BOY. OK GUJF. UBRART. LOS
 
 MENSHIKOFF 
 
 OR 
 
 THE PEASANT PRINCE 
 
 BY 
 
 ALFRED D'AVELINE 
 
 PHILADELPHIA : 
 
 H. L. KILNER & Co., 
 
 PUBLISHERS. 
 

 
 COPYRIGHT 1890, 
 
 BY 
 H. L. KlLNKR & CO.
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGB 
 
 THE PIE-VENDER .... 5 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF A BRILLIANT CA- 
 REER 2O 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 GREATNESS BEWILDERS . . .28 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE PATRONAL FEAST . . .42 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE DEPARTURE AND THE RETURN . 65 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE SEPARATION . . . . 8/ 
 
 2128991
 
 4 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE PINNACLE OF FORTUNE , . 97 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT . . . IO8 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE FALL . . , . , . 138 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE EXILE , . > , '_ ..-; ., . 152 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 THE CHALICE OF SORROWS . .185 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE END . 202
 
 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE PEASANT PRINCE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE PIE-VENDER. 
 
 " BUY, buy ; hot pies, hot pies ; buy my 
 Paris pies, while they are hot." 
 
 It was thus a boy about sixteen years of 
 age was crying his pies and soliciting custom 
 as he traversed the streets of Moscow, capital 
 of the Russian Empire, where his sonorous 
 voice had long been familiar. An enormous 
 flat basket, covered with a spotless white 
 napkin, and supported by two leathern straps 
 which passed across his shoulders, hung 
 upon his chest. As he walked along, he 
 glanced around to see if any of his numerous 
 5
 
 6 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 patrons were near, and from time to time he 
 stopped before the larger buildings, hoping 
 to attract attention and dispose of his pies. 
 At one of these moments, as he stood with 
 his eyes raised to the windows of a grand 
 palace, he was suddenly surrounded by a 
 band of drunken soldiers belonging to the 
 turbulent army corps formerly designated 
 by the Russians under the name of 
 Strelitzes. 
 
 "Hollo! " they cried out as they reeled 
 towards him ; " take care, you little rascal ; 
 look where you are going, and don't thrust 
 your basket against us as if trying to pierce 
 us through. What have you in it ? Come, 
 let us see at once." 
 
 Saying this four or five of them extended 
 their hands and endeavored to remove the 
 napkin which covered the pies. The boy 
 resisted them with all his strength; for he 
 justly feared that his pastry would be confis- 
 cated for the benefit of the soldiers without 
 any pecuniary advantage to himself. 
 
 "Stop, stop, I implore you in the name of 
 heaven ! " he exclaimed. " These pies were 
 not baked for you, but for the gracious Czar
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 7 
 
 Peter ; for the Czar, I tell you, and each is 
 worth a silver rouble." 
 
 " I care not whether they are destined for 
 the Czar Peter or the Czar Ivan, or for the 
 Princess Sophia," replied one of the Stre- 
 litzes with a grimace intended for a smile. 
 "They will disagree with us none the more 
 on that account, and we wish to know how 
 your dainties taste." 
 
 The young pie-vender, however, continued 
 to defend his basket against the attack of 
 the intoxicated men, repeating in a loud 
 voice all the time that the pies were for the 
 Czar Peter. Overpowered, however, by the 
 number of his assailants, he was on the point 
 of abandoning the contest, when perceiving 
 an officer approaching, he called lustily for 
 aid. 
 
 " What are you about ? " he said to the 
 soldiers in a harsh and threatening manner. 
 The men, terrified by the sight of the uni- 
 form of their interrogator, did not stop to 
 reply, but made good their escape as quickly 
 as possible. 
 
 " What was the difficulty between you and 
 the Strelitzes?" the officer asked the boy,
 
 8 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 as out of breath and heated from the strug- 
 gle in which he had been engaged, he 
 lifted the napkin from the basket to exam- 
 ine the condition of the contents. 
 
 He was so preoccupied by this inspection 
 that he did not even raise his eyes, as he 
 answered mechanically: 
 
 " The blackguards were trying to seize 
 my pies." 
 
 " But why did you continue to repeat the 
 name of the Czar Peter? " inquired the offi- 
 cer. 
 
 " Oh ! that was only a little stratagem," 
 replied the young man, now regarding his 
 liberator with a grateful smile. " I hoped by 
 using his name to inspire them with some 
 respect for my property. Besides, the Czar 
 Peter is one of my best customers ; he often 
 buys my pies." 
 
 " Take my advice and do not proclaim 
 that from the house-tops. The Princess 
 Sophia might be displeased if she knew you 
 preferred the Czar Peter to herself and to the 
 Czar Ivan. She does not jest about such 
 affairs. Therefore, be prudent." 
 
 "That will not trouble me; I sing my
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 9 
 
 song in honor of the one who patronizes 
 me," said the pie-vender. " If the Princess 
 Sophia was one of my customers, and if she 
 was as affable and kind to me as the good 
 Czar Peter, I would love her also." 
 
 " Be constant in your affection for the 
 Czar Peter," added the officer. " He will, no 
 doubt, continue to be your patron. He is to 
 dine to-day with Prince Lolopof, whose cook 
 may not be skilled like yourself in the art 
 of making delicious pastry. Suppose you 
 go to the Lolopof Palace and offer your dain- 
 ties for sale. " 
 
 Having said this, he walked off without 
 waiting for a reply. 
 
 The advice was not lost on the boy. He 
 immediately directed his steps towards the 
 palace of the prince, and standing before it 
 commenced his usual cry, hoping to be 
 called in. But no one, apparently, saw or 
 heard him. Noticing that the door was 
 partly open, he boldly entered the large hall, 
 made his way to the steward's apartment, 
 and in a low voice said to the head cook : 
 
 " Will you not buy some of the pies which 
 the Czar Peter likes so much ?"
 
 IO MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 He answered harshly : " No, we make 
 them ourselves." 
 
 It so happened that the steward heard the 
 petition of the boy, and he asked him : 
 
 "Who made these pies? How do you 
 know that the Czar Peter is fond of 
 them? " 
 
 " They are made," replied the young pie- 
 vender, " by the celebrated pastry cook, 
 Legrain, formerly of Paris, and the Czar 
 Peter often buys them from me." 
 
 " In that case go to the kitchen and wait 
 awhile," said the steward. " I will tell my 
 master ; sit down until I return." 
 
 The servant withdrew and the boy seated 
 himself on a bench in a corner of the room. 
 He waited patiently for a long time. At 
 first he inhaled with pleasure the delicious 
 odor of the various dishes which were being 
 prepared in the kitchen. But being very 
 weary from his long walk of the morning 
 and his subsequent contest with the 
 Strelitzes, the poor child found it impossible 
 to resist the drowsiness which came over 
 him. His eyes closed, his head dropped, 
 his hands relaxed their hold upon the basket
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. II 
 
 containing his merchandise, which, however, 
 rested upon his knees, being prevented from 
 falling by the double leathern straps 
 attached to it. 
 
 He was asleep when the steward re-entered 
 the kitchen. The latter immediately made 
 a sign to the head cook, and addressing the 
 scullions and aids, ordered them to go at 
 once to the cellar and help the servants to 
 bring up three hundred bottles of wine. 
 
 As soon as they Had disappeared, the 
 steward whispered a few words to the head 
 cook, who nodded assent and replied in a 
 low voice : 
 
 "Would it not be better to take the 
 basket gently from the boy and carry out 
 our design in the next room ? " 
 
 " By no means," replied the steward. " It 
 would take too much time, and the boy 
 might waken before we had finished." 
 
 " It is not necessary to sprinkle the pow- 
 der over all the pies," urged the cook. 
 
 " No, no, they must all be equally pow- 
 dered," said the steward; "we should 
 betray ourselves if they should discover 
 poison only on those intended for the Czar,
 
 12 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 whilst the rest remained untouched. We 
 must so manage that suspicion will rest 
 solely on the boy and his master. Of 
 course, in order to prevent the affair from 
 being noised abroad inopportunely, we will 
 not dismiss the young man until a few 
 moments before the pies are served." 
 
 The two men approached the sleeping 
 boy, cautiously raised the napkin which 
 covered the basket, and sprinkled over all 
 the pies a white powder, resembling sifted 
 sugar. Gently replacing the napkin the 
 steward left the room. The head cook 
 returned to the range, and lifting the top of 
 a large copper boiler, threw it on the 
 ground. The noise made by the utensil in 
 failing roused the pie-vender, so that he 
 was thoroughly awake when the aids re- 
 entered the kitchen. They were followed 
 by the steward, who ordered dinner to be 
 served. Then addressing the young man 
 aloud so as to be heard by all he said : 
 
 " Now, my boy, let me see your pies. I 
 will "buy a dozen, for the Czar may like 
 them." 
 
 The request was most cheerfully complied
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 13 
 
 with. Having paid him, the steward ordered 
 him not to loiter there but to leave at once. 
 He did not wait for a repetition of the com- 
 mand, but withdrew in haste, walking rap- 
 idly until he reached the corner of the 
 street. There he halted, and depositing his 
 half-empty basket on the ground, began 
 gayly to calculate the profit of his morning 
 sales. 
 
 " One, two, three, four roubles," he said 
 in a low tone to himself. " Five copeks, 
 ten, fifteen, twenty." Suddenly stopping in 
 his count he cried aloud : 
 
 " Begone, you rogue ! Stop thief ! Oh, 
 my pies ! " Saying these words he sprang 
 towards a dog, which, allured by the 
 delicious odor of the contents of the 
 basket, had thrust his nose under the nap- 
 kin and seized a pie, which disappeared 
 immediately down the throat of the animal. 
 Seeing that it was impossible to prevent his 
 loss, he considered it a useless waste of 
 time to chastise the beast, and thought it 
 more prudent to make good his retreat as 
 soon as possible. Therefore he hastened to 
 adjust the straps of his basket, but the poor
 
 14 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 boy could not be consoled for the loss he 
 had sustained. " Alas ! " he exclaimed, 
 " my master will deduct that from the 
 amount due me, and I shall derive no bene- 
 fit from my day's labor. What will my 
 poor mother say when I return to her 
 empty-handed ? Oh, the rascal ! I wish he 
 would choke this very instant ! " This 
 unchristian malediction was apparently 
 about to be realized. The animal at first 
 lay motionless, but soon began to writhe 
 and moan as though suffering intensely. 
 His moans were shortly changed into 
 frightful howls, which excited the compas- 
 sion of the boy. Many of those who were 
 passing by stopped to inquire what was the 
 matter, but no one seemed able to assign a 
 cause for the terrible convulsions of the 
 poor beast, which became more and more 
 violent every instant. At last one among 
 the crowd said: "The dog has been poi- 
 soned." 
 
 At these words a horrible suspicion 
 flashed through the mind of the young man. 
 True, he had dozed for some time in the 
 kitchen of the Lolopof Palace, but his sleep
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 1 5 
 
 was not so heavy as to prevent him from 
 noticing the deep silence which succeeded 
 the departure of the scullions. He recalled 
 as a dream a whispered conversation 
 between the steward and the head cook, 
 and although he did not entirely understand 
 what they said, his ear had caught a few 
 words which he now remembered and which 
 excited strange suspicions. Moreover, he 
 well knew that the Princess Sophia, vexed 
 by the intellectual superiority of her 
 younger brother, Czar Peter, preferred to 
 him her feeble-minded, sickly brother Ivan. 
 Ambitious and designing, she contemplated 
 leaving in his hand the imperial sceptre, 
 but, in reality, herself exercising the sover- 
 eign power. A certain number of the 
 nobility entered into her views. The idea 
 then might naturally arise that an attempt 
 had been made to make*way with the young 
 Czar by poison, a crime not unfrequent in 
 Russia at that period. The thought came 
 like an inspiration to the mind of the pastry 
 cook's apprentice, and he began to tremble 
 for the life of his imperial patron ; for the 
 dog soon expired amid atrocious suffering.
 
 l6 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 It was with a voice choked by deep emo- 
 tion that he related to the ever-increasing, 
 inquisitive crowd how the animal had died 
 in horrible tortures after eating a pie taken 
 from his basket. He added that his pies 
 were excellent ; they could have been poi- 
 soned only in the kitchen of the Lolopof 
 Palace, and that in all probability some had 
 been served to the Czar Peter. He conjured 
 those present to go forthwith to notify the 
 young Czar, and save his life if possible. 
 
 At these words there arose a frightful 
 tumult. Every instant had added to the 
 numbers collected around the spot where the 
 dog lay, and as if moved by the same im- 
 pulse, they turned their steps towards the 
 Lolopof Palace. Two strong men of gigan- 
 tic stature lifted the boy with his basket, 
 placed him on their shoulders, and headed 
 the procession. The rest of the crowd, arm- 
 ing themselves with stones, sticks or any 
 such weapon as came to hand, followed at a 
 rapid pace, swearing that if any injury had 
 been inflicted on the young Czar, they 
 would not spare a creature in the palace, nor 
 leave one stone of it upon another. But
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. I/ 
 
 Providence had watched over the prince. 
 Contrary to his custom, Peter, at the very 
 commencement of the banquet, had entered 
 upon a long conversation with the noblemen 
 seated near him at table. The dish contain- 
 ing the poisoned pies had been before him 
 for some time ; and his hypocritical host 
 had repeatedly reminded him that the pastry 
 was getting cold. But as often as he 
 extended his hand to the dish, a remark was 
 made which interested him and engaged his 
 attention. At last, however, to the delight 
 of Lolopof, Peter helped himself to one of 
 the pies, and was on the point of conveying 
 a piece which he held on his fork to his 
 mouth, when the violent uproar of the 
 crowd was heard under the palace windows. 
 
 "Czar Peter!" vociferated hundreds of 
 voices, " where are you ? Show yourself to 
 us that we may see for ourselves that you 
 are alive. Beloved Czar, come forth! 
 Death to the traitors ! " 
 
 At these words Lolopof became as pale 
 as a corpse. The young Czar sprang from 
 his seat and rushed to the window, followed 
 by all the guests. When the multitude
 
 1 8 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 beheld the prince their joy found vent in 
 enthusiastic shouts. 
 
 "Hurrah, hurrah for Czar Peter! Death 
 to the poisoners ! " 
 
 Wholly at a loss to understand these 
 menaces the Czar beckoned to the people to 
 keep silence. He then asked : 
 
 " What is the matter ? What do you 
 wish?" 
 
 The tumult recommenced. Some began 
 to relate what had happened, others to 
 utter threats. All clamored at the same 
 time so that it was impossible to understand 
 the causes leading to so great a commotion. 
 Every hand, however, pointed towards the 
 pie-vender, who was trying to raise his voice 
 above the confused murmur around him. 
 
 Smiling at the strange and inexplicable 
 scene, the Czar addressed one of his aids: 
 
 " Lefort," he said, "go and inquire the 
 meaning of the tumult. Truly it is a confu- 
 sion of tongues. Some cry ' Hurrah ! ' 
 others ' Pies ! ' and others ' Poison ! ' or 
 'Death and Massacre!' If we were timid 
 we should be terrified." 
 
 The officer, who happened to be the
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 19 
 
 same who had liberated the apprentice-boy 
 from the hands of the Strelitzes, was about 
 to execute the orders of his sovereign, when 
 he met on the staircase the head of the col- 
 umn, which had entered the palace preceded 
 by the two men bearing on their shoulders 
 the young pie-vender. 
 
 " What can be the cause of such an 
 uproar ? " 
 
 Having heard the details of all that had 
 passed, he restored calm by assuring them 
 that the Czar had not touched the poisoned 
 pies, and he begged them to disperse quietly. 
 But the multitude refused to retire until 
 they had seen Peter return to the imperial 
 palace, and exacted from him a promise to 
 submit the affair of the pies to a -rigorous 
 investigation, and to punish severely those 
 who were guilty.
 
 20 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 COMMENCEMENT OF A BRILLIANT CAREER. 
 
 IN spite of the promises made by the 
 young Czar, the affair was hushed up from 
 various motives. The people were led to 
 believe that the whole was a mistake on the 
 part of the boy. Nevertheless the chief 
 cook and the steward of Prince Lolopof dis- 
 appeared. The prince himself was sent in 
 the quality of ambassador to a foreign 
 court; for it was necessry to protect him 
 from the vengeance of the citizens, who 
 persisted in suspecting him of a criminal 
 attempt upon the life of Peter. In reality, 
 he owed his escape from punishment to the 
 intercession of the Princess Sophia, to whose 
 influence the Czar thought it more prudent 
 to yield. 
 
 He was convinced, however, that he was 
 indebted for his preservation from death to
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 21 
 
 the little pie-vender, and this conviction 
 was for him the foundation of a brilliant fu- 
 ture, and the cause of the dignities and 
 honors which were lavished upon him. 
 
 His name was Alexander Menshikoff, and 
 he was the son of a poor peasant of the 
 environs of Moscow. He had pleased the 
 adjutant, or rather the intimate friend of 
 the Czar, the celebrated Lefort, who, recog- 
 nizing in him a superior intellect, took him 
 in his service. The young dependant ac- 
 quired daily more and more the confidence 
 and affection of his master, to whom in a 
 short time, he became almost indispensable. 
 
 After having been a few weeks with 
 Lefort, Alexander obtained a leave of ab- 
 sence for two or three days that he might 
 pay a visit to his mother: his father had 
 been dead several years. What happiness 
 he experienced in relating to this excellent 
 woman the amelioration of his condition ! 
 
 "Ah! dear Mother, imagine my good 
 fortune," he said. "Look at the fine 
 clothes I am now wearing ; see the lace and 
 the gilt buttons. But these are nothing to 
 be compared to the splendid coats and
 
 22 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 vests which pass through my hands when 
 they need shaking and dusting. And how 
 sweet is their perfume ! Very different from 
 the odor of the pies I used to sell, delicious 
 as they were ! And then what shall I tell 
 you of the table at my new master's? Your 
 cabbage soup is not half so good as the 
 soup they serve us there. But better than 
 all this, I am every day in the presence of 
 the Czar Peter and the great lords of the 
 Court. Oh ! if you could only see the 
 palace in which I live! There is gold 
 wherever you turn : the dishes, plates > 
 chandeliers, knives, forks, spoons, even the 
 wash-basins are of gold. And because I 
 informed the Czar of the poisoned pies, he 
 is so good and kind to me. The other day, 
 when his usual valet happened not to be at 
 hand, he sent me for his court-dress. Oh, 
 Mother! I trembled with wonder at seeing 
 in my hands that magnificent coat, which 
 shone with diamonds. Would you believe 
 it? The smallest of the jewels was worth 
 more than all the houses of our village, the 
 fields and meadows together. How happy 
 he must be to wear so costly precious
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 23 
 
 stones! I have remarked, however, that 
 ever since the adventure of the pies, the 
 the Czar has become distrustful. He is very 
 careful not to eat at once what is placed 
 before him. Last week, the Princess Sophia 
 sent him a delicious pie and some tarts. 
 He did not so much as touch them. Pie 
 and tart all fell to the share of the domes- 
 tics. I had a good portion, and nearly made 
 myself sick. If the Czar takes a fancy to 
 some of these delicacies, he requires me to 
 make them of flour which I myself have pur- 
 chased from the first dealer I find conven- 
 ient. These grand people lead a strange 
 life. When you are rising in the morning 
 to begin your work, they are just going to 
 bed. They breakfast at the hour you dine. 
 In the evening they dine and remain hours 
 at table, and God knows how they can con- 
 sume such a quantity of food. 
 
 After dinner they play cards until morn- 
 ing. This is their usual way of living. 
 Neither Lefort nor the Czar cares to pass his 
 time in this manner, and they only do so 
 when it is absolutely necessary. As for me, 
 I am not destined to be a servant all my
 
 24 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 life. My master has been good to have me 
 taught reading, writing, arithmetic, French, 
 and many other things of which you have 
 not the least idea. I acknowledge that it is 
 harder work to study all this than it was to 
 sell pies in the street. But I devote myself 
 willingly to my books, because it pleases 
 General Lefort, and besides it is advanta- 
 geous to myself." 
 
 As he said these words, he drew from his 
 pocket a handful of gold pieces and handed 
 them to his mother. 
 
 " This, dear mother, is a very small por- 
 tion of the large debt I owe you, for the 
 affection and kindness you have lavished 
 upon me from my infancy. I can never 
 repay you ; but it shall ever be my endeavor 
 to contribute as far as possible to your 
 happiness." 
 
 The good peasant woman was moved to 
 tears by this evidence of the filial devotion 
 of her son. She gave him her maternal 
 benediction, and from the depths of her 
 heart prayed* God to grant him success in 
 his efforts to make his way in the world. 
 
 God granted her petition. Alexander ad-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 2$ 
 
 vanced daily in favor with his master and the 
 Czar : to both he gave evidence of an ever 
 increasing zeal, devotion, and unalterable 
 fidelity. A dependant endowed with such 
 qualities is seldom found ; consequently, 
 upon the young pie-vender were bestowed 
 honors and dignities in no small measure. 
 
 Scarcely was he of age when he was ele- 
 vated to the office of secretary to the Czar ; 
 he married a young girl named Matinka, of 
 his own rank in life, but gifted with great 
 good sense and the noblest qualities of the 
 heart. Their union was blessed by God, 
 and no happiness could surpass that of the 
 young imperial scribe when he took posses- 
 sion of the modest frame house which he had 
 built at Moscow with the small sum he had 
 laid by from his wages, and where he gave a 
 home to his mother, from whom he was un- 
 willing to be separated. He would not have 
 changed his condition with the Czar himself, 
 and when God had given him two children, a 
 boy and a girl, his happiness was at its 
 height ; he esteemed no lot more enviable 
 than his own. As soon as he arose in the 
 morning, at noon before seating himself at
 
 26 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 table, and in the evening when returning 
 from work, his first thought was of his chil- 
 dren. He took them in his arms, caressed 
 them, and guided their tottering steps as 
 they learned to walk ; every day he carried 
 them some toy or bon-bon. In return they 
 loved him with all the devotion of which 
 their little hearts were capable. As the 
 mother would go to meet him after his day's 
 work, holding the baby Helen in her arms, 
 the child would clap her hands and scream 
 with joy. Florent would spring into his 
 arms and kiss him over and over again. 
 Matinka's eyes sparkled with delight, and 
 the good grandmother completed this touch- 
 ing picture of a happy home. If, as it 
 sometimes happened, one of the children 
 was indisposed, what anxiety, what anguish 
 he experienced ! He arose frequently du- 
 ring the night in order to assure himself they 
 were not seriously ill. He would pass hours 
 at their bedside. On Sundays and festivals 
 it was a delightful recreation to the family 
 to spend a few hours in the country, with 
 Matinka's parents. Not one thought of 
 envy crossed their minds as they saw the
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 2/ 
 
 rich driving by them in their magnificent 
 equipage ; theirs was the greater wealth, 
 contentment with their lot, and the happi- 
 ness of loving hearts.
 
 28 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 GREATNESS BEWILDERS. 
 
 SUCH, as described above, was the happi- 
 ness enjoyed by Menshikoff for many years. 
 
 At last, the Czar, who appreciated his fine 
 qualities, elevated him to the rank of Coun- 
 cillor. This promotion, which should have 
 been a fortunate event for his family, was 
 the cause of bitter sorrow to Matinka. The 
 first time that Menshikoff returned home in 
 the splendid court-dress worn by the Impe- 
 rial Councillors, Florent, as usual, ran joy- 
 ously to meet him, and attempted to spring 
 into his arms. But instead of caressing the 
 child as he was wont to do, he pushed him 
 away roughly, saying in an angry tone : 
 
 " What a rude boy you are ! your soiled 
 boots will spoil a suit which has cost me a 
 large sum of money." A moment after- 
 wards he said more gently to little Helen
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 2g 
 
 who smilingly extended her hands to him : 
 " I cannot take you in my arms ; you would 
 rumple the frill of my shirt, and tarnish my 
 buttons." 
 
 " And will you also refuse to embrace 
 me ? " asked his afflicted wife. 
 
 " Certainly, as long as I wear this fine uni- 
 form. But have a little patience ; wait until 
 I put on my ordinary clothes." 
 
 However, when he returned, after laying 
 aside his handsome coat, the children, re- 
 pulsed by his salutation on entering, were 
 too timid to approach him, and even the 
 mother could not embrace her husband with 
 the same unrestrained affection, now that 
 he seemed to value her love less than his 
 court-suit. Apparently, he did not notice 
 the change : his mind was preoccupied with 
 other thoughts. For a time he walked up 
 and down in silence, glancing around the 
 room, then he said : 
 
 " Our furniture must be replaced by other 
 more suitable to our present condition. 
 Those miserable straw-chairs, that old sofa, 
 the chest of drawers, the broken looking- 
 glass, can no longer remain here, nor can we
 
 30 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 in future, use earthenware dishes, iron forks 
 and pewter spoons. An Imperial Councillor 
 requires a service of porcelain, and silver- 
 plate." 
 
 "And yet we were very happy with our 
 simple furniture, our earthenware dishes, and 
 pewter spoons," replied Matinka gently, but 
 somewhat reproachfully. "Shall we increase 
 our happiness by introducing luxury into 
 our home?" 
 
 " That has nothing to do with it," said 
 Menshikoff. " Our happiness is not in ques- 
 tion. We are simply considering the re- 
 quirements of our new position." 
 
 Having said this, or rather muttered the 
 words to himself, he remained a few mo- 
 ments absorbed in thought. Then, as if hav- 
 ing come to a determination, he approached 
 the window, threw open the blind, and 
 accosted a Jew who happened to be passing 
 at the time. 
 
 "Hollo ! my friend, stop ! I want to speak 
 with you." 
 
 But whether it was that the Jew did not 
 hear him call, or whether he did not care to 
 answer, he passed on quietly without notic- 
 ing Menshikoff.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 3 1 
 
 " The saucy fellow ! " exclaimed the Im- 
 perial Councillor, purple from rage. " He 
 does not condescend even to look towards 
 me. Of course, he takes me for a cheesemon- 
 ger, and does not suspect that such a house 
 as this is the residence of a Councillor of his 
 Majesty, the Emperor, or certainly he would 
 not so coolly disregard a request to enter. 
 But a change must be made. What man of 
 respectability would be willing to climb our 
 rough staircase, and enter a room of which 
 the ceiling is so low that one can scarcely 
 stand erect without striking it with his head ? 
 And then what possibility is there of sus- 
 pending in it a chandelier, or hanging curtains 
 at windows which strongly resemble those of 
 a cabin on board of a vessel ! We must, at 
 once, procure another house. That is an 
 absolute necessity." 
 
 " My dear son," said his old mother, " hear 
 what I have to say. Remain in the house 
 where you have tasted pleasures so pure and 
 unalloyed. Believe me, happiness does not 
 dwell in palaces. They are the abodes of 
 treachery and death ; the affair of the pois- 
 oned pies teaches this truth. As for myself,
 
 32 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 my happiest days were passed in the village 
 hut. It was only my love for you which in- 
 duced me to leave it. Now that I have be- 
 come accustomed to our home here, must I 
 be forced to abandon the spot I have learned 
 to value for your sake, to dwell in the large 
 and comfortless rooms of a lordly mansion ! 
 It would cause my death, because it would 
 be the knell of my happiness." 
 
