第91章

CHAPTERXXI

ISeetheEmpress——MyConversationswithHer——TheValville——ILeaveZaiyaILeaveSt。PetersburgandArriveatWarsaw——ThePrincesAdamCzartoryskiandSulkowski——TheKingofPoland——TheatricalIntrigues——ByanickiIthoughtofleavingRussiaatthebeginningoftheautumn，butIwastoldbyMM。PaninandAlsuwieffthatIoughtnottogowithouthavingspokentotheempress。

"Ishouldbesorrytodoso，"Ireplied，"butasIcan’tfindanyonetopresentmetoher，Imustberesigned。"

AtlastPanintoldmetowalkinagardenfrequentedbyhermajestyatanearlyhour，andhesaidthatmeetingme，asitwerebychance，shewouldprobablyspeaktome。ItoldhimIshouldlikehimtobewithher，andheaccordinglynamedaday。

Irepairedtothegarden，andasIwalkedaboutImarvelledatthestatuaryitcontained，allthestatuesbeingmadeoftheworststone，andexecutedintheworstpossibletaste。Thenamescutbeneaththemgavethewholetheairofapracticaljoke。AweepingstatuewasDemocritus；another，withgrinningmouth，waslabelledHeraclitus；anoldmanwithalongbeardwasSappho；andanoldwoman，Avicenna；andsoon。

AsIwassmilingatthisextraordinarycollection，Isawtheczarina，precededbyCountGregoriusOrloff，andfollowedbytwoladies，approaching。CountPaninwasonherlefthand。Istoodbythehedgetoletherpass，butassoonasshecameuptomesheasked，smilingly，ifIhadbeeninterestedinthestatues。Ireplied，followinghersteps，thatIpresumedtheyhadbeenplacedtheretoimposeonfools，ortoexcitethelaughterofthoseacquaintedwithhistory。

"FromwhatIcanmakeout，"shereplied，"thesecretofthematteristhatmyworthyauntwasimposedon，andindeedshedidnottroubleherselfmuchaboutsuchtrifles。ButIhopeyouhaveseenotherthingsinRussialessridiculousthanthesestatues？"

IentertainedthesovereignformorethananhourwithmyremarksonthethingsofnoteIhadseeninSt。Petersburg。TheconversationhappenedtoturnontheKingofPrussia，andIsanghispraises；butIcensuredhisterriblehabitofalwaysinterruptingthepersonwhomhewasaddressing。CatherinesmiledandaskedmetotellherabouttheconversationIhadhadwiththismonarch，andIdidsotothebestofmyability。ShewasthenkindenoughtosaythatshehadneverseenmeattheCourtag，whichwasavocalandinstrumentalconcertgivenatthepalace，andopentoall。ItoldherthatIhadonlyattendedonce，asIwassounfortunateasnottohaveatasteformusic。AtthissheturnedtoPanin，andsaidsmilinglythatsheknewsomeoneelsewhohadthesamemisfortune。IfthereaderrememberswhatIheardhersayaboutmusicasshewasleavingtheopera，hewillpronouncemyspeechtohavebeenaverycourtier—likeone，andIconfessitwas；butwhocanresistmakingsuchspeechestoamonarch，andaboveall，amonarchinpetticoats？

TheczarinaturnedfrommetospeaktoM。Bezkoi，whohadjustcomeup，andasM。PaninleftthegardenIdidsotoo，delightedwiththehonourIhadhad。

Theempress，whowasawomanofmoderateheightandyetofamajesticappearance，thoroughlyunderstoodtheartofmakingherselfloved。

Shewasnotbeautiful，butyetshewassureofpleasingbyhergenialityandherwit，andalsobythatexquisitetactwhichmadeoneforgettheawfulnessofthesovereigninthegentlenessofthewoman。

Afewdaysafter，CountPartintoldmethattheempresshadtwiceaskedafterme，andthatthiswasasuresignIhadpleasedher。Headvisedmetolookoutforanotheropportunityofmeetingher，andsaidthatforthefutureshewouldalwaystellmetoapproachwhenevershesawme，andthatifIwantedsomeemploymentshemightpossibledosomethingforme。

