The Moscow hotels, as a rule, were comparatively modern at the time of our visit, and therefore the "fifty years ago" seemed highly improbable. We learned, however, through a few discreet questions later, that this particular hotel _had_ been in existence so far back as fifty years, and also that rifle competitions had taken place on certain occasions in those far-off days. For the rest I claim nothing. I have truthfully recounted my experience without a word of exaggeration, and have never been able to account for it normally. The explanation given to us is, of course, just worth the paper it was written upon from any _evidential_ point of view. CHAPTER VI--_continued_ SWEDEN AND RUSSIA, 1892 Taking my experiences chronologically, I must now carry my readers back to England, where the autumn of this year found me in London. I had been asked to recommend a house for paying guests, well situated, in the West End of London, and newly started by a lady who had been left a widow with very slender provision. Several kind women had interested themselves in the case, and had wisely suggested thinking out a means of livelihood in the future rather than merely supplying present wants. It would be difficult to imagine a person _less_ suited for the sort of employment chosen; but that is "another story." I never care to recommend anything or anybody of which or of whom I have no personal knowledge; at the same time, I was anxious to help my kindly acquaintance in her philanthropy, and as I had arranged to spend some weeks in London that autumn--to be near an invalid brother--it struck me that I might stay at the house so strongly recommended, instead of taking private rooms as usual. So I journeyed to Sussex Gardens, found a charming house, newly furnished and decorated, and as clean as the proverbial "new pin," and, moreover, a very good-looking mistress of the house, still a youngish woman of five or six and thirty. She spoke most warmly of the kindness she had received from the lady who had given me her address, showed me some pleasant rooms, and the arrangement was quickly completed. I chose a small sitting-room in addition to my bedroom, although, as a matter of fact, this was scarcely necessary, as I was the first guest received. Only one deaf old lady appeared upon the scene during the six weeks I spent there.