n. I wish
to learn, too, about his family; ask about his daughter--if she be
still unmarried, and whether she is now in Berlin. In short, find out
all you can."

The courteous and obedient valet had left the room some time, but
Prince Stratimojeff still stood motionless, his eyes cast on the
ground, and muttering some unintelligible words. Suddenly, with an
impatient movement, he threw his furred robe from his shoulders, and
cast his head-gear far into the room.

"Air! air! I suffocate!" cried he. "I feel as if this town lay on my
chest like a hundred-pound weight, and that I have to conceal myself
like a criminal from the eyes of men."

He threw his cloak open, and took a long and deep breath.

What was it, then, that so strangely excited Prince Stratimojeff,
and shook his very bones as with an ague? It was the memory of
former days; it was the painful and damning voice of Conscience which
tormented him. What reason had he to inquire after Gotzkowsky the
banker, and his daughter? How! Had the heart of Count Feodor von
Brenda become so hardened, that when he returned to Berlin he should
not long to hear of her whom he had once so shamefully betrayed?

It was indeed himself. Colonel Count Feodor von Brenda had become
transformed into the Prince Stratimojeff. Four short years had passed,
but what desolation had they not caused in his inner life!--four years
of dissolute pleasure, of mad, enervating enjoyment; four bacchanalian
years of sensual dissipation and extravagance; four years passed at
the court of two Russian empresses! In these four years Elizabeth
had died; and for a few days the unfortunate Peter III. had worn the
imperial crown. But it had proved too heavy for him; and his great
consort, Catharine, full of compassion and Russian humanity for him,
had sought to lighten his load! Only, in her too great zeal, she had
taken not only his crown, but his head, and changed his prison for a
grave.

The Guards shouted for the new empress as they had done for the old.
In the presence of their beautiful young sovereign they remembered
with delight the graciousness of her predecessor, who, in the fulness
of her kindness and power, had made princes of the subalterns, and
great lords of the privates.

Why should not Catharine resemble Elizabeth in that respect, and show
favor to the splendid soldiers of the Guards? She was merciful. She
was a gracious mistress to all her subjects, but especially so to
the handsome