ThoughIdidnotknowwhatemployIcouldaskforinthatdisagreeablecountry，IwasgladtohearthatIcouldhaveeasyaccesstotheCourt。WiththatideaIwalkedinthegardeneveryday，andherefollowsmysecondconversationwiththeempressShesawmeatadistanceandsentanofficertofetchmeintoherpresence。Aseverybodywastalkingofthetournament，whichhadtobepostponedonaccountofthebadweather，sheaskedmeifthiskindofentertainmentcouldbegivenatVenice。Itoldhersomeamusingstoriesonthesubjectofshowsandspectacles，andinthisrelationIremarkedthattheVenetianclimatewasmorepleasantthantheRussian，foratVenicefinedaysweretherule，whileatSt。

Petersburgtheyweretheexception，thoughtheyearisyoungertherethananywhereelse。

"Yes，"shesaid，"inyourcountryitiselevendaysolder。"

"WoulditnotbeworthyofyourmajestytoputRussiaonanequalitywiththerestoftheworldinthisrespect，byadoptingtheGregoriancalendar？AlltheProtestantshavedoneso，andEngland，whoadopteditfourteenyearsago，hasalreadygainedseveralmillions。AllEuropeisastonishedthattheoldstyleshouldbesufferedtoexistinacountrywherethesovereignistheheadoftheChurch，andwhosecapitalcontainsanacademyofscience。ItisthoughtthatPetertheGreat，whomadetheyearbegininJanuary，wouldhavealsoabolishedtheoldstyleifhehadnotbeenafraidofoffendingEngland，whichthenkepttradeandcommercealivethroughoutyourvastempire。"

"Youknow，"shereplied，withaslysmile，"thatPetertheGreatwasnotexactlyalearnedman。"

"Hewasmorethanamanoflearning，theimmortalPeterwasageniusofthefirstorder。Instinctsuppliedtheplaceofsciencewithhim；

hisjudgmentwasalwaysintheright。Hisvastgenius，hisfirmresolve，preventedhimfrommakingmistakes，andhelpedhimtodestroyallthoseabuseswhichthreatenedtoopposehisgreatdesigns。"

Hermajestyseemedtohaveheardmewithgreatinterest，andwasabouttoreplywhenshenoticedtwoladieswhomshesummonedtoherpresence。Tomeshesaid，——

"Ishallbedelightedtoreplytoyouatanothertime，"andthenturnedtowardstheladies。

Thetimecameineightortendays，whenIwasbeginningtothinkshehadhadenoughofme，forshehadseenmewithoutsummoningmetospeaktoher。

ShebeganbysayingwhatIdesiredshouldbedonewasdonealready。

"AlltheletterssenttoforeigncountriesandalltheimportantStaterecordsaremarkedwithbothdates。"

"ButImustpointouttoyourmajestythatbytheendofthecenturythedifferencewillbeoftwelvedays，noteleven。"

"Notatall；wehaveseentothat。Thelastyearofthiscenturywillnotbecountedasaleapyear。Itisfortunatethatthedifferenceisoneofelevendays，forasthatisthenumberwhichisaddedeveryyeartotheepactourepactsarealmostthesame。AstothecelebrationofEaster，thatisadifferentquestion。YourequinoxisonMarchthe21st，oursonthel0th，andtheastronomerssaywearebothwrong；sometimesitiswewhoarewrongandsometimesyou，astheequinoxvaries。YouknowyouarenoteveninagreementwiththeJews，whosecalculationissaidtobeperfectlyaccurate；

and，infine，thisdifferenceinthetimeofcelebratingEasterdoesnotdisturbinanywaypublicorderortheprogressoftheGovernment。"

"Yourmajesty’swordsfillmewithadmiration，buttheFestivalofChristmas————"

"IsupposeyouaregoingtosaythatwedonotcelebrateChristmasinthewintersolsticeasshouldproperlybedone。Weknowit，butitseemstomeamatterofnoaccount。Iwouldratherbearwiththissmallmistakethangrievouslyafflictvastnumbersofmysubjectsbydeprivingthemoftheirbirthdays。IfIdidso，therewouldbenoopencomplaintsuttered，asthatisnotthefashioninRussia；buttheywouldsayinsecretthatIwasanAtheist，andthatIdisputedtheinfallibilityoftheCouncilofNice。Youmaythinksuchcomplaintsmatterforlaughter，butIdonot，forIhavemuchmoreagreeablemotivesforamusement。"

Theczarinawasdelightedtomarkmysurprise。Ididnotdoubtforamomentthatshehadmadeaspecialstudyofthewholesubject。

M。Alsuwiefftoldme，afewdaysafter，thatshehadverypossiblyreadalittlepamphletonthesubject，thestatementsofwhichexactlycoincidedwithherown。Hetookcaretoadd，however，thatitwasverypossibleherhighnesswasprofoundlylearnedonthematter，butthiswasmerelyacourtier’sphrase。

