lly a baron of the empire!

His name?

Grodonoff,--he in whose palace hangs the picture we have described.

CHAPTER TWO.

THE BARON GRODONOFF.

In one of the apartments of the palace Grodonoff, behold its proprietor,
the baron himself! He is seated in an old oak chair, with a heavy table
of the same material in front of him. On the table is spread out a map
of the world; and by the side of the chair stands a large terrestrial
globe. Several shelves standing against the wails contain books; and
yet the apartment is not a library in the proper sense of the word:
rather is it a large oblong saloon; having three of its sides occupied
by spacious glass cases, in which are exhibited objects of natural
history,--birds, quadrupeds, reptiles, and insects,--all mounted in
proper form and arranged in due order. It is, in fact, a museum,--a
private collection--made by the baron himself; and the books that fill
the shelves are works relating to natural history alone.

In a man of military aspect--an old veteran with snow-white hair, and
grand moustaches of like hue--such as he who is seated at the table--you
would scarce expect to meet the lover of a study so pacific in its
character as that of natural history? Rather would you look to find him
pouring over plans of fortifications, with the pages of Yauban spread
open before him; or some history detailing the campaigns of Suwarrow,
Diebitsch, Paskiewitch or Potemkin? In this instance, however,
appearances were deceptive. Though the baron had proved an excellent
military officer, and seen service, he was a student of Nature. His
early years, spent as a hunter, had begot within him a taste for natural
history; which, as soon as the opportunity offered, had become developed
by study and research. It was now no longer a predilection, but a
passion; and in his retirement nearly the whole of his time was devoted
to his favourite study. A vast fortune, which his grateful sovereign
had bestowed upon him, enabled him to command the means for gratifying
his taste; and the magnificent collection by which he was surrounded
gave evidence that no expense was spared in its gratification.

It was a map and globe of the world that now occupied his attention.
Could these have reference to a question of natural history?

In an indirect manner they had,--and what follows will account for their
presence.

A hand-bell stood upon the table. The baron rang it; and before its
tingl