her and prayed for the success of the project. A few days after,
Marie, Polacca and Saveliitch left home.

When Marie reached Sofia, she learned that the Court was at that moment
in residence at the summer palace of Tzarskoie-Selo. She decided to
stop there, and obtained a small room at the post-house. The post
mistress came to chat with the new-comer. She told Marie, pompously,
that she was the niece of an official attached to the Court--her uncle
having 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."