Whatshesaidwasspokenmodestlyandenergetically，andhergoodhumourandpleasantsmileremainedunmovedthroughout。Sheexercisedaconstantself—controloverherself，andhereinappearedthegreatnessofhercharacter，fornothingismoredifficult。Herdemeanour，sodifferentfromthatofthePrussianking，shewedhertobethegreatersovereignofthetwo；herfrankgenialityalwaysgavehertheadvantage，whiletheshort，curtmannersofthekingoftenexposedhimtobeingmadeadupe。InanexaminationofthelifeofFredericktheGreat，onecannothelppayingadeservedtributetohiscourage，butatthesametimeonefeelsthatifithadnotbeenforrepeatedturnsofgoodfortunehemusthavesuccumbed，whereasCatherinewaslittleindebtedtothefavoursoftheblinddeity。Shesucceededinenterpriseswhich，beforehertime，wouldhavebeenpronouncedimpossibilities，anditseemedheraimtomakemenlookuponherachievementsasofsmallaccount。

Ireadinoneofourmodernjournals，thosemonumentsofeditorialself—conceit，thatCatherinetheGreatdiedhappilyasshehadlived。

Everybodyknowsthatshediedsuddenlyonherclosestool。Bycallingsuchadeathhappy，thejournalisthintsthatitisthedeathhehimselfwouldwishfor。Everyonetohistaste，andwecanonlyhopethattheeditormayobtainhiswish；butwhotoldthissillyfellowthatCatherinedesiredsuchadeath？IfheregardssuchawishasnaturaltoapersonofherprofoundgeniusIwouldaskwhotoldhimthatmenofgeniusconsiderasuddendeathtobeahappyone？Isitbecausethatishisopinion，andarewetoconcludethatheisthereforepersonofgenius？Tocometothetruthweshouldhavetointerrogatethelateempress，andaskhersomesuchquestionas:

"Areyouwellpleasedtohavediedsuddenly？"

Shewouldprobablyreply:

"Whatafoolishquestion！Suchmightbethewishofonedriventodespair，orofsomeonesufferingfromalongandgrievousmalady。

Suchwasnotmyposition，forIenjoyedtheblessingsofhappinessandgoodhealth；noworsefatecouldhavehappenedtome。MysuddendeathpreventedmefromconcludingseveraldesignswhichImighthavebroughttoasuccessfulissueifGodhadgrantedmethewarningofa，slightillness。Butitwasnotso；Ihadtosetoutonthelongjourneyatamoment’snotice，withoutthetimetomakeanypreparations。Ismydeathanythehappierfrommynotforeseeingit？

Doyouthinkmesuchacowardastodreadtheapproachofwhatiscommontoall？ItellyouthatIshouldhaveaccountedmyselfhappyifIhadhadarespiteofbutaday。ThenIshouldnotcomplainoftheDivinejustice。"

"DoesyourhighnessaccuseGodofinjustice，then？"

"Whatbootsit，sinceIamalostsoul？Doyouexpectthedamnedtoacknowledgethejusticeofthedecreewhichhasconsignedthemtoeternalwoe？"

"Nodoubtitisadifficultmatter，butIshouldhavethoughtthatasenseofthejusticeofyourdoomwouldhavemitigatedthepainsofit。"

"Perhapsso，butadamnedsoulmustbewithoutconsolationforever。"

"Inspiteofthattherearesomephilosopherswhocallyouhappyinyourdeathbyvirtueofitssuddenness。"

"Notphilosophers，butfools，forinitssuddennesswasthepainandwoe。"

"Wellsaid；butmayIaskyourhighnessifyouadmitthepossibilityofahappyeternityafteranunhappydeath，orofanunhappydoomafterahappydeath？"

"Suchsuppositionsareinconceivable。Thehappinessoffuturityliesintheecstasyofthesoulinfeelingfreedfromthetrammelsofmatter，andunhappinessisthedoomofasoulwhichwasfullofremorseatthemomentitleftthebody。Butenough，formypunishmentforbidsmyfartherspeech。"

"Tellme，atleast，whatisthenatureofyourpunishment？"

"Aneverlastingweariness。Farewell。"

Afterthislongandfancifuldigressionthereaderwillnodoubtbeobligedbymyreturningtothisworld。