 "And besides," continued Matinka, " how 
 dear to me are all the objects which surround 
 us. What sweet recollections of past joys 
 they awaken ! Do you not remember, my 
 beloved husband, that on the day of our mar- 
 riage we drank to our future from that 
 earthen mug with the blue band around the 
 edge ? Those delft dishes and plates were a 
 bridal present offered me by my companions. 
 And you have not forgotten that the chest 
 of drawers was a wedding gift made you by 
 your old friends?" 
 
 Alexander seemed lost in thought for a 
 few moments, then rousing himself, he said 
 to his old mother: 
 
 " Mother, you are right. It would, indeed 
 be a cruelty to remove you from a spot
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 33 
 
 which long habit has endeared to you. 
 Therefore, remain here. This house, hence- 
 forth, belongs to you." 
 
 Then addressing his wife> lie said : 
 
 " Matinka, the old furniture and utensils 
 will still remind us of the happy years we 
 have passed together, and the recollection 
 of them will be renewed every time we come 
 to visit our dear mother. I shall not sell a 
 single article." 
 
 "Then you intend to separate from me?" 
 exclaimed the old woman. " I shall no 
 longer see my grandchildren around me ? 
 O my God ! Can it be that he is ashamed of 
 his poor mother, now that he has been ele- 
 vated to so high a rank ? " 
 
 " Dear mother, how can you entertain 
 such a thought ! It was my love for you 
 which suggested the proposition I have just 
 made. If the plan I propose is not agreeable 
 to you, come with us. The spacious and 
 lofty apartments of our future dwelling, with 
 their immense windows and their superb 
 furniture, will naturally appear strange to 
 you. But I can easily relieve you of any un- 
 comfortable feeling you might thus experi- 
 3
 
 34 MENSHIKOFF J 
 
 ence. We can, I am sure, find a retired and 
 quiet little room, to which you could with- 
 draw occasionally when persons of rank come 
 to visit us. Therefore, dear mother, make 
 your choice. Make our house your home, if 
 agreeable to you ; if you prefer it, you are 
 free to remain here, and in that case, the 
 children shall visit you every day. You shall 
 have a servant whose only occupation shall 
 be to attend to your wants." 
 
 As she listened to his words, tears flowed 
 down the cheeks of the poor woman. 
 
 "Ah!" she said, sobbing aloud, "the 
 hands of a mercenary are not like those of a 
 child. When you were small, I would not, 
 for the whole world, have confided you to the 
 care of another, and I did hope than at my 
 last hour, the hands of my son would close 
 my eyes. But ' Here sobs choked her ut- 
 terance. No one had the courage to speak, 
 not even Menshikoff, who seemed deeply 
 moved. 
 
 Recovering after a while from her emotion, 
 the old mother resumed : " But when the 
 hour of my death arrives, my lips will, in 
 vain, murmur the name of my son ; in vain
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 3$ 
 
 shall I extend my trembling hand to grasp 
 his in a last farewell." 
 
 " Mother, dear mother, stop, I implore 
 you," exclaimed her son, beside himself 
 with emotion. " You break my heart. 
 Away with those worthless honors which 
 bring sorrow to my mother's heart. Be 
 consoled, dear mother. I will supplicate 
 the Emperor to restore me to my original 
 condition ; for, I wish evef to be to you a 
 grateful and devoted son. And yet, I 
 thought my preferment would give you 
 pleasure." 
 
 "No, no," interrupted the good old 
 woman, as she wiped away her tears. " No, 
 I do not wish that. Retain the high posi- 
 tion conferred on you by the Czar, and re- 
 ceive with gratitude the favors he bestows 
 upon you. God wills it. I will accept 
 with resignation all the sacrifices this will 
 impose on me. Do then, my child, what- 
 ever you consider right and best." 
 
 For some moments Menshikoff seemed 
 restless and undecided. Then he ex- 
 claimed : 
 
 "That cannot be. If I remain Imperial
 
 36 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 Councillor, I shall be necessarily compelled 
 to take a house in the neighborhood of the 
 palace, where in my own apartments I can 
 attend to the duties of my office without 
 interruption. Far better then will it be for 
 me not to undertake duties which would 
 cost so dear." 
 
 " No, no," replied his mother, eagerly. 
 " I have been too exacting and anxious 
 without cause. Forget what I said, and 
 fulfil the duties of your charge." 
 
 " I shall abide by your decision," replied 
 the son, delighted by the words just ad- 
 dressed to him. " In truth, your view of 
 the affair was too gloomy. Let us then be 
 again cheerful and happy, accepting the 
 good fortune which may present itself to 
 us." 
 
 Turning to Matinka he said : 
 
 " Take this money, my dear Matinka, and 
 buy some wine, the very best, and long 
 live the excellent Czar ! We must drink his 
 health at dinner." 
 
 At table, however, a new annoyance 
 awaited the poor Matinka. She had pre- 
 pared in the best possible manner the
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 37 
 
 dishes of which she knew her husband was 
 fond ; but instead of eating of them with 
 appetite, he barely touched them to his lips. 
 
 " Is not the food seasoned to your 
 taste? " she asked anxiously. " Or is there 
 anything else you would like to make them 
 palatable ? " 
 
 Menshikoff was much embarrassed. He 
 answered hesitatingly : 
 
 " Do not be angry, my dear wife. Your 
 dinners were always excellent, and the sim- 
 ple fare suited our former condition, but 
 now that we are in a more elevated rank, it 
 does not become us to keep the table of a 
 peasant. In future, I desire four or five 
 courses every day. Besides, it is beneath 
 the dignity of the wife of an Imperial Coun- 
 cillor to pass her time in the kitchen pre- 
 paring the meals and cleaning the cooking 
 utensils. I intend to engage a cook to do 
 the work for you." 
 
 These remarks fell like a thunderbolt 
 upon Matinka. She had always prided her- 
 self upon her cooking, and had studied her 
 husband's tastes in the preparation of the 
 food ; his appreciation of her efforts and
 
 38 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 his compliments upon her success, had ever 
 been a sweet recompense for the daily toil 
 entailed upon her by their humble condi- 
 tion. Consequently, both her self-love and 
 affections were wounded, when she found 
 that he was willing to commit to the hands 
 of a hireling, that duty which had been her 
 delight because it contributed to his gratifi- 
 cation. However, she made no reply, but 
 with tearful eyes drank the wine, which in- 
 stead of rejoicing her heart, filled it with 
 bitterness. 
 
 From that time the happiness of the 
 Menshikoff family diminished daily; nor 
 were they compensated for its loss by the 
 luxuries of their new home, which pleased 
 the eye, but did not satisfy the heart. 
 When the Imperial Councillor removed to 
 his handsome residence near the palace of 
 the Czar, his mother did not accompany 
 him, but continued to occupy the modest 
 frame building which had so long sufficed 
 for their simple desires. 
 
 Two footmen, a coachman, a cook, and 
 two waiting maids were engaged ; a carnage 
 and two horses were purchased.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 39 
 
 This addition to their household was the 
 cause of much trouble to poor Matinka. 
 Hitherto, her only care had been to watch 
 over her children and to correct the little 
 faults common to their age; "now, she had 
 daily new difficulties to contend with. At 
 one time she was forced to reprove the 
 carelessness of the servants ; again, their 
 dishonesty ; some stole, others wasted the 
 store of provisions, whilst others gave bad 
 example to the children. 
 
 At first, Menshikoff never failed to visit 
 his mother every day. Then his multiplied 
 occupations furnished him an excuse for 
 .going less frequently, until, by degrees he 
 ceased his visits entirely. Matinka and the 
 two children kept their word, and endeav- 
 ored by their affectionate attentions to con- 
 sole her for the loss of her son's society, and 
 indemnify her, as far as possible, for his 
 neglect. 
 
 The time which the father had been ac- 
 customed to devote to his family became 
 also gradually less. Often on his return 
 from the palace, he was in an ill humor ; for 
 the Czar, being hasty and quick tempered,
 
 4O MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 was not, on all occasions considerate of his 
 Councillor ; he, on the other hand, was not 
 willing to tolerate what, as servant, copyist 
 and secretary, he had endured patiently ; 
 and not daring to testify to his master the 
 irritation he really felt, the whole weight of 
 his displeasure fell on his unoffending 
 family. As often as he returned home in 
 such a disposition, the children trembled 
 and kept out of his way, whilst Matinka 
 would greet him affectionately, and en- 
 deavor, by her caresses, to calm the storm 
 which seemed ready to expend itself upon 
 the innocent little creatures whom he 
 should have sheltered from every evil. He 
 often remained the entire day shut up in his 
 study, when even his wife dared not enter 
 for any purpose whatever. He was fre- 
 quently absent from home in the evening, 
 returning late at night in a state of intoxi- 
 cation. If it happened that he lost heavily 
 at cards not an uncommon occurrence he 
 vented his ill humor by inflicting on his 
 family every kind of annoyance which cir- 
 cumstances would suggest. The only relax- 
 ation allowed Matinka was an occasional
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 41 
 
 drive ; she was forced to discontinue the 
 visits she had been accustomed to make her 
 parents every Sunday. She now saw them 
 only by stealth, to avoid exciting her hus- 
 band's anger.
 
 42 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE PATRONAL FEAST. 
 
 THE festival of the patron saint of the 
 father of a family is celebrated in Russia 
 with peculiar solemnity, and this pious cus- 
 tom had been religiously observed in the 
 house of Menshikoff. On every anniver- 
 sary, Matinka had always contrived an 
 agreeable surprise for her husband. But 
 now she was wholly at a loss what to devise 
 for one who, blinded by pride and ambi- 
 tion, was a total stranger to the influences 
 of the simple joys of home. She tortured 
 her imagination without result. He him- 
 self, however, relieved her anxiety. Two 
 weeks before the day, he said in an affec- 
 tionate manner to which she had long been 
 unaccustomed : 
 
 " Dear Matinka, you can do me a great 
 favor on my Saint's day."
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 43 
 
 " Tell me, dear Alexander," she replied 
 joyously, " in what way I can contribute to 
 your pleasure? I shall be too happy to 
 carry out your wishes." 
 
 " I desire to give a dinner to my aristo- 
 cratic acquaintances. I have feared for 
 some time, that we might be suspected of 
 avarice because we do not entertain our 
 friends. I, therefore, beg you to prepare 
 for a grand dinner on my Saint's day, to 
 which we will invite the elite of Moscow. 
 Your toilette must be suitable to the oc- 
 casion and to a lady of your rank. I shall 
 order what is necessary for you. Be- 
 sides" 
 
 Here he suddenly stopped, as if ashamed 
 to express his idea fully. 
 
 " What more, dear Alexander ? Tell me." 
 
 "You are an excellent woman, good, 
 beautiful .... you are a pious, devoted 
 mother, a superior housewife ; but, but " 
 
 "Speak out candidly, I pray you, my 
 dear husband," said his wife with anxiety. 
 
 "You are deficient in one thing .... 
 you are ignorant of the etiquette of society; 
 your manners are not those of a lady of
 
 44 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 rank. If wanting in this respect, in vain 
 will a woman possess a noble heart and be 
 gifted with more than ordinary intellect ; 
 she will certainly be an object of ridicule. 
 To persons elevated in the social scale, friv- 
 olous conversation and exaggerated compli- 
 ments are more agreeable than simplicity of 
 language and sincerity. You are a real dia- 
 mond, a priceless jewel to me : but on ac- 
 count of your extreme modesty, you are to 
 others a diamond in the rough. I cannot 
 tell you how it pains me to see that you 
 are not properly appreciated outside 
 your family. But a little practice will soon 
 remedy the only defect I find in you." 
 
 "Tell me what I must do to relieve you 
 of this vexation." 
 
 " I shall engage the French dancing mas- 
 ter, Mr. Genou, to give lessons to our Flor- 
 ent, and teach him how to bow, to hold 
 himself gracefully, and to join in the chit- 
 chat of a drawing-room. You will be 
 present at his lessons, and I wish you to 
 repeat afterwards by yourself all you have 
 learned. A few days before the dinner, we 
 will rehearse all together what has been
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 45 
 
 acquired from Mr. Genou, and I am confi- 
 dent that every thing will pass off to our 
 satisfaction." 
 
 With a heavy sigh Matinka promised to 
 comply with her husband's request. 
 
 In the afternoon the dancing master ar- 
 rived, and poor Florent commenced the in- 
 structions so distasteful to him. He was 
 made to walk the floor as stiff a sentinel, to 
 bow over and over again to the right and 
 left, to salute repeatedly empty chairs and 
 divans. New directions were given at every 
 instant. " Hold yourself straight ! Throw 
 back your shoulders ! Keep your head up ! 
 Don't drag your feet upon the floor! 
 Turn your toes out ! Don't swing your 
 arms ! Make a bow ! Lower not so low ! " 
 
 The child soon became disgusted with 
 these exercises and wept bitterly. But it 
 made no difference; he was forced to submit 
 to the torture inflicted by Mr. Genou. The 
 following day he was made to stand upon a 
 board, so arranged as to keep the toes 
 turned out, and he had much difficulty in 
 preserving his balance. 
 
 But these exercises were far more painful
 
 46 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 to Matinka. Her husband superintended 
 them, and scolded the poor woman un- 
 mercifully every time she made a mistake, 
 or went through an exercise awkwardly. 
 How frequently in her own mind she 
 contrasted her past life, at no very distant 
 period, when she was happy in her humble 
 home with her husband's love, with her 
 present grandeur and the unmeaning 
 ceremonies to which he was striving to 
 habituate her. 
 
 But her trials did not end here. For 
 several days the tables and chairs were 
 strewn with silks, velvets, laces and other 
 dress materials, from which she was directed 
 to make her selection. Afterwards came 
 the mantua-maker, shoemaker, and jew- 
 eller, the last offering for her choice the 
 most magnificent sets of diamonds and other 
 precious stones. The gold pieces disap- 
 peared as readily as though their garden 
 were traversed by the Pactolus. 
 
 When the mantua-maker tried on her 
 new dress, a deep blush crimsoned Matin- 
 ka's cheeks as she turned to her husband 
 and asked :
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 47 
 
 " Do you wish me to appear before com- 
 pany in so immodest an attire ? " 
 
 Menshikoff shrugged his shoulders and 
 replied : " You will soon become accus- 
 tomed to it ; fashion requires it." 
 
 Although deeply wounded, she was silent, 
 but when her maid began to tighten the 
 corsets which had been brought her, she 
 could not restrain herself and involuntarily 
 exclaimed : " Stop, stop ! I cannot breathe 
 in this whalebone case ; you stifle me !" 
 
 " You must submit," said Menshikoff, in 
 an imperious manner. "Elegance requires 
 it. If corsets produced suffocation, very 
 many women would die every day." 
 
 The poor creature patiently permitted 
 herself to be encased in what was to her an 
 instrument of torture. When the maid com- 
 pleted her dress by adjusting to it an enor- 
 mous pannier, Matinka declared that it would 
 be impossible for her to enter the door. 
 
 " Then pass through sideways," replied 
 Menshikoff, who had an expedient ready for 
 every objection. 
 
 Finally, they forced upon the feet of the 
 unfortunate woman a pair of shoes much too
 
 48 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 narrow for her, of which the heels were so 
 high that she was in danger of falling at 
 every step. Seeing that his wife was vainly 
 endeavoring to conceal the suffering she was 
 enduring, Menshikoff attempted to console 
 her by saying : 
 
 " Have a little patience, my dear wife. 
 This will not last long. After the dinner 
 party, you may, if you choose, resume the 
 dress which is most comfortable to you and 
 to which you are accustomed." 
 
 " Tell me, if you can," replied Matinka, 
 " what brain ever imagined all these silly 
 things which seem to have been invented 
 only to deform and render ridiculous the 
 work of God." 
 
 " I will solve the enigma for you, said 
 Menshikoff smiling. " A very small woman 
 who wished to appear tall invented high 
 heels and the arrangement of the hair on the 
 top of the head. A stout woman, envying 
 her friends their slender and elegant forms, 
 hoped to become like them by wearing the 
 corset, or rather a case of steel and whale- 
 bone. Another attempted to conceal her 
 age, betrayed by the gray which streaked
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 49 
 
 her hair, by the use of powder, and flattered 
 herself that a covering of paint on her faded 
 cheeks would restore to them, in appearance 
 at least, the freshness of youth, and so with 
 the rest." 
 
 " But is there any reason why I, who am 
 neither too short nor too stout, who am not 
 faded and gray, should adopt so preposter- 
 ous a style of dress ? " 
 
 " Fashion requires it, my dear Matinka, as 
 I have already told you," replied Menshikoff. 
 
 " And what do you mean by fashion, which 
 is powerful enough to enforce decrees so ty- 
 rannical?" 
 
 Menshikoff left the question unanswered ; 
 for, he knew not how to define fashion, that 
 blind spirit of imitation which influences all 
 men. 
 
 At last, the preparations for the great day 
 were completed. The guests were invited, 
 the rooms were decorated ; the wine-cellar 
 and store-rooms were stocked. 
 
 The day before the dinner, Matinka was 
 obliged to undergo an examination by her 
 husband of all she had learned, and to prac- 
 tise in his presence the part she was to enact 
 4
 
 50 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 before his guests. It is scarcely credible 
 that so intelligent a man as Menshikoff 
 would condescend to anything so pueVile. 
 And yet, the man who could with difficulty 
 spare a few moments daily from the duties 
 of his office to devote to his family, passed 
 several hours for two days in forming his 
 wife to frivolous customs, and to all the silly 
 and absurd compliments which constitute 
 the conversation of what is called high so- 
 ciety. 
 
 Instructing her, he said : " Imagine, that I 
 am a lady of rank, one of the invited guests : 
 I enter the reception room to pay my 
 respects to you ; you return my salutation 
 cordially, saying that you are happy to see 
 me, having desired for a long time to make 
 my acquaintance." 
 
 " But," interrupted Matinka, " that is not 
 true ; I should tell a falsehood were I to use 
 such language." 
 
 " My dear, you must tell a falsehood," 
 replied Menshikoff. " That is the custom 
 of good society. People always say they are 
 most happy to meet those whom, in their 
 hearts, they would wish at the antipodes.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 5 1 
 
 They are most affectionate and complimen- 
 tary to persons for whom they in reality 
 feel the greatest aversion. This constitutes 
 the politeness of the world of fashion." 
 
 The candid, loyal heart of Matinka was 
 unable to comprehend the explanation given 
 her. However, she rehearsed her part to the 
 best of her ability, in order to give pleasure 
 to her husband. Nevertheless, he found 
 much to censure : her courtesy was too 
 low or too stiff ; now she spoke too loud, 
 again, not loud enough, and thus the 
 farce terminated without satisfying Men- 
 shikoff. 
 
 The approach of her husband's Saint's day 
 had formerly been a cause of simple and 
 pure joy to Matinka ; she now anticipated it 
 with deep anxiety, reflecting upon the part 
 she was expected to enact before strangers. 
 On the eve she had a high fever, and did 
 not sleep the entire night. 
 
 Early in the morning the hair-dresser ar- 
 rived. He burned, scorched and cut the 
 beautiful hair of the poor woman. For a 
 half hour he brushed and combed it, and 
 when he considered it sufficiently pliant, he
 
 52 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 placed upon her head a high frame of horse- 
 hair around which he wound her own hair 
 which he had previously plaited, the whole 
 being kept in place by silver pins. Over 
 this enormous pile he sprinkled white powder 
 and completed her disfiguration by conceal- 
 ing the natural bloom of her cheeks under a 
 layer of paint. The violent headache in- 
 duced by the arranging of her hair was 
 considerably increased after she was encased 
 in the corsets and her feet were forced into 
 the narrow shoes. Although to these suffer- 
 ings was added mental anxiety, she was 
 obliged to feign a happiness to which she 
 was a stranger. 
 
 The company began to arrive, and the 
 folding-doors of the spacious apartments 
 were thrown open. Menshikoff appeared in 
 his court-dress. He anxiously watched Ma- 
 tirika, who received the guests in a manner 
 which agreeably surprised the master of 
 the house. Her natural good sense and in- 
 telligence suggested many remarks which 
 rendered her conversation pleasing. Unfor- 
 tunately for her, Menshikoff heard a lady 
 say in French to another : " Does not the
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 3 
 
 wife of the Imperial Councillor look like a 
 simpleton? " 
 
 On hearing these words, his anger was 
 roused, not against the offending visitor, 
 but against his innocent wife, and his eyes 
 rested on her with such an expression of 
 rage, that she trembled like a leaf. His ill- 
 humor was, happily, diverted by the en- 
 trance of the two children. Florent was 
 dressed exactly like his father and formed 
 a charming picture with his powdered wig 
 and black silk net, his blue velvet coat, 
 richly embroidered vest, his short breeches, 
 silk stockings, gold shoe buckles and 
 his tiny sword in a lacquered leathern 
 scabbard. Helen, although only four years 
 of age, was attired in every respect similar 
 to her mother. The guests surrounded the 
 children and vied with each other in admir- 
 ing and caressing them. Blinded by van- 
 ity, Menshikoff recovered .from the blow 
 just inflicted upon his self-love and forgot 
 what he himself had told his wife only the 
 previous evening, that all such fine words 
 and caresses were false and hypocritical. 
 
 The table was spread most sumptuously,
 
 54 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 and the guests did justice to the luxuries 
 placed before them. Course succeeded 
 course with royal profusion. The rarest 
 and most costly wines were passed around 
 and drunk as freely as they drink in Russia. 
 The company threw off the reserve which 
 had rendered the dinner somewhat formal, 
 and the conversation became more and 
 more animated. In the midst of the enter- 
 tainment, the door of the dining-room was 
 opened, and an old woman, very simply, 
 but neatly dressed, was about to enter, but 
 stopped suddenly, and gazed with a kind of 
 stupefaction upon the brilliant company in 
 whose presence she unexpectedly found 
 herself. This woman was Menshikoff's 
 mother. 
 
 " I wish to see my son," she said, in an 
 agitated manner. " Pardon me, but does 
 not my Alexander still live here? Have I 
 mistaken the house?" 
 
 Upon recognizing his mother, Menshikoff 
 turned ashy pale, but soon recovering his 
 self-possession he arose from the table. 
 
 "My good woman," he said, with forced 
 affability as he advanced towards her, " here
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 55 
 
 I am. You make me happy in coming to 
 see me. Follow me, we will converse alone 
 for a few moments." 
 
 As he thus spoke, he gently drew the 
 poor woman into an adjoining apartment 
 without allowing her time to say more. 
 ^Before leaving the dining-room, however, he 
 turned towards the company and said : 
 
 " Permit me, ladies and gentlemen, to 
 absent myself for a short time ; I wish to 
 speak with this good woman." 
 
 " It only needed this ! " he muttered be- 
 tween his teeth with ill-concealed anger as 
 he offered a seat to his mother. But sud- 
 denly resuming a cheerful countenance he 
 said : 
 
 "You are welcome, mother. You are, 
 indeed, kind in giving me the pleasure of a 
 visit." 
 
 " My son," replied the old woman, "I am 
 very feeble, but I made the effort to drag 
 myself here to-day to offer you my best 
 wishes and bestow upon you my maternal 
 benediction. It is true, that I come empty- 
 handed, but my heart is filled with the 
 warmest affection for you. It has been a
 
 56 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 very, very long time, my son, since I have 
 seen you. Therefore you must pardon me 
 for disturbing you at such a moment. It is 
 uncertain if I shall ever again be able to 
 meet you in your own home. Had I 
 known, however, that you were entertaining 
 so large a company " 
 
 "Dear mother," interrupted Menshikoff, 
 " I am grateful to you for your affec- 
 tionate remembrance of my Saint's day. 
 I would gladly have invited you to be 
 present at our little dinner-party, but I 
 was aware that such assemblies were dis- 
 tasteful to you. I hope the servants have 
 offered you refreshments and wine ; if 
 not, I" 
 
 "My dear Alexander," interrupted his 
 mother, "that was not my object in com- 
 ing. My food is always of the simplest 
 kind. All I desired was to see you, to be 
 in your company." 
 
 " And yet," said Menshikoff, with embar- 
 rassment, "I am forced to leave you. My 
 duties as a host absolutely require me to 
 return to my guests. But in my place I 
 will send my wife and children."
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. $/ 
 
 "Have your guests just arrived?" asked 
 the mother. 
 
 " Oh, no, they have been here, at least, 
 four hours." 
 
 " I suppose they are friends to whom 
 you are under obligations, " continued the 
 old woman. 
 
 " Yes. I have been acquainted with 
 some of them six months, and have been 
 invited to their houses perhaps ten times. 
 Certainly I owe them some return for such 
 attentions." 
 
 " If you have devoted four hours to per- 
 sons whom you have known only six 
 months and who have invited you only ten 
 times to dinner, it seems to me you could 
 spare a quarter of an hour to your mother 
 who has been your best friend for thirty- 
 two years and who supported you for fifteen 
 years," replied the old woman sternly. 
 
 Menshikoff fully appreciated the extent 
 of his ingratitude, but instead of seeking to 
 repair the wrong of which he had been 
 guilty, he manifested still more clearly his 
 discontent and answered coldly : 
 
 " Mother, I am sorry to leave you. I
 
 $8 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 will send my wife, who can remain with 
 you for a short time, better than I can. 
 But I hope to see you again before you 
 leave." 
 
 Saying this, he returned to the dining- 
 room without waiting for an answer. 
 
 The old woman did not attempt to follow 
 him. The tears which flowed down her 
 withered cheeks betokened the sorrow of 
 her heart. A few moments afterwards the 
 door opened and an unknown lady in full 
 dress, accompanied by two children, also un- 
 known, entered the room. The good old 
 woman rose respectfully, but Matinka threw 
 herself in her arms, and the children clung 
 to her exclaiming joyously, " Grandmother ! 
 dear grandmother ! " 
 
 When Matinka saw her mother-in-law at 
 the door of the dining-room, her first im- 
 pulse was to rush to welcome her, and she 
 made a quick movement to rise from the 
 table, but a glance from Menshikoff sufficed 
 to restrain her, eager as she was to go. She 
 was gratified by a request from her husband 
 on his return to devote a few minutes to 
 their old visitor.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 59 
 
 Menshikoff was immediately overwhelmed 
 with questions by the astonished guests. 
 
 " Is that old woman really your mother? " 
 they asked. 
 
 " No, indeed," coolly replied the Imperial 
 Councillor. " My excellent mother died 
 long ago. The good woman you have just 
 seen was my nurse, and still retaining her 
 former affection for me she continues to 
 regard me and treat me as her child. Why 
 should I not allow the poor creature that 
 innocent pleasure? Do you not think I am 
 right ? " 
 
 "Certainly, certainly," they all replied. 
 And having thus, by a falsehood relieved 
 himself from the embarrassment caused by 
 the appearance of his mother, the ungrateful 
 son, ashamed of her who from his infancy 
 had lavished upon him all the treasures of a 
 boundless affection, thought no more of her. 
 
