The party arrived at the hotel, where an early dinner was ready for them, after which the Volga partook droskies for the Nijni Novgorod Railroad. The first division, visited the Troitsad Monastery, forty miles distant, the next day. It was founded by St. Sergius, in the fourteenth century. He was the most holy of all the monks, and the monastery is the most sacred shrine. Russian tradition says that he was visited in his cell by the Virgin, attended by the apostles Peter and John. It is a fortress, in fact, and has withstood many sieges. Neither plague nor cholera has ever entered its walls. It includes ten churches, is endowed with immense riches, and at one time held over a hundred thousand serfs. The monks in Russia are called the Black Clergy, to distinguish them from the White Clergy, who are the priests that officiate in the churches. When the wife of one of the latter dies, he must either secularize himself or enter a monastery. The highest officers in the church and the members of the Holy Synod, however, are taken from the monks. The division returned to Moscow in the afternoon and on the following day took the train for St. Petersburg. The second division arrived on the forenoon of the same day, and proceeded to see the sights already described. CHAPTER XIV. DOWN THE VOLGA. A difference of three rubles in the fare does not compensate the traveller for the discomforts of the second-class cars from Moscow to Nijni Novgorod, and Dr. Winstock took first-class tickets for his little party; indeed, it does not pay to go there at all, except during the great fair. The cars were very good, in one of which was the innovation of a door connecting two compartments, and our party took possession of it, though one gentleman had already seated himself there. He was very polite, and spoke French, so that the doctor was not at all anxious to get rid of him. The train started. The landscape was about the same as on the road from St. Petersburg; consequently there was little to be seen from the windows. The train was late, and did not arrive at its destination till nine o'clock in the morning. Most of the students, by doubling up on the seats, had slept very well, and were tolerably fresh. They entered the fine brick station, and seated themselves in the restaurant. The Tartar waiters were all attention. "Breakfast--_Déjeûner_--_Frühstück_," said Lincoln who had seated himself with Scott and Bill Bobstay. The waiter smiled blandly, and shook his head. "_Café_," added the commodore. "_Da_," which is the Russian for "yes." "_Bifstek?_" "_Da._" "Will you have the same, Scott?" added Lincoln. "No; I think not. Please to ask him for mutton chops, boiled eggs, and fried potatoes," replied Scott. "Suppose you ask him yourself," laughed the commodore. "I don't speak any Russian. I'm afraid to learn it; think it would knock my teeth out." "What will you have, Billy?" added Lincoln. "The same that you do."