Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-28
dNurtester Daily spp.
THE FUR-DEALERs CLERK
From Chambers Journal.
CONTINUED.


not speak French, but there is one expedient
which has just occurred TO me you will pre-
tend to be dumb. | know you are clever
enough to act part it will be no loss you
cannot understand what is spoken, but remem-
Der, not sound before my guests or servants,
1t might bring us both to be talked of, and
want to let you society. Good bye'
The door had closed upon her exit before
had well conprehended the curious arrange.
ment, but the more l thought of it the more
clever and advantageous it seemed Phe
Countess Rozenkl had evidently taken an in
terest in ME, was it friendly was it more than
that's A rich and childless widow, young and
beautiful, moreover, had laken it into her head
to show me good society, and make me pre-
sentable. The chance was worth following
up, whatever it might lead to. Hardstaff came
In about half an hour after, but of course he
heard nothing about it. There was no reason
why he should. Seven was our closing hour,
then the supper came off; some Of the clerks
went Tor walks, or TO see their friends the
lazy ones went to bed; some Russians can do
a wondrous deal of sleeping
Having pondered and congratulated myself
on the invitation. and given the porter a silver
rouble, to take no notice of my movements-a
Russian understands such matters without
speech-l went forth at seven on the following
evening, as if to take my accustomed " ak
and in front of the tea shop there stood a car.
rlage-a very handsome one, but with no crest
on its panels, and what had often remarked
in Russia struck me forcibly on this occasion
though the usual class of customers were com.
ing and going TO the shop, though dirty chill
dren played about and lazy men sat smoking
at every door, nobody looked curious or sur.
prised to see such an equipage in their quarter.
1t was strange, too, how quickly the coach
man seemed to know his fare he opened the
door the moment l approached, l stepped in,
and away we went to the Rozenki palace
knew the city well enough to see that we
were not going the direct way, however, and
also that we stopped al the back entrance,
which was in narrow, sombs looking street.
with dead wall shutting in the grounds of a
monastery right opposite A fOotnfan in
splendid livery received me, showed me
through passage and up stairs 10 a dressing
room elegantly furnished, where according to
the countess promise, found everything re-
qulslte for gentleman's toilet, including
complete suit for evening dress. The clothes
were made more in the Partisan than the Lon.
don style--so they seemed to me; but who
had taken such an exact account Of my pro-
portions They fitted me amazingly, and my
whole appearance in the full length mirror
gave me courage for the rest OF the trial. Hav.
ing dressed, | rang the bell as commanded,
and, to my astonishment, who should answer
it but the countess herself She wore "A mag
nifcent evening dress, of which, not being
skilled in ladies apparel, can only say that it
was very grand and very low, and that the
lady looked to great advantage in consequence
The quantity of jewels flashing from her
snowy neck and arms would have done some
ladies good to see but i'll she came, as friend
ly and familiar as she had been in the count
ing house.
II just wanted to see how you looked be-
fore going down to the company. All very
well indeed" said she turning me round by
the arm as i'll had been her younger sister on
the point of being brought out. Didn't
guess your fit, my dear boy You will make
conquests among the girls this evening. But
don't forget your part of mute, it is all we
do for the present. OF course you will learn
to speak French in time I'll give you lessons
myself But now must go to receive /; the
toOtman will conduct you to the saloon do
your devoirs as il you had not seen me, and
don't forget that you are dumb"
She lett me before could make any reply.
In another moment the footman was at the
door. Under his escort, l reached the recep
ton rooms. What a noble mansion it was
how extensve-how richly decorated-no-
thing more splendid than that suit of public
rooms ever came under my eye. The furni'
ture, mirrors, and pictures were OH the most
magnificent scale. l don't pretend to be
judge OF such matters, but l have seen nothing
like it since. and it fairly dazzled me then
The countess was sitting in the central sa-
loon; some of the company had already arriv-
ed, others we're coming in. heard the roll
of carriages, the hum of voices, the rustic of
silks. The novelty of the scene rather con-
fused me, but | was determined to prove that
was clever enough to act my part. There
might be stake TO win or lose that evening
so walked straight up to Madame Rozenki,
made the bow which had been extensively
practiced Ter the occasion, saw in an opposite
mirror that it was well done, and would have
retired to a seat, when, to my utter amaze
ment, she sprang from her velvet sofa, ut
tered a half scream of French, threw her arms
round my neck, and kissed me on both checks.
never was SO taken by surprise in all my
life, and it is my firm conviction that | must
have looked particularly foolish, but there was
no time to recover myself; she took me by
the arm instantaneously, marched me round
the rooms, presented me to every body, old
and young they all seemed wonderfully glad
to see me, but as every one spoke French,
there was no chance OF forgetting my part. |
bowed and smiled as well as could the count
ess did all the talking, and at last she conduct
ed me back to the salon. and set me down be-
tween two very plain and very large young
women, with an astonishing amount of feah
ers and diamonds, They both talked to me
with great civilty, al course | did not I'M
smiles, which seemed quite satisfactory. Peo-
pie came and came until the rooms were full
saw officers in Russian uni orm, with stars
and ribbons on their breasts, aud ladies in all
sorts of fiuery, but there was not pretty w0.
man in the room except Madame Rozenk
She presented me to every body; they all took
as much notice of me as if had been for
eign prince on my travels.
did whatever she bade me, which she did
of course, by signs played cards with three
old ladies', danced with two young ones, hand.
ed herself to the supper table, and felt myself
in fairy land the spledid dresses, the magn
icent rooms, the hum of conversation, and the
crowd OF faces, were all so new, so different
from my counting house lile that the whole
seemed like dazzling dream Az last, the
company began TO scatter away the daylight
had waned and come again, as it does between
eleven and one of that season. The countess
whispered to me in q corner that had better
get home my own clothes were in the dress
ing room, and the footman would show me
out that was after good many ladies and
gentlemen had taken an almost affectionae
leave of me- / went up accordingly, redress
ed was shown out at the back gate, found my
way to the lane, got in by the broken conserv.
atory, but could not fall asleep till about alf
an hour before the great bell summoned us all
10 our places OF business made up for by
sleeping over the desk that day. Our work
was slowly as well as cheerlessly done If
Hardstafi observed anything, he made no re-.
mark if he had, / should not have minded II !.
my head was full of the Rozenxi palace the