 The case was far otherwise with Matinka 
 and her children, who hastened joyfully to 
 embrace the good woman. 
 
 As she examined the elegant dress of her 
 daughter-in-law, the mother, shaking her 
 head in sign of disapprobation said :
 
 60 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 " My dear child, you are so changed I 
 hardly recognized you. I love Matinka in 
 her simple dress far more than Matinka 
 transformed into a great lady. I dare not 
 approach to embrace you." 
 
 Matinka replied with a sigh : " Do you 
 think I am comfortable with this pannier of 
 whalebones, one of which I broke as I 
 entered the door, and with this weight on 
 my head ? What pain I suffer from my 
 tight shoes and the corsets which impede 
 my breath ! I am also mortified to appear 
 with painted cheeks." 
 
 The children were equally loud in their 
 lamentations. 
 
 "Look!" cried Florent, with a comical 
 expression of pain. " What an enormous net 
 they have fastened to the back of my 
 head!" 
 
 As he spoke, he shook his head so vio- 
 lently that a cloud of white powder fell upon 
 his blue velvet coat. 
 
 " Why ! " exclaimed the grandmother in 
 astonishment, " how does it happen that your 
 hair has grown so much in so short a time ! " 
 
 "It is all false hair, grandmother ; see,"
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 6 1 
 
 and as he spoke, the boy took from his head 
 the borrowed coif and presented it to the 
 amazed old woman. 
 
 " I could put up with the wig," he added, 
 " if they had given me a real sword. But 
 as to this, it is nothing but an empty scab- 
 bard attached to a hilt." 
 
 Throwing the wig on the floor, he began 
 to thrust his mock sword against Helen's 
 whalebone panier. As she retreated, he 
 followed, until she fell, and Florent, losing 
 his balance, rolled over her. 
 
 At this moment Menshikoff, displeased 
 by his wife's long absence, re-entered the 
 room to request her to return to the com- 
 pany. He saw the children struggling on 
 the floor, noticed that the whalebone of his 
 wife's pannier was broken and that it had 
 become unfastened. In embracing her 
 mother-in-law, a portion of the paint had 
 been rubbed from her cheek, and as her 
 tears followed another portion had fallen 
 upon the lace of her dress. This did not 
 escape his eye, and sufficed to excite his 
 anger to such a degree that he was unable 
 to control it. He roughly seized the chil-
 
 62 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 dren, boxed them and pushed them aside in 
 no gentle manner. Then addressing Matin- 
 ka in a voice tremulous from passion, he 
 said : 
 
 "Again you give me evidence that the 
 copper of a sous can never be converted 
 into the silver of a crown. You were born 
 a peasant; and a peasant you will remain all 
 the days of your life. You can now stay 
 where you are. To present yourself in your 
 present condition before my friends, would 
 be a convincing proof to them of my folly 
 in choosing you for my wife." 
 
 Without a word to his mother, who had 
 in vain endeavored to check his unkind 
 remarks, he returned to his guests with a 
 serene countenance and said calmly : 
 
 " My wife requests me to make her 
 excuses to you. She is deeply chagrined 
 at being deprived of the pleasure of your 
 company, but a sudden attack of violent 
 headache, to which she is subject, compels 
 her to renounce the gratification of being 
 with you." 
 
 People of fashion have often recourse to 
 similar falsehoods in order to rid themselves
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 63 
 
 of an importunate or disagreeable visitor, 
 and as the individuals assembled around 
 Menshikoff's table had used such stratagems 
 upon different occasions, they attached no 
 importance to the deceit he had practised. 
 After a few expressions of regret for the 
 indisposition of his wife, the gentlemen con- 
 tinued to drink their wine and the 'ladies 
 assumed their conversation. 
 
 But Menshikoff's harsh language had 
 sorely afflicted Matinka. Never before had 
 he addressed to her words so 'bitter, nor re- 
 proaches so cruel. Thus then was she recom- 
 pensed for exerting herself to the utmost to 
 play the part of a great lady, and for having 
 bade adieu to all the innocent joys which 
 had formerly constituted her happiness. 
 She suddenly realized her situation, and 
 comprehended that the tie uniting her to 
 her husband which she had considered 
 eternal, might be dissolved. Had he not 
 expressed his regret for having married her ? 
 What a terrible thought ! The venerable 
 grandmother exerted all her maternal elo- 
 quence to calm the affliction of her 
 daughter-in law, although she stood so much
 
 64 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 in need of consolation herself. They wept 
 bitterly, mingling their tears with the sobs 
 of the children, who were still suffering the 
 effects of their father's harshness. At last, 
 Matinka exchanged the fine dress which had 
 caused her so much sorrow, for the simple 
 costume which recalled the happy days of 
 her peasant life. After accompanying her 
 mother-in-law to her modest abode, and put- 
 ting the children to bed she retired for the 
 night, without, however, obtaining either 
 sleep or tranquillity of mind.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 65 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE DEPARTURE AND THE RETURN. 
 
 NOT long after the dinner-party there oc- 
 curred an event which, apparently, was to 
 restore the half-broken tie uniting Menshi- 
 koff to his Matinka. This was a long jour- 
 ney he was to undertake with his master, 
 the Czar. 
 
 This young prince, destined to be known 
 in history under the name of Peter the 
 Great, fully comprehended that he lacked 
 the acquirements necessary to enable him 
 to govern wisely and to civilize a great 
 nation. He, therefore, resolved to travel 
 through Europe and study for himself the 
 centres of civilization, to scrutinize care- 
 fully those countries in which he should find 
 most amply developed the art of war, ship- 
 building, the sciences and trades, branches 
 for which his admiration amounted to en-
 
 66 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 thusiasm, and with which he was deter- 
 mined at any price to endow Russia, being 
 persuaded that by these alone could she be 
 elevated in the scale of nations above the 
 rank she now occupied. Concealing his 
 imperial dignity under the assumed title of 
 a member of the legation which, according 
 to a Russian custom, was appointed to visit 
 foreign courts, he traversed Esthonia and 
 Livonia, at that time subject to Sweden, 
 Brandenbourg, Hanover, Westphalia, and 
 arrived at Amsterdam, where his passion for 
 ship-building induced him to work as a car- 
 penter and blacksmith. He even caused 
 himself to be enrolled at Saardam among 
 the laborers employed at the celebrated 
 dock-yards of this city. He accepted an 
 invitation from William III., king of Eng- 
 land, to visit London ; but wearing the 
 dress of a sailor he passed the greater 
 part of the time in inspecting the mari- 
 time establishments of the kingdom. The 
 University of Oxford honored him by 
 conferring upon him the degree of doc- 
 tor. Having stored his mind with every 
 kind of useful information, he returned
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 67 
 
 home to found the prosperity of the Rus- 
 sian Empire. 
 
 Menshikoff, the pastry cook's apprentice, 
 by his intelligence, acuteness of intellect, 
 and pliancy of character, had conciliated the 
 favor of the young Czar, who elevated him 
 to the post of Councillor of State, and desig- 
 nated him as one of the officers who were 
 to form his suite" during the journey he was 
 about to undertake. 
 
 The prospect of a separation from his 
 family had a salutary effect upon him, reviv- 
 ing his former affection. He behaved 
 towards his mother, his wife and children 
 with the same gentleness and tenderness as 
 of yore ; was solicitous to make every 
 arrangement to contribute to their comfort 
 and enable them to keep up the establish- 
 ment in a style suitable to their position. 
 He was overcome by emotion on taking 
 leave of his family, assured them he would 
 not forget them, and would inform them 
 of all his movements. At first, he kept 
 his promise faithfully. But by degrees his 
 letters became less frequent, either because 
 of the greater distance, or an increase of oc-
 
 68 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 cupation, or some other unexpected obsta- 
 cle. 
 
 Immediately after the departure of her 
 husband, Matinka left the splendid dwell- 
 ing in which Menshikoff had taken up his 
 abode, returned to the small house occu- 
 pied by her mother-in-law, and devoted her 
 time to the care of the good old woman 
 and of her children, for whom she engaged 
 preceptors in all useful branches of study. 
 She constantly held out to them as a motive 
 for exertion, the pleasure their father 
 would experience on his return at seeing 
 their improvement. They were docile to 
 her instructions, and gave her no cause for 
 anxiety. 
 
 The old grandmother, however, failed 
 daily in health and strength. Foreseeing 
 that her death must be near at hand, she 
 often said : " I shall never again see my 
 Alexander. This thought would make me 
 inconsolable, were it not for the hope of 
 being reunited with him in eternity. I 
 have lived long enough, God has been good 
 to me. I should be ungrateful not to ac- 
 knowledge this, but man is never entirely
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 69 
 
 satisfied, and I have ardently desired to die 
 in the arms of my son. Nevertheless, God's 
 will be done." 
 
 Her cherished wish was not gratified. 
 Scarcely three months had passed after the 
 departure of Menshikoff when she was 
 called to the reward of her well-spent life. 
 She died in the full possession of her 
 senses, fortified by the aids of religion, and 
 surrounded by her daughter-in law and her 
 grandchildren. 
 
 Matinka had returned from paying the 
 last rites to the dear departed one, and 
 deeply dejected by the loss of her cherished 
 mother, she was talking with her children of 
 her and of their absent father, when the door 
 was suddenly opened, a lieutenant of the 
 Strelitzes entered, and threw his arms around 
 her. 
 
 " My dear sister ! " he exclaimed to the 
 terrified woman, " do you not know your 
 brother? Look at me; it is indeed my- 
 self." 
 
 " Ah ! dear Simonow ! " she said in a 
 transport of joy, " I did not recognize you 
 at first. But how does it happen that you
 
 70 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 are here ? I feared I should never see you 
 again." 
 
 " I have been admitted among the Strelit- 
 zes, of which I am very glad, as it brings me 
 in your vicinity. But where is your hus- 
 band ?" 
 
 As she was relating the cause of Men- 
 shikoff's absence, Simonow's countenance 
 clouded, he shook his head in sign of disap- 
 probation and said : 
 
 " Dear Matinka, you are not the only one 
 who has cause to regret the prolonged ab- 
 sence of the Czar. The whole people, from 
 the highest noble to the serf, complain of it 
 bitterly. Instead of devoting his time to 
 the welfare of his subjects, the Czar aban- 
 dons the government to unworthy minis- 
 ters, and amuses himself by travelling 
 through Europe. In the mean time, the 
 officers of the State are at full liberty 
 to do as they please. He sets no value 
 on his faithful Russians, but follows the 
 advice of the foreigners by whom he loves 
 to be surrounded. But let him beware; 
 to a certain point we will accept his inno- 
 vations, but beyond that, he will not sue-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. Jl 
 
 ceed as long as a Strelitzes can wield a 
 sword." 
 
 " Brother," exclaimed Matinka anxiously, 
 " you have hardly been admitted into a reg- 
 iment of the Strelitzes, and already you have 
 imbibed the spirit of insubordination which 
 characterizes that corps. Will you never 
 learn wisdom ? What profit did your com- 
 rades derive from their last revolt? The 
 gibbet or exile was their portion, and I fear 
 that nothing short of their entire destruc- 
 tion will make them peaceable. I implore 
 you, my dear brother, not to lend so ready 
 an ear to the suggestions of your evil- 
 minded companions. Leave the care of 
 providing for the well-being of the country 
 to Almighty God. If the Czar does not 
 govern in a manner agreeable to the Divine 
 Majesty, He is able to divest him of the 
 power which he abuses. As for us, our 
 duty is to render to the Emperor what be- 
 longs to the Emperor." 
 
 " You know nothing about such things," 
 replied Simonow. " The duty of women is 
 to be silent ; that of men, is to act. There- 
 fore, await in peace the issue of events."
 
 ?2 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 Matinka's anxiety was not relieved ; on 
 the contrary the words she had just heard 
 increased the fears which were but too soon 
 realized. 
 
 One evening, as Matinka was engaged 
 with her children in their usual devotions, 
 their attention was attracted by a commo- 
 tion in the street which augmented every in- 
 stant. There seemed to be a great crowd 
 rushing to and fro, doors were violently 
 thrown open, others, shut with a loud noise, 
 and tumultuous cries were heard in the dis- 
 tance. The uneasiness of the mother, ex- 
 cited by the first sounds which fell upon her 
 ear, was soon converted into extreme alarm 
 when she plainly distinguished the report of 
 fire-arms. 
 
 " O my God ! " she exclaimed in anguish, 
 " the Strelitzes are at work ! " 
 
 She was right. The Strelitzes, to the 
 number of seven thousand, had risen in 
 rebellion, for the avowed purpose of depos- 
 ing the Czar Peter, and elevating to the 
 throne his half-sister, the Princess Sophia. 
 The revolt soon spread through Moscow, 
 and the combat became more general ; the
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 73 
 
 discharge of musketry mingled with the 
 cries of the fugitives and the groans of the 
 wounded. The greater part of the Strelitzes 
 were intoxicated, and this unbridled soldiery 
 made great havoc through the capital, men- 
 acing with death all the adherents of Peter. 
 They soon began to put their threats into 
 execution. How agonizing were Matinka's 
 fears for her children ! Her husband was 
 well known as one of the greatest favorites 
 of the young Czar, and in his absence, might 
 they not wreak their vengeance on his 
 family? Overpowered by terror she fell 
 upon her knees and invoked the protection 
 of Heaven for herself and the two innocent 
 creatures she held in her arms. She had 
 taken the precaution to extinguish the 
 lamp, but the light from the fires kindled 
 by the rebels several palaces were already 
 in flames defined sharply upon the oppo- 
 site wall the shadows of the unhappy family. 
 How Matinka rejoiced at having relin- 
 quished her former sumptuous abode, and 
 retired to the simple frame building she 
 now occupied ! For, in the palace nothing 
 escaped the blind fury of the Strelitzes, who
 
 74 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 destroyed whatever came in their way. 
 But even under the humble roof which 
 sheltered them, they were not secure from 
 danger. Matinka had locked and bolted 
 the outer doors and fastened the shutters 
 on the ground floor, but erelong she heard 
 a band of rebels approaching the house and 
 yelling with all their might : 
 
 " Down with the race of Menshikoff ! 
 Death to the Menshikoff! " 
 
 Matinka hurried her children to the yard, 
 placed them in a corner, and piled before 
 them two or three empty barrels and some 
 fire wood. Then she cautiously entered the 
 front room of the ground floor, so as to 
 discover, as far as possible, what was passing 
 outside, that she might be guided as to the 
 best course to pursue. The clamor waxed 
 louder and louder, and she heard the soldiers 
 beating the doors and window-shutters with 
 the butt end of their guns in the evident 
 attempt to force them open. As it seemed 
 no easy matter to obtain an entrance into 
 the house by this means, a soldier fired at 
 one of the windows on the first floor; the 
 ball pierced the blind and whistled close by
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 75 
 
 Matinka's head. This was followed by 
 a shower of balls, several of which entered 
 the room without, however, wounding the 
 poor woman. Her terror was at its height 
 as several voices amid the crowd cried 
 out: 
 
 " Let us burn them out ! Bring fire ! " 
 
 A man sprang forward immediately with 
 a resin torch, and was about to carry the 
 suggestion into effect, when unexpectedly a 
 protector appeared upon the scene in the 
 person of a lieutenant of the Strelitzes. He 
 rushed into the midst of his comrades ex- 
 claiming: 
 
 " What are you doing here ? Can you 
 find no better work to occupy you than 
 pillaging this poor cabin, which is hardly 
 worth ten roubles ? " 
 
 " Lieutenant," replied some of the 
 soldiers, " we know what we are about. 
 MenshikofFs family live here and we are 
 resolved to exterminate them." 
 
 " You are mistaken," said Simonow, who, 
 hearing of her danger, had hastened to save 
 Matinka. "My own sister rented this house 
 after the death of MenshikofFs mother.
 
 ?6 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 We have already sacked the residence of 
 the imperial favorite." 
 
 Then approaching the house he called 
 aloud : 
 
 " Matinka ! Matinka ! where are you ? why 
 don't you open the door to me?" 
 
 " I am here, Simonow," answered his 
 sister, unclosing the shutters. " I am so 
 grateful to you for coming to my assist- 
 ance." 
 
 " You see that I told the truth," resumed 
 the lieutenant, addressing his comrades. 
 " Now let us go elsewhere ; we shall find 
 more suitable work than destroying the 
 house of my poor sister." 
 
 The Strelitzes moved away without mak- 
 ing any opposition, and soon disappeared 
 from the street. What fervent thanksgiving 
 Matinka returned to heaven for the preser- 
 vation of herself and her children from the 
 imminent danger! But the tragedy being 
 enacted in the streets was not at an end. 
 On the contrary, the tumult became more 
 violent, and the report of fire-arms re- 
 doubled with frightful intensity. The regi- 
 ments which remained faithful to the Czar
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 77 
 
 had united under the orders of General 
 Gordon. He commanded the rebels to 
 return to their quarters, and on their refusal, 
 he attacked them, making a great slaughter 
 and strewing the streets with the bodies of 
 the dead. The contest was still raging when 
 Matinka heard a gentle knock at her front 
 door. She descended hastily, and inquired 
 in a low voice who was there. 
 
 " It is I, sister; open the door at once," 
 replied her brother in a faint voice. 
 
 She drew back the bolt without delay, 
 but could scarcely control herself on seeing 
 her beloved brother, her protector, pale, cov- 
 ered with blood, and tottering from weak- 
 ness. 
 
 "Let me die here in peace," he said 
 feebly, as he learned upon his sister for sup- 
 port, purpling her dress with the blood 
 which flowed from his wound. "All is 
 lost. To be shot or hung, is the fate which 
 awaits me, if my place of retreat be dis- 
 covered." 
 
 He was scarcely able with the assistance 
 of his sister to ascend the staircase. What 
 anguish to the heart of poor Matinka !
 
 78 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 The condition of Simonow required the 
 immediate attendance of a surgeon, and yet 
 she dared not call one in, for fear of betray- 
 ing the asylum she had offered to her 
 brother. She, therefore, undertook to ex- 
 amine, wash, and dress his wounds herself ; 
 a painful task to one who had a horror of 
 the sight of blood, a task however, which 
 her sisterly affection gave her strength to 
 accomplish. The remainder of the night 
 she passed by his bedside, cooling, as well 
 as she could, with simple remedies the burn- 
 ing heat of his fever. 
 
 The following morning she impressed 
 upon her children the extreme danger to 
 which the family would be exposed should 
 it unfortunately become known that one of 
 the Strelitzes had found refuge in the house, 
 and she urged upon them the importance of 
 being silent upon the subject to any one 
 whom they might see. The advice was 
 most seasonable, for, two days afterwards, 
 a proclamation was issued declaring that 
 the penalty of exile into Siberia would be 
 rigorously enforced upon all who, knowing 
 the place of concealment of a rebel, would
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 79 
 
 refrain from denouncing him to the military 
 authorities. Could Matinka obey such a 
 decree ? Could she deliver up to certain 
 death her brother, her savior, the savior of 
 her children ? No, she would not, even at 
 the risk of her own life. Moreover, she 
 trusted in the influence of her husband at 
 Court to save Simonow. He improved 
 rapidly, and the brother and sister were 
 considering the best means to adopt in 
 order to secure his escape from the capital, 
 when the unexpected return of the Czar to 
 Moscow overthrew all the plans they had 
 devised. A ukase was promulgated, order- 
 ing search to be made for the missing 
 Strieltzi. 
 
 The news of the horrible revolt which 
 had imbued the streets of the capital with 
 blood, had reached the Czar in England, at 
 the moment when he was about to embark 
 for Italy. On being informed what had 
 occurred, his anger was unbounded, and he 
 determined to judge the guilty without 
 mercy. He first directed that every quar- 
 ter of the city should be searched. Now, as 
 the neighbors had frequently seen Matin-
 
 80 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 ka's brother go in and out of the house, the 
 officers of the law naturally included it 
 among the number of suspected dwellings 
 and, of course, Simonow was discovered. 
 He was made prisoner and carried off under 
 a strong escort. Matinka would have ex- 
 perienced the same fate, had she not been 
 spared by the superior officer out of 
 respect to her husband's name. 
 
 The next day she learned that all the 
 chiefs of the Strelitzes had been condemned 
 to death. Wild with grief, she directed her 
 steps towards the Kremlin, or palace of the 
 Czar; she shuddered with horror, as she 
 saw the workmen engaged in erecting gal- 
 lows on the battlements of the imperial 
 fortress. She had no doubt that sentence 
 had been passed upon her brother, as his 
 wounds were evidence of the part he had 
 taken in the struggle ; besides, his rank of 
 lieutenant would exclude him from pardon. 
 She was revolving in her mind what means 
 she could possibly adopt to save him, when 
 a way suddenly suggested itself, but she 
 must, to ensure success, discover if her 
 husband had returned to Moscow with the
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 8 1 
 
 Czar. For this purpose, she first went to 
 the palace she had occupied before the 
 departure of Menshikoff. She found it a 
 heap of ruins, and nothing induced her to 
 suppose that he had been there. Dis- 
 appointed in obtaining the desired informa- 
 tion, she turned in another direction, and 
 after a few minutes walk met a band of 
 soldiers escorting a party of Strelitzes loaded 
 with chains. Anxiously casting her eyes 
 over the prisoners, she recognized the unfor- 
 tunate Simonow. He was extremely pale, 
 but seemed calm and resigned. 
 
 " Simonow ! my beloved brother ! "" she 
 exclaimed, advancing towards him with open 
 arms. 
 
 "Back! back!" cried out the soldiers, 
 raising the butt-end of their muskets .to 
 strike the poor woman, who was obliged to 
 desist from her attempt to reach her 
 brother, and to follow the sad cortege at a 
 short distance. 
 
 At this moment it happened that the 
 Emperor himself, accompanied by a numer- 
 ous suite, turned into the street and ad- 
 vanced towards the escort. This sudden 
 6
 
 82 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 apparition seemed to Matinka a manifest 
 interference of heaven. Prostrating herself 
 before the Czar, she raised her hands in 
 supplication and cried in a tone of an- 
 guish : 
 
 " Great Emperor ! Pardon ! Pardon for 
 my unfortunate brother ! " 
 
 At this unexpected apostrophe, Peter 
 checked his horse, and touched by the 
 agony depicted on the woman's countenance, 
 he asked kindly, "Who is your brother? 
 What is the crime for which you sue for 
 pardon ? " 
 
 Encouraged by the gentle manner in 
 which he spoke, Matinka pointed to the 
 group of prisoners and said : 
 
 " He is one of those men who are being 
 led to execution. He is one of the Strelit- 
 zes, but he is the best, the most devoted of 
 brothers." 
 
 " And the most ungrateful of my subjects," 
 interrupted the Czar, whose face clouded im- 
 mediately. " All the Strelitzes are wretches 
 who conspired my death. No pardon for 
 them ; all shall receive the punishment they 
 deserve."
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 83 
 
 Having said these words he was about to 
 move on, when Matinka recognized her hus- 
 band amid the Emperor's suite. The sight 
 of Menshikoff revived the hope which had 
 been extinguished by the positive refusal 
 of the Czar. 
 
 " Alexander ! my dear husband ! " she 
 cried out, " intercede with me, I implore you 
 in favor of my unfortunate brother. He is 
 guilty of no crime. He saved my life and 
 the lives of your children. Unite your sup- 
 plications with mine, I implore you." 
 
 " What ! " exclaimed the Emperor, ad- 
 dressing his favorite, " is it possible that your 
 wife is the sister of a rebel?" 
 
 Menshikoff at once comprehended that 
 his future hung in the balance and that an 
 acknowledgment of the truth would involve 
 the loss of his master's favor. Unwilling 
 at any cost, to incur so great a disgrace, he 
 allowed worldly considerations to gain the 
 ascendency over the fear of God. 
 
 " My gracious lord and master," he re- 
 plied with imperturbable effrontery, " her 
 fears for her brother have destroyed the wo- 
 man's reason. This is the first time I have
 
 84 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 ever seen her." Turning to some of the at- 
 tendants in the suite of the Czar, he ordered 
 them to remove her, and then rode on with 
 the Czar without even casting a glance at 
 poor Matinka, who was thrown insensible 
 upon the sidewalk by the imperial ser- 
 vants. 
 
 When she recovered from her swoon, it 
 seemed to her that she was awaking from a 
 horrible dream ; she even asked herself if it 
 might not be that she was mad. What a 
 frightful awakening! and oh! what a terri- 
 ble meeting after so long a separation ! 
 How her heart was crushed, as she recalled 
 the odious conduct of the man for whom 
 she would gladly have sacrificed her life ! 
 With difficulty she dragged herself to her 
 humble dwelling. She endeavored to con- 
 sider if any means remained untried to ef- 
 fect her brothers release, but her thoughts 
 were so confused she could resolve on noth- 
 ing. Hope was extinct. God had de- 
 prived her of her excellent mother-in-law ; 
 her brother was being led to execution; 
 perhaps he had already expiated his fault 
 on the gallows. Her husband was forever
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 85 
 
 lost to her. Of all the ties which bound her 
 to life, none remained but her children, and 
 that firm confidence in the protection of 
 God which never abandons the virtuous. 
 
 But a deeper anguish lacerated at that 
 moment the heart of Menshikoff. He had 
 coldly sacrificed the sentiment of honor and 
 duty, his conscience, his wife and his child- 
 ren for the favor of an inconstant man. He 
 had staked all that should have been dear 
 to him for a shadow, a nothing. These re- 
 flections forced themselves upon him, when, 
 after leaving the Czar, he retired to his own 
 room. Nervously pacing the floor, and 
 striving in vain to lull the reproaches of 
 conscience, he revolved in his mind his pres- 
 ent position. Again and again he asked 
 himself the question, should he persevere in 
 the path he had entered and definitively 
 repudiate his wife, or, abandoning the se- 
 ductive road of ambition should he return 
 to his original obscurity ? Long did he 
 waver in his decision ; at last, the spirit of 
 evil conquered. The wretched man deter- 
 mined to break a marriage which would de- 
 prive him of the good graces of the Em-
 
 86 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 peror, and be an obstacle to his future ad- 
 vancement at court. He had not, however, 
 the courage to execute this odious project 
 himself. Moreover, he feared he might fal- 
 ter in his infamous resolution, were he to 
 have a personal interview with his wife and 
 children. He therefore gave the negotia- 
 tion with Matinka in charge of his steward, 
 a shrewd and able man. 
 
 She was seated with her children, when a 
 knock at the door caused her to start and 
 utter a loud cry. She had not renounced 
 all hope of seeing her husband return to her 
 again. How bitter the disappointment to 
 meet a stranger instead of Menshikoff !
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 8? 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE SEPARATION. 
 
