f provisions,
supposing that I would be able to get food along the way. I never made
that particular mistake again.

"I had plenty of money in those days, and was traveling, as I say,
first-class. When I got in my compartment at St. Petersburg I supposed
at first that I was going to have it all to myself, and I was very
well pleased because I could take things easy and sleep undisturbed
through the most of what promised to be a very dreary trip.

"It was then about eight o'clock in the morning, and snowing
furiously, and I could scarcely see the outlines of the handsome
station through the storm of snow. But it was very comfortable in
my compartment, which I was pleased to note was of unusual elegance.
So I did not mind the delay at first.

"I noticed that the cushions of the seats were of a deep softness
and of a rich crimson velvet. There were likewise hangings over the
windows, with heavy golden tassels on the same. Then I observed a
crest stamped on the embossed leather upon the inside of the door,
and it was also repeated in gold upon the back of the seats.

"I must admit that this seemed a good deal of style, but I did not
consider it any too much for a representative American citizen
traveling abroad. I was a fool in those days, but made up in audacity
what I lacked in wit. After a half hour had passed beyond the schedule
time set for the train's starting, I began to get uneasy and was just
about to get out of the compartment to help move things along, when I
saw a gorgeous sleigh drive up in front of the station.

"There was a splendid ermine robe thrown over the back, and two plumes
in front. The horses were fine animals too, driven three abreast after
the Russian fashion; over the one in the center was a single arch on
which jingled the merry bells. The middle horse was a great black, and
his comrades on either side were gray, the very symbols of the snowy
landscape.

"From the furs of the sleigh emerged a gigantic Russian,
blonde-bearded, and under his fur overcoat was some sort of a military
uniform. I watched him with interest as he came toward the train,
accompanied by the station-master, and met by the salutes of the
soldiers, who are everywhere in Russia.

"He came straight towards the carriage where I was seated in lonely
pomp, and I had just time to seat myself in the opposite corner of
the compartment when the door was thrown open, and--enter his royal
nibs--the Archduke Alexandewitch or some