hero’s house for their heedlessness; he inspected them, and ordered application to be made for extra soldiers, so that the guard might be strengthened. Then he seized not only the dressing-case, but all the documents which could in any way compromise Tchitchikoff. Having made them all up into a package together, he sealed it and ordered a soldier to take it to Tchitchikoff, under the pretence that it consisted of indispensable articles for his toilet. Indeed, Tchitchikoff received together with his papers, all the warm clothing which was necessary for covering his delicate body. This change of matters rejoiced him unspeakably. He conceived strong hopes, and he again began to dream of luxuries, of evenings spent at the theatre, and of a ballet-girl whom he was courting. The country and a quiet life began to lose all charms for him; the city and its tumult were more brilliant and seductive. Oh, life!

However, in the meantime, the matter had assumed unheard of proportions in the court and council- chamber. The pens of the scribes laboured away, while the scribes themselves took snuff and admired their flourishing caligraphy. The lawyer, like a hidden magician, guided the entire mechanism: he thoroughly confused them all before any of them had succeeded in looking into the matter. The imbroglios augmented. Samosvistoff also excelled himself in audacity and in incredible daring. On learning where the woman who had been captured was kept under guard, he straightway presented himself there with such a dashing and authoritative air, that the sentry saluted him, and dropped his hand to the seam of his trousers.

“Have you been standing here long?” asked Samosvistoff.

“Ever since the morning, your honour; it will be three hours before I shall be relieved, your honour.”

“I require your services. I shall tell the officer to despatch another man in your place.”

“I obey you, your honour!”

Then proceeding home, in order not to initiate anyone else into the affair, Samosvistoff dressed himself up like a gendarme, completing his disguise with moustache and side-whiskers. The Devil himself would not have recognised him. He then started off for the house where Tchitchikoff was confined, and seizing the first woman whom he encountered, he gave her in charge to two official youngsters, who were also sharp practitioners. Then he presented himself with his moustaches and a gun, as the case required, to the sentinel. “Go!” said he, “the commander has sent me to take your duty.”

While the exchange was effected Samosvistoff took up his stand with his gun. This was all that was required. Meanwhile the woman who had personated the dead aunt had been replaced by another, who neither knew nor remembered anything. The former was then concealed in such a manner that indeed it was never known what had become of her.

At the very time when Samosvistoff was transforming himself into the semblance of a warrior, the lawyer was working wonders in civil circles. The governor was given to understand indirectly that the procurator was preparing a complaint about him; the commandant of the gendarmes was informed that an official who had been living privately in town was writing a denunciation of him; the official who had been living privately was told that there was another and still more mysterious official personage, who was lodging information against him; and all of them were placed in such a position, that they were forced to resort to the lawyer for advice. This was the utter nonsense which resulted: denunciation followed upon denunciation, and such things were on the point of being divulged as no one had ever heard of before, and which, in point of fact, had never had any existence at all. Every sort of device was employed in the work, and brought to bear on the matter: one man was stated to be an illegitimate son, and his birth and name were revealed; another was declared to have a mistress; while the name of a man whom the wife of another was pursuing was also made known.

Scandal, offence, and every sort of element were so intermingled and intertwined with Tchitchikoff’s affair, and his dead souls, that it was utterly impossible to decide in any manner whatever which of these matters was the most nonsensical. When the papers at length began to attack the governor-general, the poor prince could make nothing of them. An exceedingly clever and sensible official to whom the


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