 HAVING ceremoniously saluted Matinka, 
 the messenger from Menshikoff thus ad- 
 dressed her : " My gracious lord would be 
 justifiable were he to reproach you severely 
 for having, by your inconsiderate conduct 
 this morning, exposed him to extreme 
 danger. But he spares you because of the 
 sufferings you have already endured. By 
 the fact of harboring your brother, one of 
 the chief insurgents, you have incurred the 
 penalty of exile into Siberia. Your hus- 
 band might have saved you from this pun- 
 ishment, and even preserved the life of your 
 brother, had you not, with unexampled im- 
 prudence, enacted a scene in the presence of 
 the irritated Emperor. 
 
 Should the Czar now learn that you are 
 really the wife of Menshikoff, and that your
 
 88 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 husband deceived him in your regard, the 
 imperial vengeance would fall upon both of 
 you, and your children would be left orphans. 
 To avert from all the danger which manaces 
 you, there is but one means, a means sug- 
 gested to my master by the deep affection 
 he bears to you and his children." 
 
 " What is it ? " exclaimed Matinka eagerly. 
 
 " My master has directed me to propose 
 it to you," continued the messenger, as 
 though he had not heard the question just 
 put to him. Nothing but an absolute ne- 
 cessity, and the present imminent peril 
 could have forced him to such a decision." 
 
 " For the love of heaven and in mercy tell 
 me at once," said Matinka. 
 
 "If you consent to employ this means," 
 pursued the steward, dwelling upon each 
 syllable," you will shield your husband from 
 the just indignation of the Czar, you will 
 save the life of your brother, and you your- 
 self will escape being exiled to Siberia. If 
 you really love your husband, your brother 
 and children, you will not reject the anchor 
 of salvation he holds out to you." 
 
 " Certainly I will not," exclaimed Matin-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 89 
 
 ka with vehemence, "but tell me the 
 means." 
 
 " It is," slowly replied the messenger from 
 Menshikoff, " the dissolution of your mar- 
 riage with my gracious lord." 
 
 On hearing these words, she trembled 
 violently, and covered her face with her 
 hands. 
 
 " Choose, Matinka," resumed the steward, 
 "and let me know your decision." 
 
 For a few moments she was unable to 
 speak, then she said in a faint voice : 
 
 " Is it possible that there remains no other 
 way of securing our safety but the separa- 
 tion of those whose union God has blessed ? " 
 
 " There is none other. Thus alone can 
 your husband preserve the influence he 
 now possesses and attend to his interests, 
 without exposing himself to suspicion." 
 
 " To anything else I will readily con- 
 sent," said Matinka: "to that, never. Let 
 my husband reduce me to the condition of 
 the most humble slave." 
 
 " That is not the point. The question con- 
 cerns a separation." 
 
 " I am ready to retire with my children to
 
 go MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 the most remote and obscure corner of the 
 empire," replied the poor woman, weeping. 
 " No one shall know that he is my husband. 
 I will even forbid my children ever to pro- 
 nounce, in the presence of others, the name 
 of their father. But consent to a separation 
 never." 
 
 "You refuse, then?" 
 
 " Yes, sooner would I sacrifice my life." 
 
 Very well, your husband leaves you free. 
 Proclaim, if you will, through the streets 
 of Moscow : my husband lied to the Czar ! 
 I am the wife of Menshikoff ! and you 
 will soon reap the reward of your obsti- 
 nacy." 
 
 " O my God ! Tell my husband 
 
 to do what he thinks right and best. I sub- 
 mit to his will." 
 
 " That is precisely what he does not 
 wish. You must, yourself, make the deci- 
 sion, for he is unwilling that you should have 
 cause even to make him the least reproach. 
 If you agree, he will accede to a separation, 
 if you refuse, he will accept with resignation 
 the consequences of the anger of the Czar." 
 
 " Does he then require me to condemn
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 91 
 
 myself to a separation which will be my 
 death?" 
 
 " Yes," replied the steward. " The affair 
 rests entirely in your hands. The love he 
 bears you is such that he leaves it to you 
 the decision of your common fate." 
 
 Matinka bowed her head, joined her 
 hands, and prayed in silence. After a few 
 moments she said to the steward, who 
 seemed to be anxiously awaiting her 
 answer : 
 
 " I will not allow Menshikoff the oppor- 
 tunity of saying that he loves me more than 
 I love him. To prove my love to him, I 
 would cheerfully die. But I can make a 
 greater sacrifice than my life. For love of 
 him I consent to be separated from him. 
 Let him remain great, rich and happy, 
 whilst I shall be poor and abandoned. Now 
 tell him to look to the rescue of my brother 
 from the hands of justice." 
 
 "You have done well," said the artful 
 officer, fully satisfied as to the success of his 
 mission. 
 
 " One word more ;" added Matinka, point- 
 ing to her children. " Will Menshikoff leave
 
 92 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 me the only happiness that remains to me 
 on earth? " 
 
 " He said nothing positive on that sub- 
 ject," replied the messenger. "Perhaps as 
 there are but the two, an arrangement 
 might be made for you to keep one." 
 
 " No, no," exclaimed Matinka. '' As well 
 might you cut my heart in two pieces. 
 Both, both, I must have both my children. " 
 
 " Oh ! " answered the steward, " I think 
 he will make no difficulty." Having ac- 
 complished his purpose, he retired. 
 
 A few days later, on a cold evening in 
 November, 1697, Matinka, accompanied by 
 her two children, walked slowly towards the 
 church of St. Andrew. She entered through 
 a wide door into the temple, the vast nave of 
 which was lighted only by the single lamp 
 suspended before the tabernacle. Pale and 
 exhausted by her short walk, she seated her- 
 self near the choir, where, overpowered by 
 grief, she prayed in silence; neither Florent 
 nor Helen ventured to address her. 
 
 Shortly afterwards a priest entered the 
 sanctuary and knelt at the foot of the altar. 
 He was a venerable old man, whose white
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 93 
 
 beard fell upon his chest. As he prayed 
 before the crucifix, the church clock struck 
 nine. Matinka started, glanced hastily 
 around as if dreading some sinister vision, 
 and trembled on hearing a vehicle rolling 
 rapidly to the side door of the church, where 
 it stopped. Next, the heavy tread of a cava- 
 lier resounded on the marble flag-stones. A 
 very tall man, enveloped in a large mantle, 
 entered the choir and knelt upon the altar- 
 step. It was Menshikoff. Twice Matinka 
 essayed in vain to rise, and twice she fell 
 back as though suddenly paralyzed. The 
 venerable priest, taking pity on her, sup- 
 ported her to the alar-step beside her hus- 
 band, who was evidently making an effort 
 to steel himself against any sentiment of 
 compassion. Matinka remained standing 
 with bowed head, not daring even to take 
 the hand of the man she loved so ten- 
 derly. 
 
 In a solemn voice the priest said : 
 
 " What God has joined together, let no 
 
 man put asunder. Yet our Lord Jesus 
 
 Christ says that Moses, on account of the 
 
 hardness of hearts, ordered a decree of di-
 
 94 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 vorce to be given to avoid a greater mis- 
 fortune." 
 
 [Note. The priest, in order to authorize 
 divorce, satisfies himself with repeating the 
 very words which condemn it, for, Jesus 
 Christ, after recalling the toleration granted 
 the Jews, immediately adds that he had 
 come to revoke it, and to restore to marriage 
 its primitive purity and indissolubility. Con- 
 trary to the morality of the Gospel and the 
 Catholic Church, the Greek schism permits 
 divorce, and not only separates what God 
 has joined together, but it blesses, by a 
 religious ceremony, the separation, as it 
 does the union.] 
 
 " Alexander Menshikoff," continued the 
 priest, " are you determined to break the 
 union which you have contracted before 
 God? And are you, Matinka Natuschkin, 
 likewise determined to dissolve it?" 
 
 "Yes," answered the Imperial Councillor, 
 in a firm, clear voice. 
 
 The affirmative reply of Matinka was as 
 the last sigh of one in her agony. 
 
 " In sign of mutual consent take hold of 
 hands," said the priest.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 95 
 
 Matinka placed her icy cold hand in the 
 burning, nervous hand of Menshikoff. She 
 trembled so convulsively that Menshikoff 
 appeared touched by it. Had she not cause 
 to tremble, when she reflected that her hand 
 lay in that of her husband for the last time? 
 
 "Ten years ago," resumed the priest, "I 
 united you in marriage before this altar. 
 To day I release you from the vow which 
 then bound you. I absolve you from your 
 reciprocal duties, I separate you from each 
 other in the name of the Father, of the Son, 
 and of the Holy Ghost. May you never re- 
 pent what you have now done. Go in 
 peace." 
 
 Menshikoff arose immediately and left the 
 sanctuary. The children sobbed aloud. As 
 their father passed them, he stopped a mo- 
 ment and said gently and affectionately : 
 
 " Will you come and live with me? " 
 
 " No, no, I will not," exclaimed both 
 children, and rushing to their mother they 
 threw their arms around her and kissed her 
 over and over again. 
 
 Menshikoff seemed to hesitate and waver 
 in his resolution, as he contemplated this
 
 96 MENSHlKOFF ; 
 
 touching scene, but in an instant he strode 
 down the church and disappeared through 
 the side-door. 
 
 Henceforth no one mentioned the names 
 of Matinka and her children.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 97 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE PINNACLE OF FORTUNE. 
 
 THE ambitious Menshikoff had removed 
 the only obstacle which stood between him 
 and the. worldly honors his pride coveted. 
 Preferment came rapidly : in a few years he 
 had become count, prince, prime minister, 
 field marshal. The Emperor bestowed upon 
 him vast domains, with one hundred thou- 
 sand serfs, and named him Duke of Inger- 
 manland. The Emperor of Germany, the 
 King of Prussia, and otherjmonarchs, lavished 
 dignities upon him in order to conciliate the 
 all-powerful favorite. The immense treasures 
 he received from the generosity of the Czar, 
 he increased still more by unlawful means, 
 for avarice is the root of all vices. He em- 
 bezzled large sums destined for government 
 expenses, accepting bribes for appointments 
 to office and, more than once, sold himself to 
 7
 
 98 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 foreign princes, thwarting, in their interest, 
 the political designs of his master. Having 
 amassed great riches, he was able to con- 
 tract a new alliance with a Russian princess, 
 who bore him a son and two daughters. 
 The powerful Menshikoff was honored and 
 dreaded by all ; even the most noble fam- 
 ilies of the country courted his favor. 
 When he left his magnificent palace in his 
 elegant equipage, gilded and adorned with 
 armorial bearings, and drawn by six superb 
 horses, an armed guard preceded to clear 
 the way. All, from the highest officer to 
 the simple soldier, saluted him with as 
 much respect as if he were the Emperor 
 himself. No one could recognize in the 
 powerful prince the pastry-cook's appren- 
 tice, who, but a few years before, had sold 
 pies through the streets of Moscow. 
 
 But, alas ! the man, in the midst of his 
 grandeur, was not to be envied. All is not 
 gold that glitters. Surrounded by the splen- 
 dors of a luxury to which few private indi- 
 viduals have attained, he was often the 
 most miserable of men. Over his head 
 was suspended the sword of Damocles.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 99 
 
 He knew it, although none suspected the 
 anxiety and remorse which forever gnawed 
 his heart. 
 
 He had reached the zenith of his glory; 
 the hour of his humiliation was about to 
 sound. 
 
 The Czar had laid the foundations of a 
 new city on the banks of the Neva, purpos- 
 ing to make it the capital of his empire; 
 this city was St. Petersburg. As the land 
 was moist and marshy, it was necessary to 
 drain it and add dry soil. Thousands of 
 men were employed at this work ; wagons, 
 carts, and every description of transport was 
 pressed into service for conveying bags 
 of earth even from a great distance. 
 It happened one day that Peter the Great 
 desired to inspect the works. He directed 
 Menshikoff to accompany him to the envi- 
 rons of the new city. Scarcely had they 
 left the precincts of Moscow, when they 
 reached a bridge roughly formed of trunks of 
 trees partly decayed, and dangerous to cross. 
 There were large openings in the logs, 
 and the least deviation of the horses from the 
 straight line, would necessarily have upset
 
 IOO MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 the vehicle and precipitated the Emperor 
 into the marsh over which the bridge was 
 thrown. He had been conversing pleas- 
 antly until they neared the dangerous cross- 
 ing. In a voice of thunder he cried out : 
 
 "Halt!" 
 
 The horses stopped as still as if their feet 
 had taken root in the ground. Addressing 
 Menshikoff, the Czar said : 
 
 " Did I not, rascal, appoint you inspector 
 general of bridges throughout the empire ? 
 Look at this one. Is it thus you earn the 
 thousands of roubles I pay you annually? 
 Why do you not attend faithfully to the 
 duties of your office? You are a robber. 
 Descend from the carriage for a moment." 
 
 Saying these words the Emperor sprang 
 lightly to the ground. Menshikoff followed 
 him trembling in every limb. The Czar 
 took his cane, and dealt with it no gentle 
 blows upon the back of his Minister of 
 State. It was a strange spectacle to the 
 curious crowd which had collected around 
 the monarch, to behold that prince, clad in 
 the most simple attire, administering, with 
 his own hand, so severe a castigation to a
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 101 
 
 great lord superbly dressed, wearing the 
 insignia of many orders, and submitting 
 meekly to the violent correction. When 
 Peter had fatigued his arm, and his anger 
 had cooled, he said affectionately to his fav- 
 orite : 
 
 " Now, dear Menshikoff, we will continue 
 our journey." 
 
 Both re-entered the carriage, and the 
 Emperor resumed the conversation as pleas- 
 antly as though nothing had occurred to in- 
 terupt it. As to the Minister of State, "he 
 dared not give the least indication of the 
 pain he was suffering. On the contrary, he 
 was obliged to laugh every time the Czar 
 laughed. 
 
 Not long after the incident related above, 
 information was given the Emperor of 
 another embezzlement on the part of Men- 
 shikoff. The latter, apprised of the fact by 
 the spies whom he employed in the imperi- 
 al palace, was apprehensive lest serious con- 
 sequences might result to him from the 
 denunciation to his master of his renewed 
 peculation. But before he could devise a 
 plan to avert the the effects of the Emper-
 
 102 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 or's wrath, he received a letter inviting him 
 to dine with the Czar. He turned pale and 
 trembled from fear, and so great was his 
 agitation that he was unable to conceal it 
 from his valet when he presented him his 
 court-dress for the occasion. He sighed as 
 he contemplated the decorations and insig- 
 nia, the marks of imperial favor ; gladly he 
 would now have exchanged them for the 
 peace of a good conscience. With anxious 
 forebodings he passed the various groups of 
 courtiers, officers, Councillors of State, min- 
 isters and embassadors who were assembled 
 at the palace, and who saluted him respect- 
 fully, although the greater part cordially de- 
 tested him. With a presentiment of the 
 humilation awaiting him, the homage he 
 rendered the Emperor and Empress was un- 
 usually profound. His place at the table 
 was opposite the Czar. The latter appeared 
 serious, but gave no evidence of anger or 
 excitement. Menshikoff had no appetite, 
 and the luxuries spread before him he left 
 untouched. Occasionally, he scanned anx- 
 iously the countenance of the Emperor, hop- 
 ing to read in his expression the thoughts
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. IO3 
 
 which occupied his mind. But not a cloud 
 disturbed his serenity. Suddenly the band 
 of music stopped, and the guests, involun- 
 tarily ceasing their conversation, turned 
 towards the Czar who, with his habitual 
 calmness, directed one of the attendants to 
 bring from his cabinet a folded paper which 
 he would find on the marble table under 
 the mirror. 
 
 Menshikoff comprehended at once that 
 a bitter humiliation was in store for him, 
 and his anguish was indescribable. When 
 the chamberlain returned and presented the 
 paper to his master, the latter said : 
 
 " Read the contents aloud, slowly and dis- 
 tinctly." 
 
 Menshikoff trembled from terror upon be- 
 holding the angry flash of the Emperor's eye 
 as he imperiously commanded him to rise. 
 Without a word the favorite promptly 
 obeyed, presenting a pitiable image of a 
 criminal before his judge. The chamber- 
 lain was equally embarrassed, and glancing 
 suppliantly at Menshikoff as if to beg 
 pardon for what was about to happen, he 
 read in a hesitating manner the following :
 
 104 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 "Alexander Menshikoff, the son of a poor 
 peasant, was lifted from his low condition 
 of a pastry-cook's apprentice by the favor of 
 his sovereign, and elevated to the highest 
 dignities of the State. By the eminent 
 qualities with which he was gifted, by his 
 extraordinary acquirements, his indefati- 
 gable activity, he conciliated the good will of 
 his Emperor, who lavished upon him wealth 
 and honors. But he has not always corre- 
 sponded to the just expectations of his mas- 
 te.r; he has often repaid with the blackest 
 ingratitude the kindness of which he was the 
 object. The enumeration of his unjustifiable 
 and iniquitous acts, would fill a volume. 
 He relies upon the longanimity of his in- 
 dulgent Emperor, who has already chastised 
 him by making public his peculations; he 
 has again been detected in the embezzle- 
 ment of the public funds by drawing, for 
 two years, and appropriating to his own use, 
 the pay for a regiment which did not exist." 
 
 The chamberlain, having completed the 
 reading, folded the paper and awaited the 
 Czar's orders. 
 
 Peter, fixing his eyes sternly upon the
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. IO$ 
 
 prince, and dwelling upon each syllable as 
 he spoke, said to him : 
 
 " Menshikoff, I have humiliated you, but 
 you have richly deserved punishment. You 
 have long known the penalty I intend to in- 
 flict when you are guilty of such misdeeds. 
 I will faithfully keep the promise I made 
 you never to condemn you to death ; but I 
 advise you not to force me, by a renewal of 
 your crime, to reiterate the chastisement of 
 to-day, or to use my cane as I did at the 
 bridge of St. Petersburg." 
 
 Thus terminated this painful scene. 
 
 After dinner, the Emperor and all the 
 court repaired to another hall, where tables 
 had been arranged for cards. Menshikoff 
 made one of a party consisting of the Em- 
 press and two of her ladies of honor, and he 
 played as though nothing unusual had oc- 
 curred, although the exterior calm which he 
 maintained, belied the agitation of his soul. 
 Besides, his humiliation was not the only 
 reparation exacted of him. Every day has 
 its morrow, and on the morrow, the impe- 
 rial favorite received a positive command 
 from the Czar to refund the two hundred
 
 106 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 thousand roubles which had been the fruit 
 of his peculation. 
 
 In 1725 Peter the Great died, and the Em- 
 press Catharine I. succeeded him on the 
 throne of Russia. 
 
 This change of sovereigns, far from re- 
 stricting the power exercised by Menshikoff, 
 only rendered it the more secure. It was 
 through the influence of his favorite that 
 the young Czar had made choice of Catha- 
 rine, or rather Martha Rabe, for his wife, 
 and encircled her brow, peasant as she was, 
 with the imperial diadem. Under the new 
 administration, Menshikoff's hand was visi- 
 ble in every department, and the reign of 
 his former protegee was, in reality, his own 
 reign. He ruled supreme, and many a one 
 whom he suspected of denouncing him to 
 the Czar Peter was exiled to Siberia. How- 
 ever, this worldly glory was not of long dura- 
 tion. In 1727 the Empress followed her 
 husband to the grave, leaving the throne to 
 her grandson Peter II., a boy of thirteen 
 years of age. Menshikoff, for a moment, 
 thought his rule was at end. But Catha- 
 rine's will invested him with the regency
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. IO/ 
 
 during the minority of the Czar, to whom he 
 was also appointed guardian. His pride no 
 longer knew any bounds. He went so far 
 as to aspire to become the father-in-law of 
 his sovereign. He betrothed his elder 
 daughter to the young Peter, and the time 
 was appointed for the marriage. 
 
 But the patience of Almighty God had 
 reached its limit, and the moment had come, 
 when his insatiable ambition was to be 
 checked by the voice of Heaven, and he was 
 to hear the words, " So far shalt thou go but 
 no farther."
 
 108 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE FAITHFUL SERVANT. 
 
 SHORTLY after the important events re- 
 corded above, Menshikoff remembered, after 
 retiring for the night, that he had neglected 
 to transmit an imperial order. He pulled 
 the bell-cord which hung at the head of the 
 bed, in order to summon the attendant 
 whose duty it was to watch in the ante- 
 chamber. The call was not answered. 
 Again he rang, but no one came. Enraged 
 by the inattention of his subordinate, he 
 sprang from the bed and opened the door 
 leading into the antechamber. A young 
 man engaged in writing a letter was seated 
 at a table with his back to the door, and ap- 
 parently so absorbed in thought as to have 
 been unconscious of his master's summons. 
 
 Like all others whose conscience is not 
 pure, Menshikoff was suspicious. What
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. IOQ 
 
 could be the nature of the communication, 
 he said to himself, which so entirely en- 
 grossed his servant's attention as to render 
 him oblivious of all else ? Perhaps he was 
 a spy, making notes for his employers at a 
 time when he supposed the household were 
 buried in sleep. At any rate, he must sat- 
 isfy himself on that point. 
 
 Softly entering the cabinet, he stole on 
 tip-toe behind the young man and looked 
 over his shoulder ; but as the first word his 
 eye fell upon was his own name, he ex- 
 claimed : 
 
 " Hold ! what are you doing?" 
 
 Terrified as if an infernal voice had struck 
 his ear, the young man arose hastily, and 
 seemed uncertain whether to throw himself 
 at his master's feet or to seek to escape his 
 anger by flight. His lips moved as he en- 
 deavored to stammer an excuse, but no 
 sound was audible. 
 
 " Scoundrel ! I have caught you in the 
 act ! " cried Menshikoff, as he seized the 
 paper which he supposed to be the proof of 
 treachery. 
 
 He ran his eye rapidly over the sheet,
 
 no MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 but as he read, his features relaxed and the 
 angry expression disappeared. In the 
 mean time, the young man having re- 
 covered from his emotion calmly awaited 
 the result. 
 
 The contents of his letter were as follows: 
 
 " MY DEAR MOTHER : 
 
 "A long time has passed since you have 
 heard from me, but I beg you not to con- 
 clude from my silence that I have forgotten 
 you. Want of time alone has caused my 
 apparent neglect. Fortunately, however, 
 the unavoidable delay gives me the oppor- 
 tunity of sending you good news. I have 
 had the happiness of being admitted among 
 the attendants of the great Prince Menshi- 
 koff, of whom you so often spoke to us 
 when we were children. What peculiar 
 emotions I experienced on entering the 
 house of a man so universally honored and 
 so rich ! I was somewhat alarmed, having 
 been told that he was haughty, irascible, 
 and unkind. But since I have been in his 
 service, I can say from personal observa- 
 tion that he has been misrepresented. He 
 is not, certainly, an angel from heaven, but 
 he has excellent qualities. So far, I have 
 no cause for serious complaint, and I 
 believe that if his dependants perform their
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. Ill 
 
 duty properly, he is not a person who would 
 find fault unjustly. In truth, his palace is 
 daily beset by a crowd of people, great 
 lords, and poor, unfortunate creatures, all 
 tormenting him and soliciting some favor, 
 until it amounts to a persecution. It is not, 
 therefore, astonishing if my master some- 
 times loses his temper, and storms against 
 the intruders as Samson did against the 
 Philistines. The prince -has two charming 
 little girls, beautiful and sweet as angels, 
 and then a son, brave, as the son of such a 
 lord should be, for whom one may, unhesi- 
 tatingly, predict a brilliant future. I can 
 not say enough in praise of the princess. 
 Twice already, when giving me a rouble for 
 executing a commission, she has called me 
 'dear Michaelow.' I send you, dear 
 mother, in this letter thirty roubles of silver 
 which I have saved from money received. 
 My master gives me high wages, and to this 
 is added an occasional gift. Besides, I gain 
 another rouble by watching during the 
 night in the prince's antechamber. This is 
 the third night that I have supplied the 
 place of a fellow-servant." 
 
 Here Menshikoff had interrupted the 
 young man. He was not in the least of- 
 fended by the description his servant had
 
 112 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 given of him. On the contrary, he was 
 rather flattered by the simple language of a 
 child speaking the sentiments of his heart ; 
 for, at times, he could be noble and gener- 
 ous. He gave the young man the despatch, 
 directing him to present it to the officer on 
 duty, with orders to forward it immediately. 
 He then drew from his purse a handful of 
 gold pieces and said to the astonished at- 
 tendant, 
 
 " Send that to your mother, as she has 
 brought you up so well. So good a son 
 must of necessity be an honest, faithful ser- 
 vant. If you do not permit yourself to be 
 spoiled by others, you need not fear that I 
 shall storm against you as Samson against 
 the Philistines, or the Czar Peter against the 
 Swedes at Pultowa. I am in great want of 
 a man upon whose fidelity I can rely ; for, 
 I am well aware that among my household 
 there are concealed enemies. It is in your 
 power to aid me to discover them and to 
 protect me from their snares. You will, in 
 this manner, be able to testify your grati- 
 tude for the favors I am disposed to bestow 
 upon you. Should I sometimes, in the pres-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 113 
 
 ence of your companions, scold you or 
 speak harshly, you may be certain that 
 there is nothing serious in my displeasure. 
 And now, good night." 
 
 Michaelow fervently thanked his generous 
 master, and he continued to be one of Men- 
 shikoff's most devoted servants. However, 
 he carefully refrained from assuming the 
 odious character of informer, nor did he be- 
 tray the inconsiderate remarks of his associ- 
 ates, or report their faults. The prince, 
 for his part, apparently paid no attention to 
 him ; on the contrary, his indifference was 
 rather marked. If alone with him, he was 
 affectionate in his manner as though to 
 
 O 
 
 compensate for his neglect in public. 
 
 One day, nevertheless, the prince acted 
 towards Michaelow with the most striking 
 injustice. At every turn and without cause, 
 he reviled him, threatened him with the 
 knout and exile to Siberia, and refused to 
 accept any explanation or permit a word to 
 be said in his justification. Michaelow 
 could not comprehend the injustice to 
 which he had been subjected, and over- 
 whelmed by grief, he seated himself in a cor- 
 8
 
 1 14 MENSHIKOFF J 
 
 rier of the room where the servants of the 
 palace were accustomed to assemble. 
 There, resting his elbows upon the table, and 
 covering his face with his hands, he wept 
 bitterly. Willingly would he have given all 
 the gold he had received from the prince, 
 could he have prevented the painful scene 
 through which he had just passed. Absor- 
 bed in his own sorrow, he did not notice that 
 all his companions had retired with the ex- 
 ception of one, named Karpakan, who had 
 always testified to him a more particular at- 
 tachment. After a few moments of silence, 
 Karpakan said : 
 
 "Come, come, Michaelow, try to forgot 
 what has just passed. Let us open a bottle 
 of wine ; nothing will so quickly divert the 
 current of your thoughts." 
 
 Saying these words, he placed upon the 
 table a decanter of wine and two glasses, 
 which he filled and drank to the health of 
 his colleague. 
 