CountPanintoldmethatinafewdaystheempresswouldleaveforhercountryhouse，andIdeterminedtohaveaninterviewwithher，foreseeingthatitwouldbeforthelasttime。

Ihadbeeninthegardenforafewminuteswhenheavyrainbegantofall，andIwasgoingtoleave，whentheempresssummonedmeintoanapartmentonthegroundfloorofthepalace，whereshewaswalkingupanddownwithGregorovitchandamaidofhonour。

"Ihadforgottentoaskyou，"shesaid，graciously，"ifyoubelievethenewcalculationofthecalendartobeexemptfromerror？"

"No，yourmajesty；buttheerrorissominutethatitwillnotproduceanysensibleeffectforthespaceofnineortenthousandyears。"

"Ithoughtso；andinmyopinionPopeGregoryshouldnothaveacknowledgedanymistakeatall。ThePope，however，hadmuchlessdifficultyincarryingouthisreformthanIshouldhavewithmysubjects，whoaretoofondoftheirancientusagesandcustoms。"

"Nevertheless，Iamsureyourmajestywouldmeetwithobedience。"

"Nodoubt，butimaginethegriefofmyclergyinnotbeingabletocelebratethenumeroussaints’days，whichwouldfallontheelevendaystobesuppressed。Youhaveonlyonesaintforeachday，butwehaveadozenatleast。Imayremarkalsothatallancientstatesandkingdomsareattachedtotheirancientlaws。IhaveheardthatyourRepublicofVenicebeginstheyearinMarch，andthatseemstome，asitwere，amonumentandmemorialofitsantiquity——andindeedtheyearbeginsmorenaturallyinMarchthaninJanuary——butdoesnotthisusagecausesomeconfusion？"

"Noneatall，yourmajesty。ThelettersMV，whichweadjointoalldatesinJanuaryandFebruary，renderallmistakesimpossible。"

"Veniceisalsonoteworthyforitspeculiarsystemofheraldry，bytheamusingformunderwhichitportraysitspatronsaint，andbythefiveLatinwordswithwhichtheEvangelistisinvoked，inwhich，asI

amtold，thereisagrammaticalblunderwhichhasbecomerespectablebyitslongstanding。Butisittruethatyoudonotdistinguishbetweenthedayandnighthours？"

"Itis，yourmajesty，andwhatismorewereckonthedayfromthebeginningofthenight。"

"Suchistheforceofcustom，whichmakesusadmirewhatothernationsthinkridiculous。Youseenoinconvenienceinyourdivisionoftheday，whichstrikesmeasmostinconvenient。"

"Youwouldonlyhavetolookatyourwatch，andyouwouldnotneedtolistenforthecannonshotwhichannouncesthecloseofday。"

"Yes，butforthisoneadvantageyouhaveoverus，wehavetwooveryou。Weknowthatattwelveo’clockitiseithermid—dayormidnight。"

TheczarinaspoketomeaboutthefondnessoftheVenetiansforgamesofchance，andaskediftheGenoaLotteryhadbeenestablishedthere。

"Ihavebeenasked，"sheadded，"toallowthelotterytobeestablishedinmyowndominions；butIshouldneverpermititexceptontheconditionthatnostakeshouldbebelowarouble，andthenthepoorpeoplewouldnotbeabletorisktheirmoneyinit。"

Irepliedtothisdiscreetobservationwithaprofoundinclinationofthehead，andthusendedmylastinterviewwiththefamousempresswhoreignedthirty—fiveyearswithoutcommittingasinglemistakeofanyimportance。Thehistorianwillalwaysplaceheramongstgreatsovereigns，thoughthemoralistwillalwaysconsiderher，andrightly，asoneofthemostnotableofdissolutewomen。

AfewdaysbeforeIleftIgaveanentertainmenttomyfriendsatCatherinhoff，windingupwithafinedisplayoffireworks，apresentfrommyfriendMelissino。Mysupperforthirtywasexquisite，andmyballabrilliantone。InspiteofthetenuityofmypurseIfeltobligedtogivemyfriendsthismarkofmygratitudeforthekindnesstheyhadlavishedonme。

IleftRussiawiththeactressValville，andImustheretellthereaderhowIcametomakeheracquaintance。

IhappenedtogototheFrenchplay，andtofindmyselfseatednexttoanextremelyprettyladywhowasunknowntome。Ioccasionallyaddressedanobservationtoherreferringtotheplayoractors，andIwasimmenselydelightedwithherspiritedanswers。Herexpressioncharmedme，andItookthelibertyofaskingherifshewereaRussian。

