I will send this off by to-morrow's courier. My next letter will be from Petersburg. My little boudoir still looks very nice. The little Russian maid is rather sad, and has been in and out 20 times, lighting candles, opening and shutting doors and windows, and keeping up a stream of conversation which I can't possibly understand, though the maids say they do. W. is deep in last despatches, and has departed to his own quarters. I haven't learnt any Russian, which I think is rather weak on my part. I thought I would have some lessons at first, but I don't think I could have learnt much in two weeks. Lagrene was discouraging--says he knows very little, and his mother is a Russian. _To H. L. K._ #Hotel Demouth, Petersburg#, Jeudi, 14 Juin, 1883. We arrived here last night at 12.30. The journey was comfortable enough, but long--the Russian trains do not go a terrifying pace. We left Moscow at 9.30, and the Maison Klein a little before 9. The depart was quite imposing--all the personnel drawn up at the foot of the stairs, Lhermite and the three coachmen outside at the door, and a regiment of understrappers of all kinds. The little Russian maid was weeping and kissing my skirts. The faithful Benckendorff accompanied us to the station and saw us safely deposited in our wagon-salon--each Ambassador had one and a smaller one for the suite. Two Chamberlains, not attired in velvet and gold lace this time,--I felt rather aggrieved at having ordinary mortals in plain clothes to look after us--were waiting at the station to see that everything was well done, and they went with us to Petersburg. There was a Mongole at the door of our wagon who appeared at intervals with tea, oranges, and much information of all kinds (in Russian). We had all our meals en route--breakfast at 11, dinner at 4.30, a nondescript sort of meal, half gouter, half supper, with cold fish, fowl, mayonnaise, etc., at 8--and a very pretty little tea at 10.30. We all partook of every meal--how we managed to eat chicken and mayonnaise at 8, having dined at 4.30, seems a mystery, but we did. It was very hot at starting--the sun pouring down on the plains that are around Moscow--not an atom of shade, but there was a sharp shower about 2 which cooled the air. They tell us Petersburg too is very hot. The day passed quickly enough. Many of our colleagues came and paid us visits. The Nuncio sat a long time. He is most interesting, with that delightful, simple, easy Italian manner. He asked us a great deal about the religious ceremony the day of the Coronation. He had only arrived after that. He is very clever and sympathetic, ready to talk about anything, and so moderate in his views. I think he would have a great success in Paris, where people love to discuss and analyze everything.