My reflections were interrupted by the entrance of a Cossack, who came
to announce that the "great Czar" called me to his presence. "Where is
he?" I asked, preparing to obey. "In the commandant's house," replied
the Cossack. "After dinner the Czar went to the vapor baths. It must
be confessed that all his ways are imperial! He can do more than
others; at dinner he deigned to eat two roast milk-pigs; afterward at
the bath he endured the highest degree of heat; even the attendant
could not stand it; he handed the brush to another and was restored to
consciousness only by the application of cold water. It is said that
in the bath, the marks of the true Czar were plainly seen on his
breast--a picture of his own face and a double-headed eagle."

I did not think it necessary to contradict the Cossack, and I followed
him to the Commandant's, trying to fancy in advance my interview with
Pougatcheff, and its result. The reader may imagine that I was not
quite at ease. Night was falling as I reached the house. The gibbet
with its victims still stood, black and terrible. The poor body of our
good Basilia was lying under the steps, near which two Cossacks mounted
guard. He who had brought me, entered to announce my arrival; he
returned at once, and led me to the room where the evening before I had
taken leave of Marie. At a table covered with a cloth, and laden with
bottles and glasses, sat Pougatcheff, surrounded by some ten Cossack
chiefs in colored caps and shirts, with flushed faces and sparkling
eyes, the effect, no doubt, of the wine-cup.

I saw neither of our traitors, Alexis or the Corporal, amongst them.

"Ah! your lordship, it is you?" said their chief, on seeing me. "Be
welcome! Honor and place at the table!"