nourishing a serpent in your bosom. This drawing have I received from
Trenck, copied from your cabinet designs, for two hundred ducats." He
knew I was employed there sometimes with Oettinger, whose office it was
to inspect the buildings and repairs of the Russian fortifications.
Bestuchef was astonished; his anger became violent, and Goltz added fuel
to the flame, by insinuating, I should not be so powerfully protected by
Bernes, the Austrian ambassador, were it not to favour the views of his
own court. Bestuchef mentioned prosecution and the knout; Goltz replied
my friends were too powerful, my pardon would be procured, and the evil
this way increased. They therefore determined to have me secretly
secured, and privately conveyed to Siberia.

Thus, while I unsuspectingly dreamed of nothing but happiness, the
gathering storm threatened destruction, which only was averted by
accident, or God's good providence.

Goltz had scarcely left the place triumphant, when the chancellor
entered, with bitterness and rancour in his heart, into his lady's
apartment, reproached her with my conduct, and while she endeavoured to
soothe him, related all that had passed. Her penetration was much deeper
than her husband's: she perceived there was a plot against me: she indeed
knew my heart better than any other, and particularly that I was not in
want of a poor two hundred ducats. She could not, however, appease him,
and my arrest was determined. She therefore instantly wrote me a line to
the following purport.

"You are threatened, dear friend, by a very imminent danger. Do not
sleep to-night at home, but secure yourself at Lord Hyndford's till you
hear farther from me."

Secretary S-n, her confidant (the same who, not long since, was Russian
envoy at Ratisbon) was sent with the note. He found me, after dinner, at
the English ambassador's, and called me aside. I read the billet, was
astonished at its contents, and showed it Lord Hyndford. My conscience
was void of reproach, except that we suspected my secret with the
countess had been betrayed to the chancellor, and fearing his jealousy,
Hyndford commanded me to remain in his house till we should make further
discovery.

We placed spies round the house where I lived; I was inquired for after
midnight, and the lieutenant of the police came himself and searched the
house.

Lord Hyndford went, about ten in the morning, to visit the chancellor,
that he might obtain some intel