e been noble," resumed the captain, "to have ventured thus
for a friend,-- the Russian lady did so for her enemies."

"And were the French officers saved at last?"

"Yes; by freely giving her money as she had freely risked her safety,
after a while the lady contrived the escape of the fugitives beyond the
frontier. When a considerable time had elapsed, a present of a piece of
plate, which she received from France, showed that the officers were not
ungrateful to their preserver."

"She was a generous enemy, papa, and a noble woman. But are not the
common people in Russia very ignorant and bad?"

"Very ignorant I believe they are, but it would be harsh and wrong to
call them very bad. They are cheerful and good-tempered, and even when
intoxicated they do not show the ferocity which disgraces a drunkard in
England."

"But are they not dreadful thieves?"

"They are said to be very skilful in cheating, and singularly dexterous
in picking pockets. But here again it would be unjust to brand a whole
nation with a disgraceful stigma.* I have another true story for you,
Neddy, and this time it shall be of a poor Russian, a messenger, or as
they call him, an Isdavoi.

"An English lady living at St. Petersburg gave five hundred rubles** in
charge to an Isdavoi to deliver to her daughter, who dwelt at some
distance. On the following day the Russian returned, kissed the lady's
hand after the fashion of his country, and said, 'Pardon me, I am
guilty. I cannot tell how it has happened, but I have lost your money,
and cannot find it again. Deal with me as you please.'"

"The poor fellow," continued the captain, "probably expected a severe
flogging, or dismissal from his office, but the lady had no inclination
to punish him with such rigour. Unwilling to ruin the Isdavoi, she
made no mention of his offence, considered the money as gone for ever,
and after a while lost sight of the messenger entirely. After six years
had elapsed he came to her one day with a joyful face, laden with six
hundred rubles, which he brought in the place of those which had been
intrusted to his care. On inquiry it was found that this honest Russian
had for those six years been denying himself every little pleasure, and
by resolute economy had saved up his wages until he had collected about
half of the sum required. He had then married a wife whose feelings of
honour appeared to have been as delicate as his own, for not only her
dower of one hundred rubl