“You have already commenced a system of compulsory education in Germany,” said he; “but when you succeed in establishing a state church, and have a catechism of state religion, then will the new German Empire, like our czar, be able to educate subjects who must obey him blindly.” He now turned again to the children. “Is there a pope in Rome?” The child who was questioned looked at the teacher, who had become as pale as death. “Answer me! Is there a pope in Rome?” repeated the governor. “No; there is only one emperor, who is at the same time the pope of all the Russians,” replied the child. “Schoolmaster, I am satisfied with you,” said Rasumowski approvingly. “You know that the only things which every good Russian must do is to work diligently, to pay taxes punctually, and to blindly obey the emperor. These three things you must impress upon the minds of the children!” The governor was about to leave the schoolroom, when he suddenly stopped, and his face became crimson with anger. He had espied the portrait of the emperor, which hung in a gilt frame on the wall. The glass that covered it was broken, and it was soiled with a few ink-stains. “Schoolmaster, what is this?” exclaimed the governor furiously. “Pardon, your honor!” implored the trembling teacher. “A wicked boy threw his inkstand at the picture.” “And you, miserable wretch that you are, left it thus disfigured upon the wall! Follow me!” The governor, with his guests and the teacher, left the room, and entered an office where the mayor held his sessions. “Schoolmaster!” began the governor, “you deserve to be sent to Siberia, for you Roman Catholics are only fit for the mines. You refuse blind obedience, and deny the right of the emperor to command in church affairs; you are constantly rebelling against the empire, and all of you should, therefore, be sent into exile. For your insolence, however, in leaving the portrait of our holy emperor in this neglected state, you will receive ten blows with the pleti.” He stepped forward to the window, and summoned the Cossack who carried the instrument of torture. “Corporal, give ten heavy strokes with the pleti on this teacher’s back!” The Cossack seized a bench, and motioned the teacher to stretch himself upon it. Von Sempach and Beck, finding it impossible to conceal their indignation, left the room. In going down-stairs, they heard the whizzing sound of the lash and the screams of the poor teacher. “I shall lose my senses,” said Adolph, while waiting at the threshold. “My God! has Alexandra grown up amid such scenes?” The professor was delighted to hear this remark. “It is, indeed, a very demoralizing atmosphere for a woman to breathe,” said he. “Can it be that Alexandra has escaped the contaminating influence of Russian customs? Has _she_ also lost all feeling and the delicacy of her sex? We must find out, if possible.” Rasumowski and Schulze approached.