 " Our master is a singular man," continued 
 Karpakan. " One is never sure of doing 
 anything to suit him. I can complain as 
 well as you, of the unjust reproofs he has
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. Iij 
 
 administered. Nowadays, an upright and 
 loyal heart does not suffice to advance one 
 in the world. Hypocrites and flatterers 
 make their way more quickly and with more 
 facility. What is left to be done? We 
 must howl with the wolves to escape being 
 devoured by them. I must acknowledge 
 that all masters are not of the same stamp 
 as Prince Menshikoff. For instance, there 
 is young Prince Dolgourki. In his estab- 
 lishment, every servant is treated like a 
 prince, although this lord is not so rich as 
 ours. In return for the slightest informa- 
 tion as to what passes in the Menshikoff 
 palace, he gives, it is said, a handful of gold 
 pieces. If I knew some little circumstance 
 to communicate, I could make a nice sum 
 of money. It is only necessary to hint 
 through a third individual that you are dis- 
 posed to gratify his curiosity, and he forth- 
 with slips into your hand several roubles. 
 I confide this to you from pure friendship. 
 But do not speak of it to any one lest there 
 may be too many competitors for the re- 
 ward." 
 
 Michaelow paid very little attention to
 
 ii6 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 the remarks of his companion, but a singu- 
 lar circumstance which occurred a few days 
 later brought them forcibly to mind. His 
 master had given him a letter of importance 
 for one of the high officials of the empire, 
 and he was preparing to execute the order 
 immediately. At the foot of the staircase 
 Karpakan stopped him and asked to see the 
 address on the letter which he held in his 
 hand. Michaelow did not reply, for the 
 strange communication made to him by his 
 companion flashed across his mind. 
 
 "If you wish," resumed the latter,"! 
 will go in your place." 
 
 This proposition aroused a still stronger" 
 suspicion as to his intentions, and Michaelow 
 answered : 
 
 " No, no. The prince would have just 
 grounds to reprove me, for I should be act- 
 ing contrary to his express order." 
 
 " Listen to me," insisted Karpakan, low- 
 ering his voice. " I promise you on oath, if 
 you will entrust this letter to me for only 
 ten minutes, to give you a rouble for each 
 minute." 
 
 " It is useless to talk longer upon the
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 
 
 subject," replied Michaelow. " I see through 
 your intention. You wish to test my hon- 
 esty and assure yourself if I am faithful to 
 duty." 
 
 " Excellent Michaelow ! " exclaimed the 
 tempter, " You have nobly sustained the 
 trial to which you were subjected. I can 
 now tell you that our master tries in a 
 similar manner all his servants, and he 
 selects to carry out his designs those who 
 have shown themselves the most worthy of 
 his confidence. I was appointed by him to 
 make proof of your fidelity, and I shall at 
 once inform him that he can trust you with- 
 out hesitation. Regard your fortune al- 
 ready secured, my dear friend." 
 
 Karpakan pronounced these words in an 
 affectionate manner, but as his companion 
 moved on, he stamped his foot and mut- 
 tered between his teeth : 
 
 " The bottle of wine was wasted upon a 
 fool. But no matter, we will see that he 
 receives the reward of his integrity." 
 
 Michaelow considered that duty required 
 him to inform the prince of what had 
 passed between himself and Karpakan.
 
 Il8 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 " You have done well, my son," replied 
 Menshikoff, after hearing the account given 
 by the young man. " Do not mention the 
 circumstance to any one, and banish all 
 anxiety." 
 
 Notwithstanding his master's encourag- 
 ing words, Michaelow was in a few weeks, 
 exposed to a new ordeal. Four silver can- 
 dlesticks were missing after a dinner given 
 by the prince to several high officials of the 
 empire. It was impossible for the theft to 
 have been committed by any one not fa- 
 miliar with the interior arrangements of the 
 palace, and suspicion necessarily fell upon 
 those who were in the employ of the prince. 
 The steward was highly indignant, and de- 
 clared that, cost what it might, the candle- 
 sticks should be found. Every room in the 
 palace was searched from the garret to the 
 cellar. They were discovered in Michaelow's 
 bed. The poor young man was so over- 
 powered when informed of the fact that he 
 was unable to stand, but fell as though he 
 had received a heavy blow. 
 
 When the prince was made acquainted 
 with the circumstances of the case, he
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 119 
 
 assembled all his attendants in a hall. 
 Michealow was deeply humiliated as he saw 
 every eye fixed upon him. He was particu- 
 larly struck by the scoffing expression with 
 which Karpakan regarded him. Menshikoff 
 entered the apartment, and glanced rapidly 
 around until he perceived Karpakan, when 
 giving vent to his anger, he exclaimed in a 
 terrible tone : 
 
 " Wretch ! you stole the candlesticks and 
 concealed them in Michaelow's bed in order 
 to implicate that honest boy, who had re- 
 fused to become an accomplice in the 
 odious treason you were planning against 
 me. To accomplish your infamous act, you 
 used a false key to enter Michaelow's room ; 
 it was made for you by the locksmith, 
 Frasikoff, and you now wear it around your 
 neck in a leathern bag. I know all that 
 goes on in my house. I know that you are 
 employed as a spy by my enemies. But 
 traitors receive always the chastisement 
 they deserve, and your punishment shall be 
 equivalent to your crime." 
 
 Then addressing two grooms he said : 
 
 " Search that scoundrel."
 
 I2o MENSIIIKOFF; 
 
 Pale as a corpse, and trembling in every 
 limb, Karpakan did not attempt to utter a 
 word in his justification. The false key was 
 found in a leathern bag suspended around 
 his neck, as Menshikoff had said. It was 
 impossible for him to deny his guilt, and he 
 was condemned to be sent immediately to 
 Siberia. 
 
 Menshikoff next addressed his attendants 
 in a severe manner : 
 
 " Beware of deceiving or betraying me. I 
 know you well ; if I have spared the traitor 
 who still remains among you, let him be as- 
 sured that it is only to leave him time to fill 
 up the measure of his iniquities, before I 
 deal the blow which justice demands. As 
 to you, Michaelow, to compensate you for 
 the mental suffering you have endured, you 
 shall have the value in money of the four 
 candlesticks. This will also be a recom- 
 pense for your fidelity." 
 
 The prince had become acquainted in the 
 most natural manner with the circumstances 
 preceding and following the theft. His at- 
 tention having been called to Karpakan by 
 the revelation of Miebaelow, he charged his
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 121 
 
 spies to watch the movements of his perfid- 
 ious servant, who was thus detected in his 
 designs. 
 
 The scene which they had just witnessed 
 made a deep impression upon the attend- 
 ants of Menshikoff, who adroitly took ad- 
 vantage of it to confirm them in the idea 
 that he was fully aware of all that transpired 
 in the palace. The unjust suspicion cast 
 upon him also turned to the profit of 
 Michaelow ; for, not only was his purse 
 filled with gold pieces by the generosity of 
 his master, but he also received many proofs 
 of affection from him ; in return, he loved 
 him daily more and more. 
 
 Many hard things are said about Menshi- 
 koff, he thought within himself. It may. be 
 that all his actions are not strictly conform- 
 able to the principles of justice, but after all, 
 it is not my place to constitute myself the 
 judge of my master. My duty is to be 
 faithful to him, and that I am determined 
 to be, so long as he retains me in his service. 
 
 The amount equivalent to the value of the 
 candlesticks had just been sent him by the 
 steward, when a boy informed him that a
 
 122 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 woman and a young girl had asked to see 
 him, and were waiting at the door of the 
 palace. 
 
 "Humph!" grumbled Michaelow, "my 
 acquaintances in St. Petersburg are not so 
 numerous that I should have visitors inquir- 
 ing for me." 
 
 However, he descended and found in the 
 hall a woman and young girl, both dressed 
 in the costume usually worn by the peas- 
 antry of the environs of Moscow. 
 
 As soon as his eye rested upon them, he 
 exclaimed in a transport of joy:"O my 
 dear mother," and embraced her and his sis- 
 ter with all the tenderness and affection of a 
 devoted son and brother. 
 
 'i What miracle has brought me this hap- 
 piness? " he asked. 
 
 "The miracle was performed by yourself," 
 replied Matinka. "We thought we could 
 not better employ a part of the roubles you 
 bestow upon us, than by coming to St. Pe- 
 tersburg to see you, and visit the new city 
 of which we have heard so frequently." 
 
 " You have done well, dear mother," an- 
 swered the happy son. " But I shall defray
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. I2J 
 
 the expenses of the journey. For, you 
 must know," he added, making the gold coin 
 ring in his pocket, "that I have enough 
 money to pay it ten times over." 
 
 " My child," said the mother, " to see you 
 possessed of so much, is a cause of anxiety 
 to me. Your master must be very wealthy, 
 if he gives such wages to his servants as to 
 enable them all to lay aside the amount you 
 can save." 
 
 Michaelow tranquillized her by relating 
 the story of the four candlesticks. The 
 good woman appeared touched by the gener- 
 osity of the prince, wiped away the tears 
 which filled her eyes, and said : 
 
 " Ah ! if he is good to you, how could he 
 have been so harsh towards " 
 
 Here she stopped, as though influenced 
 by fear in giving utterance to her thoughts. 
 
 "You mean," added her son, "towards 
 others often in much higher position. But 
 we will not speak of that, as it does not con- 
 cern us." 
 
 "You do not understand me, my son. 
 But tell me how does he conduct himself in 
 regard to his wife and children?"
 
 124 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 " In the kindest manner. Their every 
 wish is gratified." 
 
 The mother sighed and cast down her 
 eyes in order to conceal her tears. 
 
 " Could we see him at a distance," she 
 continued, " without being seen by him?" 
 
 " Oh ! There would be no difficulty what- 
 ever in that. The antechamber is filled 
 every day with a crowd of people who 
 await the prince in order to present petitions 
 as he passes. On such occasions he rarely 
 notices any one, and you can see him as near 
 as you choose. 
 
 "Dear Florent," .... said Helen eagerly. 
 
 The mother, hearing her pronounce her 
 brother's real name, hastily interrupted her, 
 reminding her to be prudent. 
 
 " Indeed," resumed Helen laughing, " I 
 forgot that your name here was Michaelow. 
 And yet Florent is not the synonyme of 
 crimijial. Still, as our mother here wishes it, 
 I will try for the present to call you 
 Michaelow. Could we, dear brother, be ad- 
 mitted to the apartment of the prince? I 
 would so much like to have an idea of the 
 home of so great a personage."
 
 OR, THE PEASANT FRINGE. 1 25 
 
 " I think I can gratify you, but it must be 
 upon a day when the prince does not dine 
 at home. I will ask permission of the 
 steward for your entrance. I am sure he 
 will not refuse me." 
 
 As Michaelow said these words, a splendid 
 vehicle drove rapidly by them and entered 
 the gate of the palace. 
 
 As soon as it appeared the young man re- 
 moved his cap and said : 
 
 " It is the prince. I am obliged to leave 
 you now, as my duty requires me to be in 
 attendance on his lordship ; but I shall be 
 free at four o'clock. Where shall I find 
 you?" 
 
 The mother heard not a word her son said. 
 As the carriage approached, she turned 
 deathly pale, and followed it with her eyes 
 until it disappeared beyond the gate. 
 Helen answered the question of her brother, 
 who hastily bade them adieu and re-entered 
 the palace. 
 
 The prince had evidently obtained some 
 new favor ; for he was in high spirits when 
 Michaelow helped him to change his court- 
 dress.
 
 126 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 " Michaelow," he said to him, "I saw 
 you just now engaged in conversation with 
 a very pretty young girl. I was almost 
 afraid you would forget to attend upon 
 me." 
 
 " You need never fear, my lord," replied 
 Michaelow, respectfully," that I would for- 
 get my duty, although I was overjoyed to 
 see my mother and sister, who came unex- 
 pectedly to St. Petersburg to visit me." 
 
 " I can readily understand your happi- 
 ness/' said Menshikoff. Does your mother 
 live near here?" " No, my lord ; she lives 
 in the vicinity of Moscow, at the little vil- 
 lage of Semesnouski." 
 
 The prince changed color, became pen- 
 sive, and was silent for a few moments. 
 Then he resumed: "In what manner do 
 you intend to amuse your mother and sis- 
 ter during their stay in the capital?" 
 
 "Their greatest desire is to see your 
 Highness, and then .... if your Highness 
 will permit it, the interior of the palace." 
 
 " Certainly," answered Menshikoff, flat- 
 tered by the request. Their wish is easily 
 gratified, and as I dine out with the prin-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. I2/ 
 
 ess and' the children, you may give them 
 that pleasure to-day. During our absence, 
 you may conduct your mother and sister 
 through all the apartments, and do not 
 neglect to direct the cook to prepare dinner 
 for your visitors, whom you must not send 
 away fasting." 
 
 Touched by the kindness of his master, 
 Michaelow kissed his hand to testify his 
 gratitude, and as soon as the family had de- 
 parted, he hastened to notify his mother 
 and Helen that they could go at once to 
 the palace. 
 
 Matinka, however, seemed more occupied 
 by her own thoughts than by all the luxury 
 which surrounded her. 
 
 " Oh ! " exclaimed Helen, on entering a 
 hall, "how polished and shining the floor 
 is! It is as beautiful as a piece of furni- 
 ture." 
 
 "Yes," said the mother, " as smooth as 
 the tongues of great lords. One easily trips 
 upon them." 
 
 " I acknowledge," answered Michaelow, 
 "that I was very uneasy the first time I 
 trod upon the floor. I trembled like a leaf
 
 128 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 when I was obliged to place a dish upon 
 the table. Suppose I should fall ! I said to 
 myself. But now I laugh at my former 
 fears." 
 
 "Just like the great lords who laugh at 
 the dangers by which they are encom- 
 passed," observed Matinka. 
 
 " Look, mother," cried Helen, "'at that 
 immense mirror ! " 
 
 And placing herself before it, she re- 
 garded her image with complacency. 
 
 "Ah! why cannot men see reflected in 
 the mirror their defects and vices also!" 
 murmured Matinka, shaking her head. 
 
 " Why, mother," said Michaelow, "you 
 seem wholly unlike yourself. Instead of 
 admiring the beautiful things around you 
 you look sad and melancholy." 
 
 "You might naturally imagine, . my son, 
 that my words were inspired by envy. 
 May God preserve me from such a vice ! " 
 
 " Mother," resumed Michaelow, leading 
 her to a mantle, " is not that a magnificent 
 clock? Many kings have none to compare 
 with it. The figure of the man holding in 
 one hand an hour-glass, and in the other a
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 1 29 
 
 scythe, represents the god of Time. He is 
 said to have eaten his own children because 
 of a prediction that his son would dethrone 
 him. The prediction, however, was veri- 
 fied ; for, his wife having given birth to a 
 son, concealed him, and presented to her 
 husband, instead of the new-born child, a 
 stone, which he swallowed without perceiv- 
 ing the fraud. But when the son grew up, 
 he precipitated his old father from the 
 throne of heaven and took possession of it 
 himself. It is thus that pagan history re- 
 lates the event. The wings on the old 
 man's shoulders denote the rapid flight of 
 time ; and the scythe indicates that he cuts 
 men off in the midst of their earthly career, 
 as the reaper mows the grain in the field." 
 
 "A fine history of the pagan gods!" ex- 
 claimed Matinka, almost angrily. "A father 
 devouring his children ! I am no longer 
 astonished to see a father discarding his 
 wife and children when they prove an 
 obstacle to his ambition and cupidity. A 
 mother would be incapable of such an act. 
 And then the unnatural son does not hesi- 
 tate to maltreat his blind old father. 
 9
 
 130 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 Blind? A god blind! No, no, tell me no 
 more such stories. How good is the God 
 whom we adore in comparison with those 
 whose crimes you have just related ! He 
 is not blind, and He can never be deceived, 
 although hypocrites try to persuade them- 
 selves to the contrary. And how good is 
 the Son of our God ! Instead of dethron- 
 ing his Father, he leaves his throne in 
 heaven, takes the form of man, and dies 
 in submission to His divine Father and 
 through love of man. I am astonished, 
 however, that great personages can tolerate 
 in their apartments such an image, which 
 necessarily must remind them of their 
 approaching end. They generally tremble 
 at the mere mention of death, and the 
 angel of death, who is a consolation to 
 those in an humble condition like ourselves, 
 is to them a frightful spectre." .... 
 
 " Mother," interrupted Michaelow, " I see 
 you are out of sorts to-day. Come with me 
 and I will show you something which will 
 charm you." 
 
 The door he threw open gave access to a 
 room magnificently furnished. As they
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 131 
 
 crossed the threshold they were dazzled by 
 the sight of a superb full length portrait in 
 an elegant broad gold frame. It was the 
 portrait of Menshikoff. 
 
 " It is himself ! " exclaimed Matinka, has- 
 tily approaching the portrait. " It is himself, 
 somewhat older than formerly, but a per- 
 fect resemblance ! " 
 
 " Do you know the prince ? " asked 
 Michaelow in surprise. " I thought you 
 had never seen him." 
 
 " Child," replied the mother in a tremu- 
 lous voice, "you do not understand. 
 Your own father was just such a man, only 
 he did not wear such decorations and chains 
 around his neck, and he looked more cheer- 
 ful and affectionate. What a striking like- 
 ness. Helen, do you not think that Mi- 
 chaelow resembles the prince?" 
 
 " The thought this moment occurred to 
 me," said Helen. 
 
 Matinka continued looking first at the 
 picture and then at her son, comparing 
 them in her own mind. Tears filled her 
 eyes, and at last she said with emotion: 
 
 " It is many years since you departed
 
 132 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 from us. At least I hope you are happy 
 now ; once you were an excellent husband, 
 a devoted father ! " 
 
 "How can you doubt it, mother? " said 
 the children. " Certainly he is in heaven 
 where there is incomparably more happiness 
 than on earth." 
 
 The mother sighed, and was so riveted to 
 the spot by the portrait, that Michaelow 
 could with difficulty induce her to pass 
 into another room. 
 
 " This is the cabinet," he said, as he 
 introduced the two into an apartment fur- 
 nished with equal magnificence. "There is 
 the prince's escritoire, and this is his arm- 
 chair." 
 
 " My children," said the mother with a 
 sad smile, " you will be amused to hear me 
 say I would like very much to know how 
 one feels when seated in such a chair as the 
 prince's. Michaelow, could I sit in it for a 
 moment ? To tell the truth, I am almost 
 exhausted by the fatigue of walking and 
 standing for such a length of time. I will 
 be careful not to crease the superb cover- 
 ing."
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 133 
 
 "Certainly, sit down, mother," replied 
 the son. " The prince will never notice it. 
 When he is seated there, his mind is occu- 
 pied by more important affairs." 
 
 Matinka took her seat, closed her eyes 
 and leaned her head against the cushioned 
 back. 
 
 " Mother, what is the matter? How pale 
 you are ! " exclaimed Michaelow in alarm, as 
 he perceived a deathlike palor overspread 
 her face. 
 
 " Oh ! nothing," answered Matinka, open- 
 ing her eyes and smiling. " On the con- 
 trary, I feel well here, and so happy that it 
 would be sweet to die." 
 
 Placing her hand on the arm of the chair 
 and gently stroking the velvet, she contin- 
 ued : 
 
 ".I suppose your master's hand has often 
 rested upon this spot. What happiness to 
 me to lay mine on it likewise ! I have now 
 one more desire. It would be an extreme 
 gratification to me to carry away with me a 
 trifle, a mere nothing ; It would be a precious 
 souvenir to me, provided it had been used 
 by the prince."
 
 134 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 To please his mother, Michaelow glanced 
 around, hoping to find some small article 
 of which he would be at liberty to dispose. 
 
 Taking an old pen of no further use from 
 an inkstand, he handed it to her, saying : 
 
 "The prince has often had this in his 
 hand, and I can take it without scruple. I 
 must acknowledge, however, that his High- 
 ness often sets more value on the most 
 insignificant objects than upon articles of 
 great price. For example, his crosses, his 
 diamonds, jewels and other costly decora- 
 tions are under my charge. But among the 
 boxes containing all these valuables, there is 
 an old leathern case which he opens only on 
 certain days, and draws from it a small silver 
 ring ; this he holds in his hand and contem- 
 plates for a long time ; then he himself re- 
 places it in the case, never permitting any 
 one else to touch it. It was by mere acci- 
 dent that I had a chance to examine it one 
 day, when he was summoned to go without 
 delay to the imperial apartments, and he was 
 forced to permit me to return it to its 
 case." 
 
 " A silver ring ! A leathern case ! " ex-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 135 
 
 claimed the mother, glancing with evident 
 emotion at the ring she wore on her finger. 
 
 " Yes," replied Michaelow, noticing the 
 movement of his mother, " a ring exactly 
 like the one you wear." 
 
 Matinka turned quickly towards the 
 window in order to conceal her feelings. 
 Overjoyed, she pressed her hands upon her 
 heart, and said to herself : 
 
 " Then my Alexander has not altogether 
 forgotten his Matinka ! " 
 
 "And here," continued her son, as he 
 opened another door, "is his Highness' bed- 
 room. See the silver basins, the rich car- 
 pets and crystal vases. The princess has 
 her apartments with her daughters' rooms 
 near hers; I would like to show them to 
 you, as well as the other parts of the palace, 
 but as they are contiguous to the wing 
 which is occupied by the young emperor, 
 there are always so many passing and re- 
 passing that you would find it disagreeable. 
 The young emperor dwells under the same 
 roof as his future father-in-law, in order to be 
 nearer his betrothed and the prince, from 
 whom he does not like to be absent for an
 
 136 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 instant. Now that you have seen the home 
 of his Highness, come and partake of the 
 excellent dinner which he directed should be 
 prepared for you. We will drink to his 
 health and to-morrow morning, if you station 
 yourself in the antechamber, you can see 
 him as he passes." 
 
 " No, no," replied the mother, " I will 
 not do that. The prince might speak to us, 
 and on no consideration would I be willing 
 for that." 
 
 "But what harm would that do you?" 
 asked Michaelow. 
 
 "Never, never!" said Matinka with 
 vehemence. " Let us leave the palace 
 immediately; the prince might surprise us 
 here, and for all the world I would not meet 
 him." 
 
 Michaelow, ignorant of the real motive of 
 his mother's determination, urged her to 
 remain, telling her that her fears were 
 groundless; but Matinka, in spite of the 
 representations of her son, refused to yield 
 to his entreaties. She scarcely touched the 
 dinner which was served for them, and 
 regained her tranquillity only after entering
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 137 
 
 the modest dwelling in which she had taken 
 lodgings upon her arrival at St. Petersburg. 
 Having spent four days in the capital, 
 she set out for a small town in Siberia, 
 where her brother held an inferior office 
 under government. On taking a tearful 
 leave of her son she recommended him to 
 remain faithful to his master. Michaelow 
 wept bitterly on parting with his mother 
 and sister, and accompanied them with his 
 best wishes on the long journey they were 
 about to undertake.
 
 138 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE FALL. 
 
 MENSHIKOFF had filled up the measure 
 of his evil deeds, and the hour of his chas- 
 tisement was at hand. His elevation from 
 obscurity to the highest offices of the empire, 
 his immense wealth, and the favor of the 
 Czar had excited the envy of some. His 
 arrogance, his oppressive government, and 
 the abuse of the power entrusted to him by 
 his sovereign, inspired others with a bitter 
 hatred. Nearly all at court were his ene- 
 mies, and for a long time they had been 
 secretly plotting his downfall. One among 
 them, Prince Dolgoruki, having obtained 
 the post of chamberlain, succeeded in insin- 
 uating himself in the good graces of the 
 Emperor so as to become indispensable to 
 him. This officer, by degrees and with con- 
 summate art, undermined the influence of
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 139 
 
 Menshikoff. A recent peculation of the in- 
 satiable regent furnished the opportunity of 
 ruining him and hurling him from his high 
 position. The sovereign, having granted to 
 his sister a large sum of money, directed 
 Menshikoff to forward it to its destination ; 
 but the latter boldly appropriated the 
 whole amount which had been committed 
 to his charge. Dolgoruki, informed of the 
 embezzlement by his spies, communicated 
 the affair to the Czar, and by artful and 
 perfidious suggestions inflamed his anger to 
 the highest pitch. Menshikoff had no sus- 
 picion of the storm which was about to 
 burst over his head. One morning on 
 going according to his daily custom to offer 
 his homage to the Czar, he was startled to 
 find the imperial apartments entirely .de- 
 serted. Not a courtier, not the most infe- 
 rior officer, not even a servant, was to be 
 seen. Terrified, and filled with the appre- 
 hension of some overwhelming misfortune, 
 he dispatched a messenger to inquire what 
 had become of the Czar, and whither he 
 had gone. To his extreme vexation he was 
 informed that the Emperor had departed
 
 140 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 stealthily from the dwelling of his tutor, 
 and without leaving a word of explanation 
 as to the cause of his conduct, had estab- 
 lished himself in his own palace. This 
 news was a thunderbolt to the prince. He 
 comprehended at once whence the blow 
 came and saw clearly it was the work of 
 his enemies. His first thought, therefore, 
 was to make every effort to frustrate their 
 plans and regain the favor of his sovereign. 
 For this purpose he drove immediately to 
 the imperial palace ; but in a short time 
 the carriage of the prince was seen to 
 return. He alighted from it as pale as a 
 corpse, and he had scarcely the strength to 
 ascend the staircase. Rage and grief were 
 depicted upon his countenance. The Czar 
 had refused to admit him, had not received 
 his future father-in-law, the father of his 
 affianced bride ! 
 
 On seeing the condition of the prince, 
 his wife and children gathered around 
 him, anxiously inquiring the cause of his 
 trouble. 
 
 " O my poor child ! " he exclaimed, re- 
 garding with commiseration his elder daugh-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 141 
 
 ter, "to what a harsh man you are 
 betrothed." 
 
 After a few moments he continued : 
 
 " Leave me, my dear wife, go, my chil- 
 dren ; I wish to be alone to collect my 
 thoughts and review our present situation." 
 
 Burning with fever and agitated by a 
 thousand contending feelings, he paced 
 the floor of his apartment. A half hour 
 had thus passed when an imperial dispatch 
 was handed him. He tore it open and ran 
 his eye rapidly over the contents. How 
 little was he prepared for the outrage done 
 him ! The Czar announced to him that he 
 was deprived of all his dignities and offices, 
 that he was no longer permitted to remain 
 in the capital, which he must quit that very 
 day, and repair to the castle of Oranien- 
 baum, the place assigned for his future resi- 
 dence. 
 