"No，thankGod！"shereplied，"IamaParisian，andanactressbyoccupation。MynameisValville；butIdon’twonderIamunknowntoyou，forIhavebeenonlyamonthhere，andhaveplayedbutonce。"

"Howisthat？"

"BecauseIwassounfortunateastofailtowintheczarina’sfavour。

However，asIwasengagedforayear，shehaskindlyorderedthatmysalaryofahundredroublesshallbepaidmonthly。AttheendoftheyearIshallgetmypassportandgo。"

"Iamsuretheempressthinkssheisdoingyouafavourinpayingyoufornothing。"

"Verylikely；butshedoesnotrememberthatIamforgettinghowtoactallthistime。"

"Yououghttotellherthat。"

"Ionlywishshewouldgivemeanaudience。"

"Thatisunnecessary。Ofcourse，youhavealover。"

"No，Ihaven’t。"

"It’sincredibletome！"

"Theysaytheincredibleoftenhappens。"

"Iamverygladtohearitmyself。"

Itookheraddress，andsentherthefollowingnotethenextday:

"Madam，——Ishouldliketobeginanintriguewithyou。Youhaveinspiredmewithfeelingsthatwillmakemeunhappyunlessyoureciprocatethem。Ibegtotakethelibertyofaskingmyselftosupwithyou，butpleasetellmehowmuchitwillcostme。IamobligedtoleaveforWarsawinthecourseofamonth，andIshallbehappytoofferyouaplaceinmytravellingcarriage。Ishallbeabletogetyouapassport。Thebearerofthishasorderstowait，andIhopeyouranswerwillbeasplainlywordedasmyquestion。"

IntwohoursIreceivedthisreply:

"Sir，——AsIhavetheknackofputtinganendtoanintriguewhenithasceasedtoamuseme，Ihavenohesitationinacceptingyourproposal。AstothesentimentswithwhichyousayIhaveinspiredyou，Iwilldomybesttosharethem，andtomakeyouhappy。Yoursuppershallbeready，andlateronwewillsettlethepriceofthedessert。IshallbedelightedtoaccepttheplaceinyourcarriageifyoucanobtainmyexpensestoParisaswellasmypassport。Andfinally，Ihopeyouwillfindmyplainspeakingonamatchwithyours。Goodbye，tilltheevening。"

Ifoundmynewfriendinacomfortablelodging，andweaccostedeachotherasifwehadbeenoldacquaintances。

"Ishallbedelightedtotravelwithyou，"saidshe，"butIdon’tthinkyouwillbeabletogetmypassport。"

"Ihavenodoubtastomysuccess，"Ireplied，"ifyouwillpresenttotheempressthepetitionIshalldraftforyou。"

"Iwillsurelydoso，"saidshe，givingmewritingmaterials。

Iwroteoutthefollowingpetition，——

"YourMajesty，——Iventuretoremindyourhighnessthatmyenforcedidlenessismakingmeforgetmyart，whichIhavenotyetlearntthoroughly。Yourmajesty’sgenerosityisthereforedoingmeaninjury，andyourmajestywoulddomeagreatbenefitingivingmepermissiontoleaveSt。Petersburg。"

"Nothingmorethanthat？"

"Notaword。"

"Yousaynothingaboutthepassport，andnothingaboutthejourney—

money。Iamnotarichwoman。"

"Doyouonlypresentthispetition；and，unlessIamverymuchmistaken，youwillhave，notonlyyourjourney—money，butalsoyouryear’ssalary。"

"Oh，thatwouldbetoomuch！"

"Notatall。YoudonotknowCatherine，butIdo。Havethiscopied，andpresentitinperson。"

Iwillcopyitoutmyself，forIcanwriteagoodenoughhand。

Indeed，italmostseemsasifIhadcomposedit；itisexactlymystyle。IbelieveyouareabetteractorthanIam，andfromthiseveningIshallcallmyselfyourpupil。Come，letushavesomesupper，thatyoumaygivememyfirstlesson。"

Afteradelicatesupper，seasonedbypleasantandwittytalk，MadameValvillegrantedmeallIcoulddesire。IwentdownstairsforamomenttosendawaymycoachmanandtoinstructhimwhathewastosaytoZaira，whomIhadforewarnedthatIwasgoingtoCronstadt，andmightnotreturntillthenextday。MycoachmanwasaUkrainianonwhosefidelityIcouldrely，butIknewthatitwouldbenecessaryfor