all that your majesty desires, and to give
you every assistance in his power, provided you will not make peace with
our hated enemy--with Russia--but will continue the war unweariedly and
unceasingly, until Russia is humbled at our feet."

"Ah!" exclaimed the king, "the Khan of Tartary cannot hate the Empress
of Russia more vindictively than she hates me; he need not fear,
therefore, an alliance between me and Russia. I have myself no desire to
form a friendship with those rough barbarians."

"If the Empress of Russia hates you, she hates Krimgirai equally. Russia
hates every thing that is noble and true; she hates enlightenment
and cultivation. Russia hates Krimgirai, because he has civilized his
people; because he has changed his rough hordes of men into a mighty
army of brave warriors; because he governs his kingdom with humanity,
and is, at the same time, a father to his people and a scourge to his
enemies. Krimgirai hates Russia as he hates every thing that is wicked,
and vicious, and cruel; therefore he is willing to stand by your side
against Russia, with an army of six thousand men, and, if you wish it,
to invade Russia."

"And what are the conditions which the Khan demands for this
assistance?"

"He wishes you to pay his soldiers as you pay your own."

"And for himself?"

"For himself, he begs that you will send him a physician who can cure
him of a painful but not dangerous disease. Further, he begs for your
confidence and friendship."

"Which I gladly give him!" said the king, gayly. "But tell me one other
thing. Has the Khan not yet become reconciled to the Grand Sultan?"

"Sire, the sultan feels that he cannot spare his brave Khan; he made an
overture, which Krimgirai gladly accepted. One week before we started
on our journey, the Khan was received by the sultan in his seraglio. The
heads of forty rebels were displayed as a special honor in front of
the seraglio, and, in the presence of the sultan himself, my master was
again presented with belt and sword, and again reinstalled as Khan. The
sultan also presented him with a purse containing forty thousand ducats.
You see, sire, that the sultan prizes and acknowledges the virtues of
your ally."

"And how do we stand with the Porte?" asked the king, turning to Baron
von Rexin.

"I have succeeded, sire, in establishing a treaty between your majesty
and the Porte! I shall have the honor to lay it before your majesty for
your signature."

The king'