 Stunned by the unexpected blow, he 
 remained for a while motionless and as if 
 insensible. Springing from the chair upon 
 which he had fallen, he trampled under foot 
 the Emperor's letter, and in an outburst of 
 an^er exclaimed :
 
 142 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 "And this is the reason the herd of 
 courtiers and flatterers regarded me so inso- 
 lently and defiantly as I passed through 
 their midst ! Why was I so blind as not to 
 have observed in time the fall of the barom- 
 eter of court favor? What! I governed 
 the state to the satisfaction of a Peter the 
 Great and a Catherine, and I am of no 
 account in the eyes of a youth thirteen 
 years old ! What ! A public humiliation ! 
 Is this the recompense for thirty years of 
 toil, devotion and sacrifice ? I have crawled 
 on the ground ; my heart has often been 
 lacerated ; I have labored, watched, trem- 
 bled, flattered ; I have been a hypocrite ; I 
 have acted contrary to the law of God by 
 casting off a devoted wife and children who 
 were dear to me. All this have I done ; 
 and a heedless boy under my guardianship 
 destroys in an instant the fruit of the work 
 of my whole life. No, that shall never be, 
 never! " 
 
 He pulled the bell rope violently. 
 
 "Go notify the Lieutenant-Colonel of my 
 regiment that I wish to see him imme- 
 diately with all his officers," was the order
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 143 
 
 given the servant who responded to the 
 call. 
 
 The princess, who overheard the direc- 
 tions of her husband, rushed into the apart- 
 ment. 
 
 " In the name of Heaven what are you 
 about to do ? " she exclaimed in an agony 
 of fear. 
 
 " I am going to maintain and defend the 
 rights of my daughter," replied Menshikoff 
 vehemently. "Emperor as he is, he has no 
 right to treat the daughter of a prince as if 
 she were a peasant." 
 
 " Oh ! my dear Alexander, your anger 
 leads you astray. You will draw down mis- 
 fortunes of every kind upon our heads. 
 Renounce all such projects, I conjure you." 
 
 " What! " cried Menshikoff, still more in- 
 furiated by the opposition of his wife, " am 
 I not Commander-in-chief of the Russian 
 forces? Three hundred thousand men obey 
 my orders, and at their head I can brave the 
 anger of my ward." 
 
 " They were once under your command," 
 pursued the princess, " but the same hand 
 which made you their chief, has withdrawn
 
 144 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 from you the dignity. Your rebellion might 
 cost us all our lives." 
 
 Menshikoff saw at once the truth of the 
 remark, and controlling by degrees his vio- 
 lent emotion, he was able to meet with a 
 sad but calm countenance, the officers whom 
 he had summoned to his presence. He 
 thus addressed them : 
 
 " My faithful companions-in-arms, you 
 perhaps already know the heavy blow which 
 has been dealt me. I have been deprived of 
 all my offices and dignities. I desired, before 
 retiring to the place of exile which has been 
 assigned me, to see once more those who 
 have ever testified for me so great an affec- 
 tion and so loyal an attachment. Receive 
 my last adieu, with the assurance that I 
 shall always cherish for you a grateful and 
 tender remembrance. The sword I wear 
 was the inestimable gift of the late Emperor, 
 and I cannot better dispose of it, than by 
 leaving it in the hands of valiant men. Ac- 
 cept it in testimony of my gratitude." 
 
 As he spoke, he detached from his cinc- 
 ture the magnificent sword studded with 
 diamonds and precious stones, handed it to
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 145 
 
 the Lieutenant-Colonel, and embraced him 
 with emotion. 
 
 All the officers were deeply moved. They 
 drew their swords from the scabbards and 
 swore to remain faithful to their chief, and 
 to defend his rights even at the peril of 
 their lives. 
 
 "General," they exclaimed, "place your- 
 self at our head, lead the way, and we .will 
 follow wherever you may go." 
 
 " No, my friends," replied Menshikoff, 
 " I will never permit so many brave and 
 noble men to risk their lives for an old man 
 who is weary of the world and its trials. I 
 therefore bid you adieu, exhorting you to 
 preserve towards the Emperor the fidelity 
 you owe him ; forget Alexander Menshikoff, 
 who departs to complete, in shame and hu- 
 miliation, the career which has hitherto 
 been so brilliant." 
 
 The officers reluctantly yielded to his 
 wishes. All these men, who had distin- 
 guished themselves on many a battle-field, 
 wept like children as they took leave of 
 their ancient chief, who embraced them with 
 the affection of a father. 
 10
 
 146 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 The trying scene was over and Menshi- 
 koff, exhausted by emotion and the control 
 he had been forced to retain over his feel- 
 ings, threw himself on a chair. 
 
 "Are you pleased with what I have 
 done ? " he asked of his wife, who joined 
 him as soon as she knew he was alone. 
 
 "You have shown yourself to be truly 
 great," she replied. "You have just gained 
 the most difficult of all victories the vic- 
 tory over self. From this moment you be- 
 long entirely to your family ; henceforth, 
 you are free from the harassing cares which 
 have wholly occupied you. Oh, how 'happy 
 we shall be ! There still remain to you vast 
 possessions, a large fortune, your wife and 
 children. You have made Russia great, 
 powerful and prosperous ; and now after a 
 brilliant career, you descend voluntarily 
 from the theatre of your glory." 
 
 The princess thus sought to console her 
 husband, but the calmness he exhibited was 
 only exterior. Wounded pride and disap- 
 pointed ambition tortured his heart. To 
 rebel against his fate, however, was of no 
 avail. He must, of necessity, depart im-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 147 
 
 mediately. He therefore gave orders to 
 prepare everything requisite for the comfort 
 of the family in their new establishment of 
 Oranienbaum. Every servant in the palace 
 was at work. Bales, boxes, trunks, bags, 
 were placed upon a long line of wagons, 
 carts and carriages which were to accom- 
 pany Menshikoff and his family. A large 
 crowd collected early in the morning around 
 the gate of the palace, awaiting with im- 
 patience the moment when the prince and 
 the imperial ex-betrothed should appear. 
 Many loudly complained that this man, who 
 had drained the people of their hard earn- 
 ings, should be permitted to take away with 
 him so many valuable articles. Others sug- 
 gested the propriety of stoning him, and 
 added, that, of all his wealth, nothing ought 
 to be allowed him but the basket in which 
 he had formerly carried his French pies. 
 The reproaches and insults increased when 
 Menshikoff, dressed in a simple suit of 
 coarse cloth, divested of all the decorations 
 indicative of the honors which had been 
 lavished upon him, issued from the palace 
 gate and entered the carriage. The princess
 
 148 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 was more calm and self-possessed. Her 
 two daughters covered their faces with their 
 handkerchiefs, and the boy looked angrily 
 and defiantly at the crowd. Several 
 vehicles, filled with the servants of the 
 palace, followed that of the prince. 
 
 "Does not that seem," said one among 
 the throng witnessing the scene, "the train 
 accompanying a king on a journey rather 
 than that of a criminal sent into exile?" 
 
 The sentiment thus openly expressed 
 was re-echoed by the crowd, and many a 
 threat was muttered between their clenched 
 teeth. 
 
 Menshikoff was keenly sensitive to the 
 contempt so publicly expressed, and said 
 bitterly to his wife : 
 
 " Is it credible that those are the very 
 people to whom I distributed bread and 
 wood only a few days ago, and who 
 showered blessings upon me for my liber- 
 ality?" 
 
 " It is ever thus with the world," replied 
 the princess. " Even the best of men are 
 the sport of the inconstancy of others. 
 Think of the Saviour himself. On his entry
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 149 
 
 into Jerusalem, the people cast their gar- 
 ments at his feet, strewed the way with 
 branches of palm and shouted Hosannas ; 
 only a few days had passed, when they de- 
 manded his blood with loud cries and nailed 
 Him to a cross. If the Christ is thus 
 treated, what can you expect ? " 
 
 The princess endeavored by these words 
 to console her husband ; but they were in- 
 effectual to restore peace to his soul, con- 
 scious, as he was, that the humiliations and 
 affronts heaped upon him were the merited 
 chastisement of his own evil deeds. 
 
 The carriage conveying into exile the 
 , man, who but the day before was the most 
 powerful prince in Russia, passed by the 
 chief military guard of the capital. With 
 what promptitude, an hour before his fall, 
 the officers and soldiers would have put 
 themselves under arms, to render the hom- 
 age due a field-marshal of the empire! 
 Now how all was changed by the mere 
 order of a child ! The officers on duty con- 
 tinued their walk with folded arms, care- 
 lessly glancing at their former superior, or, 
 even pointedly turning their backs. The
 
 150 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 sentinel stood quietly with his gun resting on 
 his foot, and some of the soldiers burst into 
 an insolent laugh. 
 
 Similar humiliations awaited the fallen 
 family as long as they were within the 
 capital, and ceased only when they had 
 reached the open country. 
 
 " Courage ! my dear Alexander," said 
 the princess, seeing her husband silent and 
 dejected. " Courage ! Oranienbaum is not 
 so disagreeable an abode. It is even 
 pleasanter than St. Petersburg. There we 
 shall be in the midst of a charming coun- 
 try; we shall enjoy delightful walks to- 
 gether in the fine weather, and we will 
 relieve the tedium of the long winter by 
 our home pleasures, reading, conversation 
 and music." 
 
 " Yes, papa," added one of the daughters, 
 "Alexander plays on the flute, I play on 
 the piano, and Nina sings. We shall have 
 enough to amuse us." 
 
 " Before dinner," said his son, "we shall 
 fence, shall we not, dear father? After 
 dinner, we can play at billiards ; and in the 
 evening, you will relate to us your travels
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. !$! 
 
 and tell us of the battles you fought under 
 Peter the Great." 
 
 " In the winter," continued the former 
 betrothed of the young Czar, " we will take 
 sleigh drives or skate on the castle ponds." 
 
 " We can also cultivate flowers in the 
 winter within the castle," said the mother.
 
 152 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE EXILE. 
 
 SUDDENLY, without their knowing the 
 cause, the carriage conveying Menshikoff 
 and his family stopped. The prince put his 
 head out of the window to inquire of the 
 coachman the reason of the halt, when he 
 heard repeated cries of " Stop, stop ! " and 
 he saw an officer galloping at full speed 
 holding a letter elevated above his head and 
 calling aloud, " Stop, stop! " 
 
 What could this mean? Had the Em- 
 peror repented of his harshness? Did the 
 letter bring him a full pardon ? Did it con- 
 tain an order for the prince to return to St. 
 Petersburg and resume all his dignities ? A 
 child as young as Peter the Second is so 
 changeable. From what other motive could 
 an imperial courier have been dispatched 
 with a letter to the princely family? All
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 153 
 
 these thoughts passed rapidly through the 
 minds of Menshikoff, his wife and children, 
 and enkindled in their souls the hope of a 
 change in their lot. They gave no expres- 
 sion to their feelings, but the joy imprinted 
 upon their countenances was sufficient evi- 
 dence of their anticipation of a reversal 
 of the decree of exile which had been pro- 
 nounced against them. 
 
 In the mean time the courier had reached 
 the carriage. He unfolded the missive and 
 read it aloud to Menshikoff. But far from 
 being a ukase remitting the penalty to 
 which the prince had been condemned, the 
 letter enumerated all the peculations and 
 misdemeanors of which he had been guilty, 
 and which rendered him, for the future, 
 wholly unworthy of the confidence of the 
 Czar. Overwhelming as were the facts 
 summed up and laid to his charge, he still 
 flattered himself that the Emperor would 
 have mercy on his former minister and par- 
 don him. What a thunderbolt for him was 
 the conclusion of the document! 
 
 "All these crimes having been proved, 
 we, Peter the Second, Czar of all the
 
 154 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 Russias, decree in our justice that all the 
 possessions of the said Menshikoff be confis- 
 cated, and that he, with all his family, be 
 exiled to Siberia for life." 
 
 As the officer terminated the reading of 
 the imperial order, the prince fell back in 
 the carriage and covered his face with his 
 hands. The princess seemed as though 
 deprived of consciousness; the son, pale as 
 a corpse, gazed immovable upon the officer. 
 The two young princesses alone were able 
 to solace their woes by tears. 
 
 On learning what had passed, all the 
 attendants alighted from the vehicles they 
 occupied, and with loud lamentations sur- 
 rounded the Menshikoff family, who, in 
 their intense sorrow, had no words of conso- 
 lation for others. 
 
 At this moment the whole line of equip- 
 ages, wagons and carts altered the direction 
 they had hitherto followed and took the 
 road towards the north. 
 
 " Do you intend to accompany our master 
 to Siberia?" asked the servants of each 
 other. 
 
 " I have not the least desire to do so,"
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 155 
 
 answered a footman. " They say that the 
 winds there are ten times colder than at 
 St. Petersburg. Besides there is no way of 
 amusing one's self. There are plenty of 
 bears, wolves and other wild beasts which 
 make the country very unsafe. As to par- 
 ties and balls, which make time pass so 
 pleasantly, they are not to be looked for in 
 Siberia. And in future, you may well 
 imagine, the kitchen of the prince will not 
 be sumptuously provided ; on the contrary, 
 abstinence will be observed in his house- 
 hold." 
 
 "You are right," said another; "for our 
 master by one stroke has become as poor as 
 a church-mouse. You may be sure that he 
 will have barely sufficient to support 
 life. Of course he will not need so many 
 servants, whose wages he will be unable to 
 pay. I have decided to take my leave." 
 
 "I am of your opinion," added a third; 
 " I shall follow your example." 
 
 A moment afterwards, the officer having 
 ordered the Cossacks, who had thus far 
 escorted Menshikoff, to take charge of the 
 baggage which he considered unsuitable to
 
 156 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 the prince and convey it to St. Petersburg, 
 all the servants determined to return with 
 them, thus abandoning a master who had 
 hitherto paid them generously. Michaelow 
 alone remained at his post behind the 
 carriage of the prince. In vain his compan- 
 ions endeavored to shake his fidelity; he 
 did not even reply to their entreaties. 
 They reviled and insulted him, but he 
 remained firm in his decision, compassion- 
 ating in his heart his master when he should 
 learn that he had been left alone in his mis- 
 fortunes. 
 
 The carriage stopped at a small village to 
 change horses, when Menshikoff called his 
 chief valet. Michaelow presented himself 
 and inquired what he wished. 
 
 " Collect all my servants," said the prince. 
 " On no account would I have them share 
 my hard lot and accompany me to Siberia. 
 I desire to dismiss them and keep with 
 me only those who are absolutely nec- 
 essary." 
 
 Michaelow was much embarrassed and 
 hardly knew what to reply. At last gaining 
 courage, and seeking to excuse the ingrati-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 157 
 
 tude of which the attendants had given evi- 
 dent proof, he said : 
 
 My lord, they foresaw what would hap- 
 pen, and they returned to St. Petersburg; 
 they left secretly for fear of renewing the 
 suffering of your Highness." 
 
 Menshikoff could hardly believe his ears. 
 He looked out of the carriage and found 
 that all the vehicles had disappeared. 
 He smiled sarcastically and said to his 
 wife: 
 
 " See how delicately they have acted ; 
 these people who protested so strongly their 
 devotion to us, wished to spare us pain and 
 for this reason they stole away without a 
 word of adieu.'' 
 
 Then addressing Michaelow he said : 
 
 " Why do you persist in remaining here ? 
 Go, join your comrades." 
 
 " I will never abandon your Highness," 
 answered the faithful boy. 
 
 "Begone," resumed Menshikoff, "I never 
 wish to see you again. You are all hypo- 
 crites, mercenary time-servers, faithful only 
 to a well-filled purse. Begone, I tell you ; 
 you have nothing more to gain in my ser-
 
 158 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 vice. Seek Dolgoruki ; he is rich and I am 
 poor." 
 
 " I will remain with your Highness," re- 
 plied Michaelow. 
 
 " Have I fallen so low," exclaimed the 
 prince, wringing his hands, " that the lowest 
 of my servants refuses to obey my com- 
 mands?" 
 
 Fixing his eyes, flashing with anger, upon 
 the poor young man, he said : 
 
 " Make off with yourself as soon as pos- 
 sible, and never again appear in my pres- 
 ence ! " 
 
 Witnesses of this scene, the princess and 
 her children cast a look of compassion upon 
 Michaelow, who retired, but did not with- 
 draw to a distance, resuming his accustomed 
 place behind the carriage. 
 
 The party soon continued their journey. 
 The country became more and more de- 
 serted as they advanced, and the north wind 
 was more piercing. The family, absorbed 
 in the thought of their misfortunes, pre- 
 served a profound silence. Michaelow 
 prayed for them. As night came on, they 
 heard in the distance the howling of hungry
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 159 
 
 wolves. Every instant the cold increased 
 in intensity. The occupants of the car- 
 riage wrapped themselves up as warmly 
 as they could and vainly endeavored to 
 sleep. How long the night appeared to 
 them ! It seemed as though day would 
 never dawn. In the morning, the wind 
 became more violent, and the Menshikoff 
 family shook with the cold. Moreover, 
 having eaten nothing since they had left 
 St. Petersburg, they began to feel the 
 effect of their abstinence. They therefore 
 stopped at a village inn for breakfast. The 
 prince was obliged himself to let down the 
 steps of the carriage and alight without 
 the assistance of a servant. Trifling as was 
 the vexation, it appeared to annoy him. 
 Performing the office of footman, he awk- 
 wardly aided the princess to alight. The 
 young prince did not wait for ceremonies 
 but leaped from the carriage ; he fell, 
 however, heavily to the ground, for his 
 limbs were stiff from having remained 
 twenty hours in the same position. As 
 to the young princesses, they were so be- 
 numbed by the cold that they could scarcely
 
 l6o MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 stand. Michaelow had disappeared, to the 
 great disappointment of the mother and 
 daughters, who had cherished the hope that 
 his fidelity would stand the test to which 
 it had been subjected. 
 
 The family staggered towards the door 
 of the humble inn ; but no sooner had 
 they entered the low apartment, than their 
 first impulse was to seek again the open 
 air, so stifling was the heat, so suffocating 
 the smoke with which the room was filled ; 
 but the intense cold without compelled 
 them to endure the impure atmosphere. 
 Sorrowful and humiliated they seated them- 
 selves on the wooden chairs which were 
 presented them. Menshikoff fixed his eyes 
 upon the ground with an expression of de- 
 spair. The warm nourishment they so much 
 needed, was furnished them by the host 
 in the form of a kind of black broth made 
 of rye flour and served in an earthenware 
 tureen. Not one had the courage to taste 
 it, so disgustingly unclean was the man as 
 well as the plates and spoons. 
 
 '* There must be some tea and choc- 
 olate," observed one of the young prin-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. l6l 
 
 cesses, " in the baggage they saw fit to 
 leave us. But where shall we look for 
 them?" 
 
 The young prince immediately began 
 the search, and succeeded in finding the 
 packages they wished. But a new difficulty 
 arose. Who was to prepare the chocolate 
 and tea? They could not rely upon the 
 hostess, who rivalled her husband in want 
 of cleanliness, and who, besides, had never 
 seen tea or chocolate. The young girls 
 decided to try, with the aid of their brother, 
 to fill the office of cook. If the poor 
 children had not been objects of pity on 
 account of the miserable condition to which 
 they were reduced, an observer would have 
 laughed heartily at their awkward attempts, 
 as they were both entirely ignorant of 
 cooking. How unskilfully they handled 
 the utensils ! How often they burned their 
 fingers ! What stains of soot on their faces 
 and dresses ! If a little while before they 
 had shivered from the cold, now how over- 
 heated they were, bending over the large 
 fire ! Great was their anxiety to acquit 
 themselves creditably of the work they
 
 1 62 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 had undertaken ! At last they considered 
 the chocolate ready to be served, and they 
 removed it from the fire ; on tasting it 
 they found it too thin. The woman of the 
 house, who had been watching the young 
 girls and laughing to herself at their awk- 
 ward attempts, perceiving their dilemma, 
 offered them a cup of flour and a wooden 
 spoon. One of them threw in a handful of 
 the flour while her brother took the spoon 
 to stir the chocolate. Unfortunately in 
 his eagerness to aid his sisters, he over- 
 turned the vessel and the contents were 
 spilled. The tea remained ; but it was 
 so filled with the coals and cinders which 
 had been scattered by the upsetting of 
 the chocolate, that the taste was detest- 
 able. The two princesses wept with vex- 
 ation on seeing how entirely they had 
 failed in their efforts. 
 
 Just as the unskilled cooks entered the 
 room in tears to show to their parents 
 the pot of bitter, blackened tea, another 
 door opened, and Michaelow, who they 
 thought had abandoned them the evening 
 before, appeared. He carried a waiter upon
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 163 
 
 which was a pot of smoking chocolate, cups 
 and saucers, and a pile of tempting cakes. 
 It was an unexpected apparition to the 
 poor family. How clean were the cups ! 
 How fragrant the chocolate! How fully 
 at that moment they appreciated the value 
 of a good servant ! Generally, their worth 
 is not properly estimated until their services 
 are withdrawn. Had Menshikoff, in his 
 perplexity, been able to offer fifty crowns 
 for a cup of chocolate properly prepared, 
 he could not have procured it without 
 the assistance of 'Michaelow. He would 
 have been forced to do without it. For 
 his part, Michaelow could not have adopted 
 a more efficacious means of being restored 
 to the favor of his master, embittered by 
 misfortune, than to surprise him by pre- 
 senting opportunely a breakfast, for which 
 he had provided by searching the baggage 
 during the night. Having thus obtained 
 the necessary utensils with flour and choc- 
 olate, he had received permission from 
 a neighboring peasant to use the fire of 
 his cabin, and he had succeeded in his new 
 office far better than the young princesses.
 
 164 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 The hopes he had entertained were 
 realized. 
 
 " Good and faithful Michaelow ! " ex- 
 claimed the family, transported with joy. 
 
 Menshikoff did not speak, but he cast a 
 grateful look upon the good young man, 
 who was happy in the conviction that he 
 had regained the good graces of the prince. 
 With what appetite the hungry family 
 partook of the warm drink and the delicious 
 cakes served by Michaelow ! 
 
 Poverty often humbles pride, and dis- 
 poses the great of this world to draw near 
 their inferiors and recognize in them their 
 neighbor. Such was the effect of the as- 
 sistance rendered the princely family in 
 their necessities by their valet. The prin- 
 cess insisted upon his taking a cup of choco- 
 late which one of her daughters herself pre- 
 sented him ; but he refused to accept the 
 unaccustomed favor. The young prince 
 had always been extremely haughty in his 
 bearing toward his father's domestic ; now 
 he seemed anxious to compensate for his 
 former manner, by assuming a kind and affec- 
 tionate tone when addressing the trusty boy.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 165 
 
 After a short time allowed them for 
 repose, Menshikoff with his family was 
 obliged to resume the journey. Not a 
 word passed his lips ; he was unable to 
 shake off the gloom which had settled upon 
 him after receiving from the Emperor the 
 sentence of exile. His wife and children 
 anticipated with anxiety the sad fate await- 
 ing them, and sadly contrasted with it their 
 recent brilliant position. Although the 
 body of the carriage was hung on excellent 
 springs and was protected by thick glass, 
 the difficulties of the road became more 
 and more intolerable. 
 
 For several days and nights the exiles 
 were allowed to halt only long enough to 
 change horses. On reaching a small village 
 they were, however, permitted to rest for 
 one night. But what new privations they 
 experienced ! There were no down beds, 
 no silk coverlids, no attendants. The 
 rooms they occupied were unclean, the fur- 
 niture coarse, the beds icy cold. Michaelow 
 threw himself on a bundle of straw, where 
 he slept the deep sleep given by a good 
 conscience.
 
 l66 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 Menshikoff did not close his eyes. How 
 bitterly he reproached himself ! For was it 
 not through his fault alone that his fam- 
 ily was overwhelmed by misfortune? The 
 children slept tranquilly. Not so the 
 mother. She arose in the morning more 
 fatigued and prostrated than on retiring the 
 night before. She was extremely pale, her 
 eyes were without lustre, and the cold 
 seemed to have penetrated her whole sys- 
 tem. Hitherto, upon the least derange- 
 ment of the health of any member of the 
 family, the physician residing at the palace 
 was summoned to administer remedies, and 
 all the resources of his art were employed 
 to relieve the sufferer. Now in this isolated 
 village, the princess was deprived of all 
 means of combating the illness by which 
 she was attacked. The physician had de- 
 parted with the other attendants of Men- 
 shikoff, even carrying away with him the 
 box containing the medicines. Michaelow 
 did the little in his power by preparing 
 some hot tea for the princess and placing a 
 vessel of hot water to her feet. 
 
 At the dawn of day the exiles were com-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 167 
 
 pelled to continue their journey. At last 
 they approached the confines of Europe, 
 and Siberia lay extended before them. 
 Vaster in extent than the entire continent 
 of Europe with its numerous states, em- 
 pires, kingdoms and republics, this solitude 
 contains a very small number of inhabitants. 
 In these immense, rough and barren 
 steppes, there are to be found only a few 
 scattered habitations, and the village of 
 Berezov, which had been assigned as the 
 residence of Menshikoff was some distance 
 in the interior of this desert. A long jour- 
 ney was still before him ere he could reach 
 his allotted place of exile. 
 
 The princess grew worse daily. The chil- 
 dren forgot their own misery in their solici- 
 tude about their mother. To their other 
 privations was added want of clothing. 
 Their dresses had been torn and rubbed 
 until they were in tatters. They had not 
 only no change, but nothing to protect 
 them against the increasing cold. Fortu- 
 nately the care of providing them with 
 warm clothing devolved upon the com- 
 mander at the frontier town.
 
 168 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 He was a rough man, unaccustomed to 
 treat with courtesy the exiles who were 
 temporarily under his charge. He notified 
 the Menshikoff family that they would be 
 required to lay aside their present style of 
 dress and substitute for it garments which, 
 whilst being better suited to the rigorous 
 climate of the country, formed a kind of 
 uniform, enabling the government to recog- 
 nize its prisoners. As he was speaking a 
 soldier entered, bearing on his shoulders an 
 enormous bundle of wearing apparel made 
 of coarse brown cloth. When he threw it 
 on the ground the commandant turned it 
 over with his foot, pushed on one side a 
 pair of wide breeches with a loose frock, and 
 said to the prince : 
 
 " Menshikoff, take those, and I wish you 
 good health whilst wearing them." 
 
 Then addressing the princess, he added : 
 
 " Woman, those are for you and your 
 girls. And you," he said to the young 
 prince, "can take the rest'." 
 
 In this coarse manner did he speak to the 
 man whose favor was earnestly sought a 
 few days before, by the highest lords of the
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 169 
 
 empire. Without a word in reply Menshi- 
 koff picked up the garments, unfolded, and 
 was apparently examining them. In real- 
 ity, he was striving to conceal from his wife 
 and children the tears which filled his eyes. 
 They left him and retired to an apartment 
 pointed out to them to assume their new 
 dress. When they reappeared they could 
 no longer be recognized as the same per- 
 sons. The princess would have been taken 
 for a peasant woman, and her daughters for 
 village girls. Their small feet, accustomed 
 only to satin or velvet slippers, were now 
 covered with heavy boots lined with felt ; 
 the long sleeves of the thick and coarse 
 cloth falling over their hands, almost pre- 
 vented their use, whilst the shapeless head- 
 dress nearly concealed their faces. Gloves 
 of fox-skin were suspended from their shoul- 
 ders by a hempen cord. By special privi- 
 lege they were allowed to keep their body 
 linen to protect them from the contact of 
 the rough clothing. On returning to the 
 room where they had left Menshikoff and his 
 son, the princess and her daughters found 
 them apparently transformed into peasants.
 
