pony's tail
and follow him. When they halted he made me wait upon him, and do every
thing which he required. In the morning he mounted again, and I had to
walk after him, as before. This was hard service for one who had been
the favourite of the sultan. For a week I contrived to hobble after
him, but it was impossible to go on any longer. We passed through a
town, and as soon as we were clear of the gates and he did not watch me,
I let go the tail of the pony, and escaped without his perceiving it. I
regained the town, and faint with hunger and fatigue, sat at the steps
of a large house. A lady, dressed in rich furs and sables, came out,
and perceiving that my dress was foreign, stopped, and inquired of me
who I was. I told her in a few words: she ordered me to be received and
taken care of. A few days afterwards she sent for me, and I then
narrated to her my history. She was kind and generous, and I became her
head attendant; I was contented and happy, and hoped to die in her
service. But my misfortunes were not half over. My mistress was a lady
of rank, and much esteemed. Her house was always full of company: she
was rich, and gave most splendid entertainments. Her husband had been
dead about two years, but she was still very young, and exceedingly
beautiful. One evening, when there was a large party assembled in her
rooms, the door was opened, and an officer came up to her and whispered
in her ear. She coloured, trembled, and said that she would be ready in
an hour. I was near her at the time; she beckoned to me, hastened to
her room, and burst into a flood of tears.

"I am ordered to Petersburgh immediately, on a charge of treason. My
conscience tells me that I have done nothing: but, alas! for me, the
emperor has no mercy. Ekaterina," for that was the name I went by,
"will you accompany me?--it will be a long, and a melancholy journey.
God knows how it may end."

I immediately consented--packed up what we required, and without
disturbing those who were enjoying themselves we gained the court-yard,
and took our seats in a britska, in company with the officer. In four
days we arrived at Petersburgh, and my mistress was separated from me
and thrown into prison. She never saw her accusers or her judges; her
memorial to the emperor was disregarded, and she was condemned--but her
punishment was not immediately decided upon.

For three weeks my mistress remained in prison. I was, by the humanity