，wasnotthewomantoloseheartforsosmallacheck。ShebecameanintimatefriendofaFrenchwomannamedProte，thewifeofamerchantwholivedwiththechiefhuntsman。ShewasatthesametimehismistressandtheconfidanteofhiswifeMariaPetrovna，whodidnotlikeherhusband，andwasverymuchobligedtotheFrenchwomanfordeliveringherfromtheconjugalimportunities。

ThisProtewasoneofthehandsomestwomenIhaveeverseen，andundoubtedlythehandsomestinSt。Petersburgatthattime。Shewasintheflowerofherage。Shehadatonceawonderfultasteforgallantryandforallthemysteriesofthetoilette。Indressshesurpassedeveryone，andasshewaswittyandamusingshecaptivatedallhearts。SuchwasthewomanwhosefriendandprocuressLaVicenzahadbecome。ShereceivedtheapplicationsofthosewhowereinlovewithMadameProte，andpassedthemon，while，whetheralover’ssuitwasacceptedornot，theprocuressgotsomethingoutofhim。

IrecognizedSignoraRoccoliniassoonasIsawher，butastwentyyearshadelapsedsinceourlastmeetingshedidnotwonderatmyappearingnottoknowher，andmadenoeffortstorefreshmymemory。

HerbrotherwascalledMontellato，andheitwaswhotriedtoassassinatemeonenightinSt。Mark’sSquare，asIwasleavingtheRidotto。Theplotthatwouldhavecostmemylife，ifIhadnotmademyescapefromthewindow，waslaidintheRoccolini’shouse。

Shewelcomedmeasafellow—countrymaninastrangeland，toldmeofherstruggles，andaddedthatnowshehadaneasylifeofit，andassociatedwiththepleasantestladiesinSt。Petersburg。

"IamastonishedthatyouhavenotmetthefairMadameProteatthechiefhuntsman’s，forsheisthedarlingofhisheart。Comeandtakecoffeewithmeto—morrow，andyoushallseeawonder。"

Ikepttheappointment，andIfoundtheladyevenmorebeautifulthantheVenetian’spraisesofherhadledmetoexpect。Iwasdazzledbyherbeauty，butnotbeingarichmanIfeltthatImustsetmywitstoworkifIwantedtoenjoyher。Iaskedhername，thoughIknewitquitewell，andshereplied，"Prote。"

"Iamgladtohearit，madam，"saidI，"foryoutherebypromisetobemine。"

"Howso？"saidshe，withacharmingsmile。Iexplainedthepun，andmadeherlaugh。Itoldheramusingstories，andletherknowtheeffectthatherbeautyhadproducedonme，andthatIhopedtimewouldsoftenherhearttome。Theacquaintancewasmade，andthenceforthIneverwenttoNarischkin’swithoutcallingonher，eitherbeforeorafterdinner。

ThePolishambassadorreturnedaboutthattime，andIhadtoforegomyenjoymentofthefairAnglade，whoacceptedaveryadvantegeousproposalwhichwasmadeherbyCountBrawn。ThischarmingFrenchwomandiedofthesmall—poxafewmonthslater，andtherecanbenodoubtthatherdeathwasablessing，asshewouldhavefallenintomiseryandpovertyafterherbeautyhadoncedecayed。

IdesiredtosucceedwithMadameProte，andwiththatideaIaskedhertodinneratLocatelli’swithLuini，Colonna，Zinowieff，SignoraVicenza，andaviolinist，herlover。Wehadanexcellentdinnerwasheddownwithplentyofwine，andthespiritsofthecompanywerewounduptothepitchIdesired。Aftertherepasteachgentlemanwentapartwithhislady，andIwasonthepointofsuccesswhenanuntowardaccidentinterruptedus。WeweresummonedtoseetheproofsofLuini’sprowess；hehadgoneoutshootingwithhisdogsandguns。

AsIwaswalkingawayfromCatherinhoffwithZinowieffInoticedayoungcountry—womanwhosebeautyastonishedme。Ipointedherouttotheyoungofficer，andwemadeforher；butshefledawaywithgreatactivitytoalittlecottage，wherewefollowedher。Wewentinandsawthefather，mother，andsomechildren，andinacornerthetimidformofthefairmaiden。

Zinowieff（who，bytheway，wasfortwentyyearsRussianambassadoratMadrid）hadalongconversationinRussianwiththefather。Ididnotunderstandwhatwassaid，butIguesseditreferredtothegirlbecause，whenherfathercalledher，sheadvancedsubmissively，andstoodmodestlybeforeus。

Theconversationover，Zinowieffwentout，andIfollowedhimaftergivi