nothing was left
us but patience perforce. We could only resolve to fly from Petersburg
when there, the soonest possible, and to take refuge in some corner of
the earth, where we might remain unknown of all. The marriage,
therefore, was celebrated with pomp, though I, in despite of forms, was
the true husband of the princess. Such was the state of the husband
imposed upon her, that to describe it, and not give disgust, were
impossible.

The princess gave me her jewels, and several thousand roubles, which she
had received as a nuptial present, that I might purchase every thing
necessary for flight; my evil destiny, however, had otherwise determined.
I was playing at ombre with her, one night, at the house of the Countess
of Bestuchef, when she complained of a violent headache, appointed me to
meet her on the morrow, in the Trotzer gardens, clasped my hand with
inexpressible emotion, and departed. Alas! I never beheld her more,
till stretched upon the bier!

She grew delirious that very night, and so continued till her death,
which happened on the sixth day, when the small-pox began to appear.
During her delirium she discovered our love, and incessantly called on me
to deliver her from her tyrant. Thus, in the flower of her age, perished
one of the most lovely women I ever knew, and with her fled all I held
most dear.

All my plans were now to be newly arranged. Lord Hyndford alone was in
the secret, for I hid no secrets from him: he strengthened me in my first
resolution, and owned that he himself, for such a mistress, might perhaps
have been weak enough to have acted as I had done. Almost as much moved
as myself, he sympathised with me as a friend, and his advice deterred me
from ending my miseries, and descending with her, whom I have loved and
lost, to the grave. This was the severest trial I had ever felt. Our
affection was unbounded, and such only as noble hearts can feel. She
being gone, the whole world became a desert. There is not a man on
earth, whose life affords more various turns of fate than mine. Swiftly
raised to the highest pinnacle of hope, as suddenly was I cast headlong
down, and so remarkable were these revolutions that he who has read my
history will at last find it difficult to say whether he envies or pities
me most. And yet these were, in reality, but preparatory to the evils
that hovered over my devoted head. Had not the remembrance of past joys
soothed and supported me under m