Year: 1860

| 'aS Ilue uuuS HeaFliy Ou NY uduuS, l
went to court and offered my services to the
Empress. She received me with pleasure,
for Cozain, who was then a colonel, and
one of her favorites, had spoken to her Of
me; and being pleased with my appearance
and address, she appointed me Paul's tutor,
remaining such many years. But at length
she suspected me of conspiring against her,
and I was ordered to return to my estate.
did so and found every body we'll and
happy.


'One morning on inquiring for my sons,
was informed that they had gone to hunt
in neighboring forest, and would not re.
turn till nightfall. Iresolved to join them,
and taking my gun I set out. On reaching
the wood l heard voices and on looking
between the trees I saw Ranel and Thomas
seated on the grass, and engaged in earnest
conversation. Out of mere curiosity lis,
tened, and, to my horror, learned the re
ports of my disloyalty had been spread a.
broad by my sons in the hope that the En-.
press would either send me to Siberia, or
hand me over to the executioner. As this
wicked scheme had failed, they were now
plotting my death. I hurried home, resol,
we'd to fly at once to the Empress and reveal
every thing; but the violence ofmy feelings
brought on fever, which confined me to my
bed and for many days I was iusensibe.-
In my rawlings l cursed my sons, and Gus
tave, who attended me, speedily gathered
from my incoherent words what had hap
pened He was alarmed for my safety, and
resolved to acquaint Paul with my situation
Accordingly he requested Demetrius to take
charge of me; and at uightfall saddled a
horse and rode to the city. One hour af.
ter his departure my wicked sons rushed in
to the room, and despite Demetrius' entreat
les, plunged their daggers into my breast
moment afterward Pietro stabbed the
poor servant. What followed is quickly
told I was lifted up, carried to the cliff
which overooks the Neva, and flung into
the river. 1t was dark as pitch, and fell
beside the boat of fisherman, who, aston,
ished at the sudden splash in the water and
thinking some one had accidentally fallen
off the cliff, caught me ere l sunk, and
dragged me into the boat. Fortunately he
had lantern with him, and discovering
my situation, be staunched my wounds with
his shirt; and knowing that no time was to
be lost, he Immediately rowed across the
river, landing at the very moment second
splash announced the fate of my poor ser.
want. He took US to his hut, bound up my
wounds, and gave me cordial which re.
vived me. As had recovered my senses
just few minutes before my sons entered,
| was we'll aware of what had occurred and
after swearing my preserver to secrecy, |
told him every thing, requesting him when
| finished, to send for a surgeon on whom |
could rely. He did so, and after many
weary months I recovered.


'Gustave, as | afterward learned, on
reaching the city, found that the imperial
family was at Moscow; aud knowing that
nothing could be done he returned On
inquiriug for me, Ranel informed him that
l had been carried away the night before by
a party of men acting under warrant of
the Empress, and that Demetrius, plying
my condition, had accompanied me. The
fellow guessed at once what had happened,
but he never whispered his suspicious to
any one; and as he appeared to be satisfied
with the explanation, he was suffered to re-
main. His intention was to await the EN-.
press return, and then accuse them of the
murder.


'Oue evening about six months after my
supposed death, as he was walking near the
banks of the river, he was met by fisher
man-no other than my preserver and host
who inquired his name, and on hearing
it, told him that if he would accompany him
to his hut, he would learn some news of his
former master. Eagerly he obeyed /
need not relate to you the Joy of our meet
ing, nor the horror he evinced on hearing
the details of the attempted parricide. In
reply to my inquiries, he told me the EN-
press was expected to return every day ;
and asked whether [ intended to punish my
sons for the murder of poor Demetrius-
After much thought l replied in the mega
tive, resolving to leave their fate in the
hands of heaven for wicked though they
were, I still loved them. The following
week the Empress returned, and the very
next day a decree was published, banishing
myself and many others for life This of
course changed whatever plans l had formed
for the future, and at length I resolved to
leave the country for awhile and pursue my
old profession, which I still loved as fond
ly as ever. But could not depart with.
out seeing my former pupil, Paul; and
Gustave, reading my thoughts, got him to
visit me. At his advice took up my resi-
dence in the imperial palace as his secreta-
ry, meeting the Empress nearly every day !;
but the great change in my appearance de-
fed every chance of recognition, for I Was
not only disguised, but my long illness, as
well as the pernicious effects of the drug
which constantly used, would have made
my own mother disown me, had she been
living. 1t was nothing, however, to what
am now, for when I saw Paul three months
since, even he did not know me. So I
boldly met the gaze of my sons whenever l
met them and went so far as to offer them
my services, which they accepted; and l
actually remained with them several months.
When the imperial family went to Vienna,
Paul pressed me to accompany him did