 I/O MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 " Tell me," said the princess cheerfully to 
 her husband, "how you like my dress?" 
 
 Her daughters, for fear of paining their 
 father, concealed their real feelings under 
 an assumed gayety, and said to him play- 
 fully: 
 
 " Father, we are going to a masquerade 
 ball. Have we not disguised ourselves 
 admirably ? I hardly think we shall be rec- 
 ognized." 
 
 But as Menshikoff gazed upon his wife 
 and children, saw them so metamorphosed, 
 and yet so cheerfully adapting themselves 
 to their changed condition, his heart 
 seemed ready to burst. Had they over- 
 whelmed him with reproaches, had they 
 accused him of being the author of their 
 misery, he would have suffered far less 
 anguish than was inflicted upon him by 
 their uncomplaining endurance of the 
 wrong he had done them. The woman 
 before him so miserably attired, and almost 
 dying from fatigue and exposure, still 
 smiled upon him affectionately ; his chil- 
 dren, so recently ranking the highest among 
 the elite of the Russian aristocracy, and
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. I/ 1 
 
 now so humbled by his fault, showed him 
 the same respect and love as though their 
 miseries were the result of unavoidable mis- 
 fortune. He could no longer control the 
 grief and sorrow which he had until then 
 pent up in his own soul. Falling on his 
 knees before the princess, he sobbed aloud, 
 unable to articulate a single word. His 
 wife and children on beholding him so 
 deeply afflicted, mingled their tears with 
 his, and even Michaelow could not restrain 
 his emotion. 
 
 "Ah!" exclaimed the young prince, "if 
 the Emperor were to witness the desolation 
 caused by his anger, he would have pity 
 and pardon us." 
 
 " My child," replied his mother, "we must 
 place our confidence in God and not in 
 man ; in the Sovereign of the universe and 
 not in the kings of the earth. Hitherto we 
 have relied upon human aid. Let us now 
 repair the past and turn our hearts to the 
 God whom we have neglected, and who is 
 so rich in mercy, so abundant in His bene- 
 dictions." 
 
 "Ah ! Woe to me ! " exclaimed Menshi-
 
 1/2 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 koff, recovering himself sufficiently to speak. 
 " By my rapacity and insatiable ambition I 
 have brought all this misery upon my 
 family." 
 
 " Calm yourself, my dear Alexander," 
 replied the princess. " We will bear our 
 common misfortunes cheerfully, and thus 
 the burden will seem lighter. Besides, if 
 affliction draws us nearer to God, we have 
 gained by the exchange. In reality life is 
 but a short dream, a passing drama, in 
 which we are at one moment at the pinnacle 
 of grandeur, and in the next, in the depth 
 of misery.- As for myself, I feel that my 
 pilgrimage here below is near its term, and 
 my heart sighs for that true country, where 
 sorrow enters not, and where eternal happi- 
 ness is our portion." 
 
 Already a man from the street had rudely 
 called to the exiles that it was time for 
 them to leave, but wholly absorbed in their 
 sorrow, the order had not been heard. 
 Michaelow, therefore, profited by the first 
 pause to address the prince and said to him : 
 
 " Pardon me, your Highness, but the 
 commandant" . .
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 1/3 
 
 These words startled Menshikoff as if 
 from a dream, and he exclaimed angrily : 
 
 " What do you mean, miscreant ? Do 
 you mock us in our misfortunes? You are 
 the most elevated of the party; there is no 
 Highness here ; only a family of exiles." 
 
 " My lord " . . . . stammered Michaelow 
 in confusion. 
 
 " You are the only lord here," again inter- 
 rupted Menshikoff, frowning, " for you can 
 go where you please, whilst we are con- 
 demned prisoners." 
 
 The princess took pity on the poor boy in 
 whom she daily became more interested. 
 
 " In future, Michaelow," she said gently, 
 "call my husband father, address me as 
 your mother, and give to my children the 
 name of brother and sister. Your unswerv- 
 ing fidelity has acquired you the right of 
 being considered by all as a member of the 
 family." 
 
 Before he could express his gratitude for 
 the kindness of the princess, the command- 
 ant knocked loudly and impatiently against 
 the window, exclaiming roughly : 
 
 " Be off with yourselves at once. We are
 
 174 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 not disposed to freeze out here to allow you 
 the time to chat at leisure." 
 
 The unfortunate exiles obeyed the sum- 
 mons without delay. On opening the door 
 they found that their carriage had been 
 replaced by six small wooden sleds, called 
 by the Russians kibitkis. They were open, 
 drawn by one horse, and capable of contain- 
 ing only one person besides the driver. 
 They were, in a word, extremely uncomfort- 
 able vehicles, consisting of an oblong box, 
 in which was placed a wooden bench as a 
 seat for the traveller, and as they were 
 uncovered, they offered no protection 
 against the inclement weather. As he saw 
 these miserable kibitkis collected before the 
 door, Menshikoff stood as if petrified and 
 could scarcely believe his eyes. 
 
 "And must my poor, sick wife make the 
 remainder of the journey in those rough 
 boxes?" he asked. 
 
 " Certainly," replied the commandant, 
 with an insulting laugh. " Menshikoff, per- 
 haps, imagines that the government is dis- 
 posed to furnish him with a travelling car- 
 riage superior to that allowed the other
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 1/5 
 
 exiles. Did you procure comfortable 
 vehicles for those unfortunate creatures, 
 whom your inhumanity banished to Siberia 
 when you were in power? Eh ? " 
 
 These words fell like a thunderbolt upon 
 Menshikoff; they were as a revelation to 
 him, making him realize that every crime 
 must be expiated. He had, in cold blood 
 and with one stroke of his pen, exiled hun- 
 dreds of men to Siberia. He had remained 
 deaf to the supplications of the wives and 
 children, who were either separated from 
 those so dear to them, or who, innocent as 
 they were, had been condemned to share 
 the fate of the exiled husband and father. 
 All, without regard to their social position, 
 were subjected to the same treatment ; the 
 high-born princess, delicately nurtured and 
 accustomed to all the refinements of life, 
 had, equally with the meanest peasant, been 
 forced to wear garments similar to those 
 now presented to Menshikoff and his family ; 
 the same sleds had conveyed them to their 
 place of exile. Now his turn had come. 
 
 "My God!" he said to himself, "just 
 and right are Thy judgments ! " And
 
 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 gently pressing his wife's hand, he seemed 
 to ask her pardon for drawing her down into 
 such a depth of misery. 
 
 His heart was crushed with sorrow when 
 he saw his children, who had been brought 
 up in the midst of luxuries, place them- 
 selves without a murmur in the miserable 
 vehicle provided for them. He made every 
 exertion to procure, at least for his wife, a 
 less uncomfortable seat than the wooden 
 bench fastened in the sled, but he could 
 obtain only a bundle of straw to throw over 
 it. Michaelow, seeing her shivering with 
 the cold, placed his own cloak around her 
 shoulders. Menshikoff thanked him for his 
 generosity by a silent pressure of the hand. 
 The sad cortege set out, the children in front 
 followed by their mother ; then came Men- 
 shikoff, and lastly MichaeloVv. The drivers 
 cracked their whips, and the kibitkis glided 
 over the snow with the rapidity of lightning. 
 
 The first time they stopped to feed the 
 horses, Menshikoff leaped from his sled and 
 hastened to the kibitki conveying his wife. 
 
 " How are you ? " he inquired in intense 
 anxiety.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 
 
 " Very well," she replied, drawing her 
 wrappings as closely as possible around her. 
 
 " Will you take something to eat or 
 drink ? " 
 
 " Thank you, I am neither hungry nor 
 thirsty." 
 
 "Will you not alight for a moment? The 
 motion may help to heat you." 
 
 " No, I am not cold. I have warm wrap- 
 pings." 
 
 " Give me your hand," he said, passing 
 his over the side of the sled. 
 
 " I cannot remove my mitten," she an- 
 swered. 
 
 " No, do not take it off," replied Men- 
 shikoff, as he gently took her hand en- 
 veloped in the thick fur. "But," he ex- 
 claimed affrighted, " it is stiff and frozen, 
 and you are as pale as death." 
 
 " Your fears make you exaggerate," she 
 said, forcing a smile. " Do not be anxious." 
 
 Menshikoff, however, could not dismiss 
 his fears, and it was with an agonizing heart 
 that he obeyed the summons of the driver 
 to resume his seat in the sled. He passed 
 the first day in the most poignant grief, but
 
 '178 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 the night augmented his sufferings. The 
 "wind blew more violently over the icy plain 
 they were traversing and became more pierc- 
 ingly cold. A fine snow fell, and as the 
 flakes were driven against the faces of the 
 travellers, they pricked their cheeks like 
 so many needle points. The cold pene- 
 trated until their bodies seemed to have 
 become converted into masses of ice. If 
 Menshikoff himself, hardened as he had 
 been by the fatigues of so many campaigns, 
 suffered intensely, it may well be imagined 
 that his invalid wife and delicate children 
 were more sensitive to their present hard- 
 ships. This martyrdom lasted an entire 
 night, during which time their journey con- 
 tinued without a single halt. Thus far" 
 they had been travelling by moonlight, 
 which was rendered brighter by the reflec- 
 tion from the snow. Now the moon dis- 
 appeared, a thick fog overspread the plain, 
 and the sun at last emerged from it like 
 a ball of fire, diffusing the light without the 
 warmth of day. 
 
 The party changed horses several times 
 "on the second day ; Menshikoff and his
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 179 
 
 children took advantage of the momentary 
 halt to approach the sled of the princess. 
 Sometimes they found her sleeping, or if 
 sufficiently aroused to answer their inquiries, 
 she did so at random, apparently without 
 comprehending their meaning. Tortured 
 as they were by anxiety on her account, 
 they 'had no means to alleviate her suffer- 
 ing, and the second night found them still 
 speeding on the way over the ice-covered 
 plains. 
 
 The heavens, however, assumed a new 
 aspect. The sky, towards the north, was 
 at first illumined by a pale, dim light which, 
 by degrees, extended around the horizon, 
 and changed to a bright red, as though it 
 were the reflection of an immense fire. 
 This luminous arch was constantly chang- 
 ing. Now at one extremity, now at an- 
 other, again in the centre, rays of light 
 streamed upwards like tongues of fire and 
 flitted from side to side, continually vary- 
 ing in brilliancy, color and magnitude. A 
 ray at one moment just visible above the 
 horizon, in the next, would shoot upward in 
 a pyramid of flame, would suddenly die
 
 i8o MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 away, and as suddenly, flash to the zenith 
 in brilliant coruscations. 
 
 This magnificent auroral display, frequent 
 and beautiful in the polar regions, rendered 
 the horses so restive that the drivers were 
 obliged to halt for awhile. The princess 
 was roused from sleep, she sat upright upon 
 the bench of kibitki, and dropped from her 
 shoulders the cloak which Michaelow had 
 thrown around her. The red light from 
 the sky glowed upon her cheeks. She fixed 
 her eyes upon the heavens, and not noticing 
 her husband and children, she said as if to 
 herself : 
 
 " The sun and moon shall lose their light. 
 The stars shall fall from heaven. Listen," 
 she exclaimed, raising her voice, " how all 
 the people of the earth howl because they 
 see the Son of Man coming in the clouds in 
 power and majesty." 
 
 A prolonged howl was really heard in the 
 distance, but it was the cry of wolves 
 which, startled by the strange light turning 
 the darkness into day were fleeing to the 
 solitude of the steppes. 
 
 Menshikoff listened with anxious emotion
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. l8l 
 
 to the words of his wife. Was she dreaming, 
 or had reason deserted her? 
 
 " Do you not hear," she resumed after a 
 short silence, " do you not hear the sound 
 of the trumpets blown by the angels of the 
 Lord to collect the elect from the four 
 quarters of heaven ? " 
 
 " My dear wife," said the terrified prince, 
 " be calm. What you behold is only an 
 aurora borealis, a phenomenon very com- 
 mon in these regions." 
 
 But her husband's words had no effect 
 upon the princess. Her eyes wandered 
 over her family who surrounded her. 
 
 "Do you not see," she continued, ex- 
 tending her hand towards the sky, " that 
 Christ is seated above judging the living 
 and the dead, placing the just on his right 
 hand and the wicked on his left ? O Lord ! 
 admit me, I beseech Thee, among the 
 number of the elect, and open to me the 
 door of Thy heaven where it is warm ; I 
 am cold, cold and frozen. Reject me not ; 
 cast me not into the exterior darkness where 
 there is wailing and gnashing of teeth." 
 
 It would be impossible to describe the
 
 1 82 , MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 anguish of the unfortunate family, who 
 could no longer conceal from themselves 
 the imminent danger threatening the prin- 
 cess. With tears streaming from his eyes, 
 Menshikoff swept the horizon at a glance, 
 in the vain hope of discovering some shelter 
 where the poor invalid might repose, or 
 die tranquilly. 
 
 " How long will it take us to reach To- 
 bolsk ? " he inquired of the officer com- 
 manding the escort. 
 
 " We could arrive there by daybreak," he 
 replied, touched by the condition of the 
 princess. 
 
 " Push forward then as rapidly as pos- 
 sible," said Menshikoff, "or it will be too 
 late." 
 
 The patient permitted the cloak to be 
 again placed around her shoulders, and the 
 horses were urged on to their utmost speed. 
 Towards daybreak, Tobolsk, the capital of 
 Siberia, appeared in the distance, sharply 
 defined against the horizon, where the anx- 
 ious travellers had been impatiently watch- 
 ing for it. This city, which at that period 
 was only an insignificant village, seemed to
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 183 
 
 the prince a haven of safety. No soone* 
 had they reached the outskirts, than he 
 alighted from his sled and implored the 
 officer in command to permit "him to seek 
 for his wife a room comfortably warmed. 
 Having obtained the permission he was 
 about to make the necessary inquiries, 
 when Michaelow approached his master and 
 informed him that he had an uncle living at 
 Tobolsk, that in all probability, his mother 
 and sister were now in the village also, 
 and that they would gladly receive the 
 princess. 
 
 " Find out the residence of your uncle at 
 once," said MenshikofL " Life or death 
 may hang upon a moment of time." 
 
 The arrival of the sleds had thrown the 
 whole village into commotion. Isolated in 
 a measure from the rest of the world, the 
 slightest circumstance interrupting the mo- 
 notony of their lives was to the inhabi- 
 tants an event of importance. As soon as 
 the report was circulated that the new-, 
 comers were a party of exiles, a crowd of 
 people impelled by curiosity collected to 
 gaze upon them. Michaelow, addressing
 
 184 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 one among them, inquired for the residence 
 of the military intendant, Simonow Na- 
 tuschkin. 
 
 "Yonder it is, at the corner of the 
 street," replied the man whom he had in- 
 terrogated. 
 
 " Stop," said a boy, " there is the niece 
 of Natuschkin, standing before the door." 
 
 " Ah, it is my beloved sister ! " exclaimed 
 Michaelow, overjoyed. 
 
 He ran at full speed towards Helen who, 
 frightened by the unexpected appearance 
 of her brother, nearly fainted. Having 
 tenderly embraced her, Michaelow said : 
 
 " Go to our mother and tell her to prepare 
 as quickly as possible a warm bed for a lady 
 who is dangerously ill." 
 
 " But," exclaimed Helen, " tell me how it 
 happens that you are here so unexpectedly 
 and in company with a sick lady ? Are 
 you no longer in the service of the prince ? " 
 
 " Do not question me now, dear sister, I 
 beg you," replied the young man. " Later 
 you shall know all. The patient is the 
 princess, the wife of my master. Go at 
 once and do what I have requested."
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 1 8$ 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 THE CHALICE OF SORROWS. 
 
 SHAKING her head as if scarcely admitting 
 the possibility of the statement made by 
 her brother, Helen hastened to relate to 
 her mother what had just taken place. 
 Matinka and Simonow were equally as- 
 tonished. 
 
 Our young readers are, of course, aware 
 that the mother of Michaelow and Helen 
 was the first wife of Menshikoff, so cruelly 
 repudiated by him in opposition to the law 
 of God. Deprived of all resources and with 
 two children to support, she had managed 
 to maintain herself and them by the labor 
 of her hands. She had brought them up in 
 the fear of God and in the practice of every 
 virtue. In order to spare them bitter 
 regret and to preserve them from discon- 
 tent and envy, she regarded it as a duty to
 
 186; MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 conceal from them the painful events which 
 had occurred during their early childhood ; 
 consequently, she resumed her family name 
 of Natuschkin, and without informing them 
 that their father was the most noted and 
 powerful man in the empire, she led them 
 to believe that he had died in the west of 
 Europe whither he had been called upon 
 business. And yet she had never ceased to 
 love her husband devotedly, and although 
 living so far from the capital where he re- 
 sided, she took part in all his joys and 
 sorrows and received with deep interest any 
 news concerning him. 
 
 As her children grew older, and she re- 
 flected upon the future career of her son, 
 the idea came to her mind to obtain for 
 him, if possible, the position of valet to the 
 prince, that he might be enabled to protect 
 his father from the numerous snares laid for 
 him by his enemies. To succeed the better 
 in her design, she endeavored to inspire her 
 children with an affection and reverence for 
 Menshikoff, frequently spoke to them of all 
 he had done for the prosperity of Russia, 
 and at the same time expressed regret that
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. l8/ 
 
 such men were rarely served by attendants 
 upon whom they could rely with confidence. 
 Thus prepared for the position his mother 
 wished him to fill, Florent decided to 
 seek admission among the servants of the 
 prince, having at his mother's request as- 
 sumed the name of Michaelow, and given 
 her a solemn promise never to speak of his 
 family to his fellow-servants. He secured 
 the situation she so ardently desired for him, 
 and it was through him she was made ac- 
 quainted with all that transpired in the 
 palace of the great personage whom she 
 had married in early life. 
 
 After the expiration of twenty years, 
 Matinka, who had always longed to see her 
 husband again, impelled by an irresistible 
 desire to meet him once more, undertook 
 with her daughter the journey to St. Peters- 
 burg. We have already followed her in her 
 visit to the home of the man who occupied 
 the highest place in Russia, attainable by a 
 subject. 
 
 From St. Petersburg she went to pass 
 some time with her brother, Simonow. The 
 generous sacrifice of his sister had saved his
 
 1 88 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 life, but it did not preserve him from exile. 
 He was transported to Siberia without, 
 however, being held as a prisoner. He re- 
 tained his rank of lieutenant, and was as- 
 signed to a regiment garrisoned at Tobolsk. 
 Having risen by promotion to a higher 
 grade, he was finally appointed to the 
 lucrative office of military intendant of the 
 province. 
 
 Simonow warmly welcomed his sister and 
 niece, but he always spoke in the most bit- 
 ter terms of Menshikoff, whom he had never 
 forgiven for the cruel repudiation of his 
 good and pious wife. Matinka, therefore, 
 carefully avoided mentioning that Florent 
 was in the service of the prince. 
 
 But she could no longer conceal the fact 
 when Helen delivered the message sent 
 by Michaelow ; for she did not consider 
 herself at liberty to admit the princess in 
 her brother's house without his consent. 
 
 Simonow was amazed at the communica- 
 tion made by his sister. 
 
 "What!" he exclaimed, in unspeakable 
 astonishment, "you wish to harbor, to take 
 care of the woman who has been your worst
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 189 
 
 enemy, who has supplanted you, won from 
 you the heart of your .husband ! It shall not 
 be ! Never will I consent, were it only to 
 spare you the humiliation. For myself,! par- 
 don Menshikoff for my banishment to Sibe- 
 ria. Apart from the intense cold, I find my- 
 self very pleasantly situated. But you, dear 
 sister, the slight he has put upon you can 
 never be forgotten." 
 
 " Dear brother," replied Matinka, " how 
 is it possible that the princess can be my 
 worst enemy, when she has never seen me, 
 perhaps has never heard my name? You 
 do not know how many beautiful traits of 
 character Florent ascribes to her. Well 
 would it be, if all hearts were like hers. 
 But even had she wronged me, persecuted 
 me, do you not remember that our religion 
 commands us to forgive our enemies, to 
 pity those who hate us, to pray for those 
 who prosecute us ? Should we not imitate 
 our Saviour, who from the gibbet of the 
 cross, prayed for his executioners ? Do we 
 not say to God every day : ' Forgive us our 
 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass 
 against us ? ' No, no, dear brother, I cannot
 
 190 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 believe that you are speaking seriously. 
 Let us then, at once, prepare to give shelter 
 to a poor invalid. I only beg you not to 
 betray who I am by an unguarded word. 
 God will bestow upon me the strength nec- 
 essary to support the trial imposed upon me 
 by charity." 
 
 At these words of his pious sister, Simo- 
 now felt ashamed of his revengeful feelings 
 and in a more subdued tone he said : 
 
 " I cannot understand how it happens 
 that the princess comes to Tobolsk at this 
 season of the year. Who knows ? Perhaps 
 the wheel of fortune has turned and brought 
 misfortune upon Menshikoff, as he himself 
 has been the cause of the misfortunes of so 
 many others. I must inquire." 
 
 He left the house and approached the 
 exiled family just in time to witness a scene 
 calculated to rouse the indignation of the 
 hardest heart. Menshikoff, aided by his 
 son and Michaelow, had lifted the princess 
 in his arms and they were about to carry 
 her inside the dwelling. The two young 
 princesses followed weeping. At that mo- 
 ment a man, wearing a prisoner's garb like
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. igl 
 
 MenshikofFs made his way through the 
 crowd, gazed an instant fixedly upon the 
 prince, then breaking out in a loud and 
 insulting laugh, he exclaimed with ferocious 
 joy: 
 
 " Ah ! ah ! It is yourself, great Prince 
 Menshikoff ! Scoundrel ! hangman ! mon- 
 ster ! So, the justice of God has, at last, 
 fallen upon you ! You have come with 
 your worthy brood to share the fate to 
 which you condemned us! You are wel- 
 come here ! And you, lovely princesses, we 
 welcome you likewise to Siberia ! " 
 
 As he said these words, the wretch spat 
 in the faces of the young girls. 
 
 Menshikoff had watched every movement 
 of the unknown scoffer. On beholding the 
 insult offered his innocent children, he could 
 scarcely refrain from rushing upon the un- 
 feeling miscreant ; he was restrained by the 
 fear that Michaelow and his son might not 
 have the strength to bear their precious 
 burden were his aid withdrawn. He was 
 beside himself with rage. His eyes flashed 
 fire and his heart was full to bursting. But 
 his hands were not free, and he could only
 
 IQ2 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 protect his trembling daughters by an indig- 
 nant outbreak of passion. 
 
 " Stop, wretch ! " he cried, in thunder 
 tones. " It is cowardly to insult children 
 when you know that their father cannot de- 
 fend them. You are aiming at me through 
 them, and I promise you that you shall 
 have cause to repent of your scoffs." 
 
 Tears of rage rolled down his cheeks as 
 he spoke. 
 
 The bystanders, touched by the anguish 
 and natural exasperation of the unfortunate 
 father, interfered and forced the man to de- 
 sist from the outrages he was heaping on 
 the two young girls, and after a conflict 
 with him they obliged him to retire. Even 
 Simonow shared the feelings of indignation 
 which animated the other spectators of this 
 outragous scene, and he said within him- 
 self : 
 
 " Matinka is right : revenge is detestable ; 
 it is displeasing to God and revolting to 
 man." Addressing the prince kindly and 
 cordially, he said : 
 
 " Unfortunate father, enter my house and 
 consider it as your own. My children," he
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 193 
 
 added, turning to the young princesses, 
 " dismiss your fears ; no other inhabitant 
 of Tobolsk would be guilty of such unkind 
 treatment as you have received from that 
 man. You are welcome in my home." 
 
 The reader will readily comprehend the 
 effect produced by these words upon the 
 humiliated Menshikoff, who turning towards 
 Simonow, said in a voice choked by his 
 tears : 
 
 " May God bless you, good and noble 
 man!" 
 
 The princess was carried into Simonow's 
 house and placed in a warm bed. She gave 
 no sign of life except an occasional convul- 
 sive movement of the limbs. Her half-open 
 eyes were fixed and motionless. The phy- 
 sician called in by Simonow, pronounced her 
 in a critical condition. To restore natural 
 action to the skin, he ordered her to be 
 sponged with vinegar, and he directed the 
 thick blankets in which she was enveloped 
 to be kept warm by hot bricks and cans of 
 boiling water. Menshikoff watched his wife 
 with the deepest anxiety, and the children 
 gave vent to their sorrow in tears. 
 13
 
 194 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 " Oh, my God ! " said Michaelow's 
 mother to herself, " how devotedly he loves 
 the princess ! He has not a thought for 
 his poor Matinka ! " 
 
 Although blinded by her tears, she was 
 indefatigable in her attentions to the pa- 
 tient, but whilst lavishing every care upon 
 her, her eyes wandered constantly to Men- 
 shikoff, and rested upon him whenever she 
 thought herself unobserved. 
 
 Night was coming on before the remedies 
 seemed to have any effect. xThen for the 
 first time, a slight color tinged the temples, 
 indicating,, as they supposed, an improve- 
 ment in her condition. But when her face 
 was, at first, bedewed with moisture, and 
 then her whole body bathed in a copious 
 perspiration, the joy of Menshikoff, and his 
 children was unbounded. 
 
 " Thank God ! " exclaimed the prince, to 
 the physician who entered the room at that 
 moment, " a change has taken place for the 
 better. The worst is now over. She is 
 perspiring freely." 
 
 The doctor looked incredulous, as he ap- 
 proached the bed to verify the truth of
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 19$ 
 
 the statement. He placed his hand on the 
 brow of the princess and felt her pulse. 
 Anxiously and impatiently the family 
 awaited the decision which would confirm 
 the hopes they cherished, or dash their 
 sweet expectations. Wavering between 
 fear and hope, they gazed earnestly into 
 the face of him upon whose lips seemed to 
 hang the sentence of life or death. 
 
 " The present crisis is not favorable," he 
 said. " The skin no longer performs its 
 functions properly; the sweat is icy cold; 
 it is the sweat of death." 
 
 This unexpected announcement converted 
 the joyous hopes of the family into the 
 deepest sorrow. They sobbed aloud. Men- 
 shikoff fell on his knees by the bedside of 
 his dying wife and covered his face with his 
 hands. The features of the princess were 
 contracted convulsively, her mouth was 
 alternately opened and forcibly compressed. 
 
 Recovering consciousness she murmured, 
 in a feeble voice, " Alexander ! my hus- 
 band ! " and extended her hand to him. 
 He shuddered as he clasped it in his ; it so 
 strangely brought to mind the icy coldness
 
 196 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 of the hand Matinka had laid on his at the 
 moment when he separated from her in the 
 church of St. Andrew. The conviction 
 forced itself upon him that expiation is a 
 justice, and that every evil deed meets its 
 chastisement. 
 
