the
honor of attending to the fires in her Majesty's abode! Marie soon
knew at what hour the Empress rose, took her coffee, and went on the
promenade; in brief, the conversation of Anna was like a page from the
memoirs of the times, and would be very precious in our days. The two
women went together to the Imperial gardens, where Anna told Marie
the romance of each pathway and the history of every bridge over the
artificial streams. Next day very early Marie returned alone to the
Imperial gardens. The weather was superb. The sun gilded the linden
tops, already seared by the Autumn frosts. The broad lake sparkled, the
swans, just aroused, came out gravely from the shore. Marie was going
to a charming green sward, when a little dog, of English blood, came
running to her barking. She was startled; but a voice of rare refinement
said: "He will not bite you; do not be afraid."

A lady about fifty years of age was seated on a rustic bench. She was
dressed in a white morning-dress, a light cap and a mantilla. Her face,
full and florid, was expressive of calmness and seriousness. She was the
first to speak: "You are evidently a stranger here?"

"That is true, madam. I arrived from the country yesterday."

"You are with your parents?"

"No, madam, alone."

"You are too young to travel alone. Are you here on business?"

"My parents are dead. I came to present a petition to the Empress."

"You are an orphan; you have to complain of injustice, or injury?"

"Madam, I came to ask for a pardon, not justice."

"Permit me a question: Who are you?"

"I am the daughter of Captain Mironoff."

"Of Captain Mironoff? of him who commanded one of the fortresses in the
province of Orenbourg?"

"The same, madam."

The lady seemed touched. "Pardon me, I am going to Court. Explain the
object of your petition; perhaps I can aid you." Marie took from her
pocket a paper which she handed to the lady, who read it attentively.
Marie, whose eyes followed every movement of her countenance, was
alarmed by the severe expression of face so calm and gracious a moment
before.

"You intercede for Grineff?" said the lady, in an icy tone. "The Empress
can not pardon him. He went over to the usurper, not as an ignorant
believer, but as a depraved and dangerous good-for-nothing."

"It is not true!" exclaimed Marie.

"What! not true?" said the lady, flushing to the eyes.

"Before God, it is not true. I know all. I will tell you all. It was
for m