held a distinguished post in the Austrian possessions in Italy, and could not accompany her. A certain melancholy was diffused over the charming features of the Countess ; deep sensibility was expressed in her looks, and communicated to the hearts of those on whom she darted her large black eyes. Having seen her occasionally at the house of an old Austrian Baroness, I sought her acquaintance and received permission to visit her. I considered her an Italian, but faucy my astonishment when I learned she was a Russian Princess, although she did not know a word of her mother tongue. Educated in Petersburgh by a Frenchwoman, she, in the house of her parents, who were native Russians, never heard it spoken. In that house a preference was always shewn to foreigners, and the young Prin cess from her childhood was accustomed to hear that the Russians were barbarians, and unfit for any thing except to be peasants and pedlars, and that foreigners were the only people from whom the Russians should take an example how to live in the world. The Princess was told that the Russian language was only of use amongst the swinish multitude, and that it was so harsh that a well educated lady might catch a sore throat by pronouncing the sharp Russian terminations. The Princess's gouvernante assured her that she suffered a whole week from the tooth-ache and swelled tongue, in consequence of her exertions in pronouncing the word 'Poschtchetcheena,' notwithstanding that it is pronounced so easily by the Russian maid-servants. The unfortunate Princess (for I call her unfortunate, as I reckon all those so who do not know and do not love their native country), was extremely glad when her mother on her husband's death left Russia, and after traversing Europe in all directions, settled in Florence. The old lady married there a young French bourgeois, for whom she bought the title of Count, where it is a marketable article. In her fifteenth year the Princess Malania was also married to Count Sensibili, and our country-woman soon inured to Italian customs, forgot even the existence of Russia. Ten years after her marriage, she was seized with a hypochondria, arising, it would appear, from a surfeit of the conjugal state; she went to dispel it to Vienna, and from thence to Carlsbad, where I paid her particular attention, and did all I could to convince her that the Russians are capable of

loving as tenderly, powerfully, and passionately as the Italians and French, and succeeded in reconciling her to her country. She even began to learn Russian, and found that the word “looblioo"* was extremely tender and agreeable to the ear.

"The Countess Sensibili was obliged to go and join her husband at Venice. I begged the Countess and Count Tzeetereen to go and winter there. In that city I passed the time very agreeably, visiting every day the dear Countess Sensibili under the nom de guerre of a teacher of the Russian language. I did not choose to pass in her house under my own name, for in that case I would have had to introduce Count Sensibili to our family circle, and bring the Countess thither, which might have broken up our friendly quadrille. I was also in the practice of meeting with the Countess Sensibili at the house of an old female friend of hers and at the public amusements, which, in Venice, are numerous. I shall say a few words about that city.

"The once proud Venice no longer infested with the politics and caprices of its aristocracy, after losing its strength and riches, has not given up its passion for amusements: on the contrary it has become the rallying point of dissipation and pleasure. In Paris and London a man is diverted from the pleasures of sense, by politics and the sciences, which are practically illustrated and form the subjects of common conversation. In Venice, with the exception of music which disposes the mind for receiving tender impressions, other pleasures are not known, but coquetry and love intrigues. Love is the atmosphere of Venice, and foreigners come thither from distant shores and inhale the air of that modern Paphos. No where do the females enjoy so much freedom as in Venice. With a slight covering they issue boldly forth into the coffee-houses and the Casino, and mingle amongst the crowd in the square of St. Mark, in the garden of St. George's Monastery, or on the new Quay. Women are not attended by their husbands but by their cavalieri serventi, who perform the same duty to the Venetian ladies as an active adjutant to the young wives of old generals; that is to say, a serving cavalier must be in con

* I love.

stant attendance upon his lady from morning till night, if she does not think proper to take another companion for part of the time. You know that Venice is built on lagoons of the sea and that there canals serve instead of streets, and covered boats and gondolas in place of carriages. These gondolas are floating temples of love, and coffins of conjugal fidelity. The famed jealousy of the Italians vanish before Hymen's torch, and changes into smoke and vapour, which only forms into hail when a wife's conduct threatens to empty her husband's pocket. In Venice there is no idea of hospitality. There all the inhabitants meet together only in the Casino, in the coffee-houses, squares, or theatre: they treat one another only to ice, chocolate, and very rarely to a dinner, and leave visiting cards at one another's doors. In general the Italians are not created either for soft converse or for modest domestic life. The greatest happiness of life is with them far niente,* and their very pleasures and promenadings they call work. It is unnecessary to tell you that there are no rules without exceptions. I lived in Venice as if I were in paradise for about a year, when one day -." The voice of Arsalan Sultan was suddenly heard, calling me to him, and Meloveeden's narrative was interrupted in the mean time.