 " My children ! " said the mother, in a 
 hardly audible voice. 
 
 The young prince and his sisters knelt by 
 their father's side and embraced the hand 
 of their mother whose face was suddenly 
 illumined by a smile of ineffable joy. 
 
 In the mean time, a priest had been 
 called in to prepare the soul of the prin- 
 cess for its passage from life to eternity. 
 Having administered the sacraments, he 
 signed her with the sign of the cross, 
 saying : 
 
 " Enter into the joy of heaven ! " 
 
 She made an effort to speak, but the 
 words died on her lips and her head fell 
 back. Her soul had appeared before God. 
 Menshikoff arose ; the tears streamed from 
 his eyes ; bowing his head, he said : 
 
 "My God! Thou art just. To-day Thou 
 smitest me for the crime I committed in
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 197 
 
 banishing Matinka from my house. Ah ! 
 Matinka is avenged." 
 
 On hearing these words, Matinka could 
 scarcely command her feelings, and was 
 near falling to the ground. Strengthening 
 herself however to approach Menshikoff, 
 she said to him : 
 
 " Have no fear ; Matinka has long since 
 pardoned you." 
 
 " Can that be possible ? " replied the 
 prince, as though his mind were wandering 
 and he did not comprehend the words. 
 
 Returning to the corpse of his wife, he 
 contemplated her in silence. 
 
 Matinka said nothing more ; she thought 
 Menshikoff would recognize her, but seeing 
 herself mistaken, she concluded that he no 
 longer had any affection for her, and though 
 his lips had pronounced her name, it was 
 only because the recollection of her had, by 
 chance, occurred to his mind. She contin- 
 ued, nevertheless, to give all the aid in her 
 power to the bereaved family in the prepa- 
 rations necessary for the burial ; these were 
 rendered particularly sad by the circum- 
 stances attending them. The ground was
 
 198 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 
 
 frozen so hard by the intense cold, that no 
 instrument made the least impression upon 
 it until it was softened by building fires on 
 the spot destined for the grave ; and even 
 then, it yielded with difficulty and after 
 great labor on the part of the workmen. 
 What a commentary upon the instability of 
 human grandeur and the uncertainty of 
 earthly happiness, was the funeral of the 
 princess ! A few weeks before, she was 
 mistress of more than a hundred thousand 
 serfs, and possessed a fortune of many 
 millions of roubles ; now, shrouded in the 
 coarse garments of a condemned prisoner, 
 her mortal remains were deposited in a 
 rough wooden box, and her husband and 
 children, in the garb prescribed for exiles, 
 followed her with a few faithful friends to 
 the cemetery. All hearts were touched as 
 they laid her in the grave, and the frozen 
 clods of earth fell heavily on the planks 
 composing her coffin, forever separating her 
 on earth from those who loved her so de- 
 votedly. A huge, rough block of stone was, 
 by great exertion, placed over the grave as 
 a monument to mark the spot where a
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 199 
 
 princess lay, awaiting the final summons. 
 No epitaph was inscribed upon the rude 
 memorial of the high-born exile. Earth's 
 grandeur had escaped her grasp before death 
 deprived her of them, and the tears of her 
 sorrowing family replaced the pageantry 
 with which wealth surrounds the corpses of 
 the great. 
 
 The day after the burial, Menshikoff bade 
 adieu to the hospitable Simonow and his 
 sister. He spoke little and kept his eyes 
 cast down, oppressed by a keen sense of his 
 present humiliation. Matinka longed to 
 make herself known to him, and Simonow 
 advised her to do so, but she replied to her 
 brother : 
 
 " This is not a suitable time. His mind 
 is absorbed by the thought of the excellent 
 woman whom he has just lost. One is not 
 so easily consoled for the death of a beloved 
 wife, of a companion who has been as de- 
 voted in adversity as in prosperity. Al- 
 though mine was the first claim upon him, 
 his affection might not so quickly revive, 
 and were he to be cold to me, I should be 
 far more unhappy than I am now whilst he
 
 200 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 is ignorant of my presence. My destiny is 
 to suffer, and to suffer in silence." 
 
 Matinka embraced with maternal tender- 
 ness the children of Menshikoff, when on 
 parting they gratefully thanked her for the 
 attentions she had lavished on their mother. 
 She also considered it her duty to reveal to 
 Florent the secret of his birth ere he accom- 
 panied his father to Berezov. The knowl- 
 edge was an additional incentive to him to 
 continue his devoted care of the exile. By 
 the order of the princess, he had for some 
 time addressed Menshikoff by the name of 
 father ; but after he became aware of his 
 real relation to the prince, his manner by 
 degrees assumed a greater tenderness and 
 evinced a deeper affection. Menshikoff 
 could not fail to notice the change, but he 
 ascribed it to the sympathy excited by his 
 misfortunes. Suffering had softened the 
 disposition of the young prince and subdued 
 his pride, and touched by the disinterested 
 devotion of Michaelow, he united with his 
 sisters in testifying his gratitude as far as 
 possible, and thenceforth he was treated 
 as a member of the family.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 2OI 
 
 Simonow and his sister provided the trav- 
 ellers not only with such provisions and 
 articles as would be necessary for their com- 
 fort, during the remainder of the journey, 
 but also with such as might be useful to them 
 on their arrival at the place of their exile. 
 After leaving Tobolsk, they made no halt 
 even during the night, but advanced rapidly 
 towards the north. The cold increased in 
 intensity, and the days became shorter. 
 The sun remained .only a few hours above 
 the horizon, appearing shorn of its brilliancy, 
 and hanging like a red disk amid the heavy 
 fog. All nature seemed dead, the gloom 
 was broken only by the occasional passage 
 of a traveller in a kibitki drawn by dogs or 
 reindeer, which, gliding swiftly by them, 
 soon disappeared in the mist that shrouded 
 the land*
 
 202 MENSHIKOFF J 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 IT was midwihter when the exiles reached 
 Berezov, their future residence. It seemed 
 miraculous that they had made the journey 
 at that season and had escaped having their 
 limbs frozen. Berezov hardly deserved to 
 be called a town ; it was, in reality, only 
 an assemblage of frame houses, low and 
 gloomy, and scattered over an extended 
 plain, the miserable inhabitants of which 
 might, from time to time, be seen enveloped 
 in fur, making their way through the snow 
 to carry comfort, as far as they could, to 
 other companions in misery. 
 
 Menshikoff and his family were harshly 
 received by the commandant of Berezov, 
 who assigned as their residence a log cabin, 
 consisting of only two rooms. One was 
 really a mere passage way containing a fire-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 2O3 
 
 place. The other was to serve as sitting- 
 room and bedroom. The larger portion of 
 this apartment was occupied by a furnace 
 constructed of brick, the top of which was 
 intended to serve as a bed, for the inhabi- 
 tants of this hut. A wooden bench and a 
 rough table constituted all the furniture. 
 The planks forming the walls were not 
 planed. Two or three small openings ad- 
 mitted a dim light through panes of glass so 
 coarse as to be only semi-transparent. Even 
 at mid-day they were obliged to use a taper 
 burned in tallow, or a resin torch. What a 
 painful contrast to the splendor formerly 
 surrounding them ! The whole family were 
 forced to occupy the same apartment ; a 
 few bear skins protected them from the 
 cold at night, and the most indispensable 
 articles for the table and kitchen would 
 have been wanting to them but for the 
 generous foresight of Michaelow's mother 
 and uncle. 
 
 The Emperor, it is true, had assigned ten 
 roubles a day for the support of the prince 
 and his family, and the commandant of 
 Berezov was directed to pay him the
 
 204 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 amount. But of what use was money in a 
 place where there was scarcely a workman 
 and not even a baker? The summer season 
 was so short in that latitude, that it was im- 
 possible to till the ground. Grain was con- 
 veyed thither from a great distance, and 
 each family was obliged to lay in a provision 
 of flour during the summer for winter use 
 and to bake their own bread. It was use- 
 less to purchase beer or wine, as the exiles 
 could not store them in a manner to pre- 
 vent them from freezing. To obtain water 
 fit for drinking or cooking, they melted ice 
 or snow over the fire. Apart from this, 
 brandy was the only drink they could pro- 
 cure ; their food consisted of bread, dried 
 fish, or the flesh of the bear or reindeer, and 
 even for this they paid a high price. As to 
 vegetables or other supplies, there was no 
 means of obtaining them at Berezov except 
 during the short summer season, when the 
 Obi is navigable and opens communication 
 with Tobolsk. 
 
 Fortunately for the Menshikoff family, 
 Simonow had provided them with supplies 
 for the first winter. Michaelow was the
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 2O$ 
 
 first to rise in the morning, and he lighted 
 the fire before commencing any other work. 
 He had taken the precaution to buy wood 
 the very day of their arrival, which, aided 
 by the young prince, he had split ready for 
 use. As soon as the fire was thoroughly 
 kindled, he filled the kettle with pieces of 
 ice and boiled the water with which to 
 make bread soup. In the mean time, the 
 princesses had risen and cut the bread. 
 After a short prayer, the exiles partook of 
 the frugal repast. On Sunday, they allowed 
 themselves the luxury of a cup of tea or 
 chocolate in place of the bread soup. After 
 breakfast, Michaelow, accompanied by the 
 young prince, sallied forth over the plains in 
 pursuit of some wild animal in order to fur- 
 nish meat for their dinner, whilst the two 
 young girls cleaned the rooms and mended 
 the clothing of the family. 
 
 As to Menshikoff, he remained immovable, 
 seated upon the wooden bench. Sometimes 
 the tears fell from his eyes when he con- 
 templated his daughters working without 
 relaxation, hardly able to pierce with their 
 needles the thick garments which needed re-
 
 206 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 pairing, and fatiguing their eyes in the faint 
 light which pervaded the apartment. 
 
 After an absence of a few hours, the 
 young men would return, their frozen breath 
 covering their hair and fur caps with silver 
 threads. They would bring back dried fish 
 and sometimes foxes, martens or ermines. 
 How joyously the two girls welcomed them ! 
 With what pleasure they listened to the 
 account of the expedition which Michaelow 
 and the young prince never failed to relate ! 
 The father alone took no part in the conver- 
 sation, never uttered a word. Docile as a 
 child, he seated himself at table when told 
 that dinner was served. During the repast 
 he rarely broke the silence in which he 
 seemed to find comfort. Occasionally after 
 dinner, the girls went, accompanied by their 
 brothers, to take a short walk. On their re- 
 turn they invariably found their father on 
 his knees absorbed in prayer. On entering 
 the passage, they could hear him asking par- 
 don of God for the sins of which he had 
 been guilty, humiliating himself before the 
 Sovereign Judge and imploring blessings on 
 his poor children. His sobs could be heard
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 2O/ 
 
 through the partition of the room and they 
 would have excited the compassion of the 
 hardest heart. 
 
 His long continued and unabated grief 
 at last seriously alarmed the exiles. His 
 strength visibly failed and he took no care 
 to preserve his health. 
 
 When his son, Alexander, with the view 
 of changing the current of his father's 
 thoughts and furnishing some diversion dur- 
 ing the long winter evenings, would ask him 
 some question in regard to his travels or 
 campaigns, he invariably replied : 
 
 " My son, spare me the recital of the 
 faults I committed. Could I live over again 
 my life, I would employ it in a manner 
 more conducive to my salvation and your 
 well being. 
 
 On one subject only did he converse 
 willingly, and that was of death and eter- 
 nity. 
 
 Thus the winter passed, and now the 
 days began to lengthen. The atmosphere, 
 warmed by 'the sun's rays, by degrees melted 
 the snow covering the plains and the ice on 
 the rivers. Blades of grass sprang from
 
 208 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 the dark soil and soon the earth was car- 
 peted with a beautiful green. The brown 
 branches of the birch tree budded, and were 
 radiant with their spring foliage. The thaw 
 broke the thick ice covering the surfaces 
 of the Obi and Irtish, enormous blocks of 
 which floated to the sea. The revival of 
 nature produced a beneficent effect upon 
 the inhabitants, who after having been so 
 many months shut up in their smoky cabins, 
 poured out into the plain as though their 
 hearts had, like the inanimate objects 
 around them, imbibed a warmth which 
 aroused in them a sentiment almost akin to 
 
 joy- 
 Even Menshikoff was not insensible to 
 the awakening of the world of nature, nor 
 could he resist the incessant entreaties of 
 his children to accompany them in an oc- 
 casional ramble. One fine evening in sum- 
 mer, they Avere walking together along the 
 banks of the Obi. Taking advantage of the 
 long days of those latitudes, where the sun 
 hardly sinks below the horizon, the inhabi- 
 tants of the city were occupied with extra- 
 ordinary activity in storing food for the
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 209 
 
 coming year. A large number of boats 
 were descending the river, and the joyous 
 songs of the sailors broke the silence which 
 had so long reigned over that sombre re- 
 gion. Rafts, constructed of enormous 
 trunks of trees and loaded with lumber and 
 fire wood, were floating down the current. 
 They were out in the forests of Siberia and 
 when they were hauled on the shore they 
 failed not to find ready purchasers. 
 
 Menshikoff followed with his eyes the 
 different rafts as they were borne past him 
 by the waters ; he seemed riveted to the spot 
 and preoccupied by some absorbing thought 
 apparently associated with the scene before 
 him. When he moved on, he heeded not his 
 children's efforts to engage him in conver- 
 sation, but continued immersed in his own 
 reflections. 
 
 Having reached a small plot of ground 
 in the centre of the village, he stopped and 
 said in an animated manner : 
 
 " On this very spot, I intend to erect a 
 
 house to God, the sovereign master. My 
 
 soul yearns for the sacred calm of a temple 
 
 where I may regain that peace to which I 
 
 14
 
 210 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 have long been a stranger. For years, I 
 labored to accumulate fleeting riches and 
 attain a vain glory ; why should I not em- 
 ploy the remainder of my life in elevating 
 to my merciful God a monument, as a feeble 
 expression of my veneration and love ? The 
 great Emperor who was my first master 
 himself handled the hatchet for months to 
 aid in constructing a perishable abode for 
 man. How then, could I, a poor exile, hes- 
 itate tq make use of the hammer and saw in 
 order to raise for my companions in mis- 
 fortune a church, where by the blessing of 
 God they may obtain that peace of soul 
 which is so necessary to them in their 
 misery ? My life, hitherto, has been a suc- 
 cession of acts condemned by Heaven. May 
 my last act, at least, be blessed by the Most 
 High!" 
 
 MenshikofTs children hailed the proposi- 
 tion with joy. They hoped that with such 
 an object in view and with constant inter- 
 esting occupation, he would gradually be- 
 come more cheerful and take his part in the 
 family conversations. 
 
 He commenced immediately the execu-
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 211 
 
 tlon of his plan. The very next day he 
 purchased the wood required for the build- 
 ing, having saved the amount from the pen- 
 sion allowed him by the Emperor. Pro- 
 vided with a leathern apron and taking his 
 box of tools, he went daily accompanied 
 by his two sons to his work. He seemed 
 to have regained all his former energy; he 
 labored without relaxation, taking no .re- 
 pose during the day and scarcely allowing 
 himself a few hours of sleep at night. His 
 daughters, in the mean time, were embroi- 
 dering vestments and preparing articles for 
 the decoration of the altar and church. 
 
 This sudden transition from a life .of 
 total inactivity to one of assiduous toil was 
 not beneficial to him. His strength soon 
 diminished evidently. In vain his children 
 implored him to moderate his ardor ; he 
 pushed forward the work with increased 
 activity, as though he feared he would die 
 before realizing his idea. 
 
 When the winter set in, he was forced to 
 discontinue his labors, as he had not on 
 hand a sufficient quantity of wood to com- 
 plete the edifice. Deprived of his occupa-
 
 212 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 tion, he fell again into the same melancholy 
 state, rarely speaking to his children and 
 then only of God and eternity. 
 
 The second summer saw the completion 
 of the church. Then Menshikoff said gently 
 but seriously to Michaelow : 
 
 " My son, amid the grains of sand I have 
 met in my journey through life, you are the 
 only grain of gold. I appreciate the im- 
 mense sacrifice you have made for me, a 
 sacrifice of which I was wholly unworthy. 
 My children and myself would be basely 
 ungrateful, if by retaining you longer with 
 us, we were to become obstacles to your 
 advancement in life, and prevent you from 
 securing the happiness to which you can so 
 justly aspire. Therefore, leave this miser- 
 able place where a hard fate compels us to 
 remain. I shall be eternally grateful for 
 your affection and fidelity. You have ac- 
 customed my children to work and to en- 
 dure privations of every kind. Taught by 
 your example, they have now the courage 
 to be resigned to their sad destiny and to 
 accommodate themselves to it. You pres- 
 ence here is not so absolutely necessary to
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 213 
 
 us now, as it was on our first arrival. You 
 have a mother and a sister whom you love. 
 Your first duty is to them. Go then and 
 consecrate yourself to those who have so 
 holy a claim upon you, and enjoy in their 
 society the sweet recompense infallibly giv- 
 en by a pure conscience." 
 
 Michaelow attempted to make objections, 
 recalling the promise by which he had 
 pledged himself never to leave the prince. 
 
 But Menshikoff was unyielding. 
 
 "I am not willing," he said, "to have 
 you longer share my miserable fate. It is 
 enough that my own children should bear 
 the penalty of their father's faults." 
 
 He persisted in his determination, speak- 
 ing in so decided and serious a manner, that 
 at last, Michaelow was obliged to appear to 
 accede to his wishes. He, however, re- 
 quested permission to remain at Berezov 
 until he could write to his mother and re- 
 ceive her answer. This was granted with- 
 out difficulty. 
 
 The deep regret with which Menshikoff s 
 children contemplated the approaching 
 departure of one whom they had long
 
 214 MENSHIKOFF J 
 
 loved as a brother, may be easily imagined. 
 Every day the prince would ask Michaelow 
 if he had heard from his mother. At the 
 end of four weeks the young man replied to 
 the usual question that she had written. 
 But he said this with a trembling voice, and 
 tearful eyes. From that time Menshikoff 
 urged him to hasten his departure. 
 
 Michaelow sorrowfully collected his scanty 
 stock of wearing apparel, made a small par- 
 cel of it and went to take leave of the prince, 
 who said to him: 
 
 " Go, my son. Take advantage of the 
 fine summer weather to perform your jour- 
 ney, and may God grant you a happy return 
 to your own home ! " 
 
 " Father ! " replied Michaelow, in a voice 
 tremulous from emotion, falling on his 
 knees before the prince, " give me your 
 blessing; I am your son and Matinka's." 
 
 Menshikoff was astounded by the an- 
 nouncement. He remained a moment im- 
 movable as a statue, still holding uplifted 
 the hand he had raised to bless his child. 
 He scanned with evident anxiety the feat- 
 ures of Florent, as though seeking in them
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 21$ 
 
 the confirmation of the words just ad- 
 dressed to him. 
 
 "What!" he, at last, stammered, "can 
 it be" 
 
 "Yes, I am Florent, your son and Ma- 
 tinka's. As you force me to leave you, at 
 least let me depart with your benediction ; 
 that will be my only inheritance and the 
 most precious legacy I could receive from 
 you." 
 
 " Your only inheritance ! " he exclaimed, 
 with bitterness. " You are right, my poor 
 son. Miserable that I am ! Your father is 
 an unnatural being." And he sank back 
 exhausted. 
 
 "Father," resumed Florent, with inex- 
 pressible anguish, " have you not an affec- 
 tionate word for your son? Will you not 
 embrace me that I may once feel your heart 
 beat against mine ? " 
 
 " May I dare press in my arms the son to 
 whom I have caused so much suffering ? I, 
 who am unworthy to possess so excellent a 
 child!" 
 
 He opened his trembling arms, and Flor- 
 ent cast himself into them ; long did they
 
 2l6 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 thus remain, mingling their tears and sobs 
 whilst the other children wept in silence. 
 
 Suddenly he exclaimed : " And where are 
 Matinka and Helen? Remembrances of 
 the past rush upon me ; it comes to me 
 like a dream that I saw them at Tobolsk." 
 
 " Yes, father, you did see them there," re- 
 plied Florent. 
 
 " Why did they not make themselves 
 known?" resumed the prince, vehemently. 
 " How could they allow me to depart to 
 my exile without one word of consolation ? 
 And yet, my God," he continued, sadly, 
 " thou knowest, I did not deserve to receive 
 from them that act of charity. Yet one 
 kind word would have been a balm to my 
 bleeding heart." 
 
 "Father," said Florent, "gladly would 
 my mother and sister have accompanied 
 you here, have shared your fate and striven 
 to mitigate your sufferings. In remaining 
 silent, they did violence to their feelings, 
 but not knowing your disposition in their 
 regard, they feared to discover themselves 
 to you." 
 
 " They were right ; I had been cruel and
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 21? 
 
 unkind to them, although I never forgot 
 them or you. You were ever present to my 
 mind, even amid the grandeur of the im- 
 perial court ; how much more you have 
 occupied my thoughts in my present soli- 
 tude. I now recall your mother's voice 
 when she said to me at Tobolsk : ' Matinka 
 has pardoned you.' Alas ! blinded as I was, 
 I did not recognize her when she spoke, and 
 Heaven denies me the happiness of embrac- 
 ing this noble woman and my beloved 
 Helen." 
 
 " Father, this happiness is in store for 
 you, if you desire it. My mother and sister 
 are at no great distance. Say but the word, 
 and they will obey the summons." 
 
 Menshikoff sprang to his feet. " Tell me, 
 tell me," he exclaimed, with feverish impa- 
 tience, " where they are. Let me go to 
 them, and implore pardon on my knees." 
 
 Trembling with emotion, he approached 
 the door. But Florent passed out before 
 him, and a moment after entered with his 
 mother and Helen. 
 
 Who could depict the scene so touching, 
 so moving, when the husband and wife so
 
 2l8 MENSHIKOFF; 
 
 long separated were reunited ? Menshikoff 
 gazed in anxious uncertainty upon Matinka, 
 but when she opened her arms, he exclaimed 
 in a transport of joy : 
 
 " Yes, dearest Matinka, you have par- 
 doned me ! Oh, my God ! thou hast re- 
 stored to me, so unworthy of Thy mercy, 
 the angel whom Thou gavest me, and whom 
 in my blind folly I rejected ! " 
 
 The children of Matinka and the princess 
 embraced each other with all the warm 
 affection of brothers and sisters who had 
 been long separated. 
 
 When their emotion had, in a measure, 
 subsided, Menshikoff accompanied Matinka 
 to the church. They went alone, desiring 
 no witness as they offered their fervent 
 thanksgiving for the blessing of their re- 
 union. They were not to be again sepa- 
 rated upon earth ; but MenshikofFs health 
 and strength, impaired by previous suffer- 
 ing, failed still more rapidly under the in- 
 fluence of the feelings excited by his 
 inexpressible happiness. One desire alone 
 animated him that was the completion of 
 the simple church -he had labored to erect.
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 2IQ 
 
 This wish was gratified before the end of 
 the summer. A priest was appointed to 
 celebrate the Divine Mysteries, and no 
 sooner had the last sound of the hammer 
 died on the ear than the bell summoned the 
 inhabitants of Berezov to the consecration 
 of the little temple. The faithful hastened 
 eagerly to be present at the august cere- 
 mony. Wax candles burned upon the altar, 
 and shed a soft light upon the shrine of our 
 Lady and upon the richly embroidered 
 hangings, the work of the daughters of 
 Menshikoff. As soon as the ceremony of 
 the consecration was concluded, all present 
 arranged themselves in two rows, between 
 which Menshikoff, Matinka and their chil- 
 dren advanced towards the altar. The 
 priest blessed anew a union which had been 
 broken years before by pride and ambition. 
 The energy of the prince was, however, 
 completely broken down, and he became 
 daily more feeble. His soul, on the other 
 hand, seemed to strengthen in proportion 
 to the decayof his vital powers. He was 
 restored to happiness, he was reconciled to 
 the God whom he had offended, to the
 
 220 MENSHIKOFF ; 
 
 woman whom he had repudiated, and to his 
 own conscience. . Happy in the midst of his 
 family, he was still more happy in the hope 
 of the blissful eternity to which a merciful 
 Saviour permitted him to aspire. His time 
 was divided between exercises of piety and 
 his family. His previous life had been one 
 of fierce struggle for earthly aggrandize- 
 ment ; its close was to be in peace and 
 serenity. He viewed with perfect tran- 
 quillity and resignation the approach of 
 death. He conversed calmly with his wife 
 and children of their temporary separation, 
 and encouraged them to bear the trial by 
 the hope of a reunion in heaven. He ex- 
 pired peacefully November 2, 1729. 
 
 The exiled family were in the deepest 
 affliction, and their dreary home was ren- 
 dered still more desolate by the loss they 
 had sustained ; but on the approach of spring 
 they suddenly received the news of the death 
 of the young Emperor, Peter II. He had 
 been carried off by an attack of small-pox, 
 and Elizabeth, daughter of Peter the Great, 
 had ascended the throne of Russia. One 
 of the first acts of her reign was to pardon
 
 OR, THE PEASANT PRINCE. 221 
 
 the unfortunate Menshikoff, and to reinstate 
 him in all his former possessions. But he 
 no longer needed the favor of earthly sov- 
 ereigns ; the Lord of Lords had already ad- 
 mitted him, we may piously hope, to His 
 eternal kingdom. Nevertheless, the favor 
 of the Empress restored to his exiled chil- 
 dren their high rank in the world and their 
 wealth. The children of Matinka remained 
 in their obscurity. Happily, misfortune 
 had taught the daughters and son of the 
 princess a lesson of wisdom and kindness. 
 
 " Brother," said Prince Alexander to 
 Florent, embracing him tenderly, " what is 
 mine is yours. Let us ever be, to each 
 other devoted brothers." 
 
 He, with the princesses, spoke in a similar 
 manner to Matinka and Helen, and they 
 were faithful to their promises. 
 
 All returned to St. Petersburg, where 
 they were soon joined by Simonow, and 
 during the remainder of their lives they 
 were united by the closest bonds of affec- 
 tion. The marriage of the princesses to two 
 great lords of the court, and the elevation 
 of the prince to the highest dignities of the
 
 222 MENSHIKOFF. 
 
 empire, did not break the tie established 
 by a common misfortune and a reciprocal 
 fidelity. Matinka and her children were 
 happy in their humble sphere, as they had 
 no aspirations to rise above it. They ac- 
 cepted from the munificent offers of the 
 young prince only what was requisite to 
 enable them to live comfortably and simply. 
 When Alexander and his sisters visited 
 Matinka, they would often say : " We are 
 rich, but you are richer in having no desires 
 beyond what you possess." 
 
 MenshikofFs tomb is still seen in the 
 northern part of Siberia. Far from him lies 
 his second wife, and still farther, in the 
 neighborhood of Moscow, Matinka and her 
 children await the great day of the Lord, 
 which will reunite them in a happy eternity 
 
 THE END.
 
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