CHAPTER XVII.

The resolution of the Kirgheezian elders, with reference to my reward. The continuation of Meloveeden's story.-Duel.-Flight. -The renegade Jew.-Residence in Constantinople.-What is Pera ?-Deceit.-Slavery.-Deliverance.

"My dear Ivan !" said Arsalan Sultan to me, (6 we have decided your fate in a council of the elders. I know you are melancholy about your country, and, if you remain with us it is only from love to me. Go, in God's name, Ivan! Here is what we have resolved upon with regard to you." Arsalan took out of his bosom a little scrap of paper, which was wrapped up in several handkerchiefs, as if it were the greatest rarity, and read as follows:-" 1. The

* To do nothing.

prisoner of the invincible, free, and famous Kirgheez nation, Ivan Vejeeghen, is set at liberty for his great services to the distinguished tribe of Baganalee Keeptchak, and for saving the valuable life of Arsalan Sultan.-2. The free Ivan Vejeeghen is declared a son of the noble and excellent branch of Baganalee Keeptchak. If the said Ivan Vejeeghen, looking with the eyes of wisdom, should think of returning to the blessed and best country in the world, the Kirgheezian steppe, in that case every father of a family must receive him into his yoort as if he were his own son, and every Kirgheezian warrior as his brother, and every Kirghezian maid as her bridegroom or husband, according to the pleasure of the said Ivan Vejeeghen.-3. The whole excellent tribe of Baganalee Keeptchak is bound to feed and clothe Ivan Vejeeghen and heat his yoort, till such time as he shall have grown-up children of his own, or shall himself, of his own accord, give up the privilege granted to him.—4. All the booty belonging to Ivan Vejeeghen as well as his horses and camels, the elders take upon them to sell on the first opportunity either at Orenburg or at some of the Russian fortresses on the frontier, and to remit him the money whithersoever he shall order it. In the meantime they have collected a thousand ducats for his present use, and given him twelve bales of the most valuable merchandize, which shall be delivered to him immediately.—5. Ivan Vejeeghen has a right to take out of the steppe with him his Russian slaves, and shall receive a convoy and military escort to the frontiers.”

"Are you satisfied with our award?” said Arsalan. In place of an answer I threw myself about his neck, and burst into tears. At the mere remembrance of my native Russia all my vain glory evaporated like smoke, and I resolved immediately to set off. "When do you think of leaving us?" inquired Arsalan. "To-morrow," replied I,

holding down my eyes, as if I were ashamed of my ingratitude. "Then I shall make every thing ready for your departure," said Arsalan, and immediately called to him some of the elders. Not to interrupt them I went away to my yoort.

When I made known to Meloveeden that we were to set off next day for Russia, he could hardly contain himself for joy; he wept, laughed, leaped, sang, and at last compoVOL. I.

14

sed himself, thanked God with tears for his deliverance, and called me his benefactor. (C Vejeeghen!" said Meloveeden, clasping me to his breast, “ you have restored me to my country and to freedom; but this heart will be always devoted to you. I am yours for ever!" The disbanded soldier was no less rejoiced for his deliverance from infidels, and begged me to retain him in my service, seeing that he had neither a hole nor corner of his own in all Russia.

After breakfasting upon mutton roasted on the coals, and drinking brag,* I begged Meloveeden to finish his narrative.

"One day," continued Meloveeden, "when I left the house accompanied by my servant, in order to take an airing in a gondola along the shore, a boy gave me a note and hid himself. I supposeed that it was a billet doux, and made haste to read it. But for once I was disappointed. The note was written in Russian, and these were the contents:

"If you have but a drop of Russian noble blood remaining in you, and if your honour is not completely tarnished in the career of debauchery, shew your face to-morrow morning at twelve o'clock, on terra firma at the Sun Tavern, on the banks of the Brenta with a pair of pistols, without letting any one at home know of this. You will know who I am, on the spot, where one of us must fall.”

"Unable to guess from whom this challenge might be, I however resolved to appear at the appointed hour, and immediately went to a friend of mine an Englishman to ask him to be my second. Crossing in my gondola to St. Mark's Square, I entered a coffee-house under the arcade, hoping to find my friend there, and at the door received another letter in the French language of the following contents :-"One of us must fall that the other may be happy. To-morrow, at three o'clock in the afternoon, I shall wait you with a sword on terra firma at the Swan Tavern on the banks of the Brenta. We are acquaintances, and I have no occasion to subscribe my name, as when we meet, you will know whom you have to do with.”

* A sweetish half-fermented liquor made from rye-malt, of the colour and consistence of porter.