“Because I was so unfortunate as to fail to win the czarina’s favour. However, as I was engaged for a year, she has kindly ordered that my salary of a hundred roubles shall be paid monthly. At the end of the year I shall get my passport and go.” “I am sure the empress thinks she is doing you a favour in paying you for nothing.” “Very likely; but she does not remember that I am forgetting how to act all this time.” “You ought to tell her that.” “I only wish she would give me an audience.” “That is unnecessary. Of course, you have a lover.” “No, I haven’t.” “It’s incredible to me!” “They say the incredible often happens.” “I am very glad to hear it myself.” I took her address, and sent her the following note the next day: “Madam,--I should like to begin an intrigue with you. You have inspired me with feelings that will make me unhappy unless you reciprocate them. I beg to take the liberty of asking myself to sup with you, but please tell me how much it will cost me. I am obliged to leave for Warsaw in the course of a month, and I shall be happy to offer you a place in my travelling carriage. I shall be able to get you a passport. The bearer of this has orders to wait, and I hope your answer will be as plainly worded as my question.” In two hours I received this reply: “Sir,--As I have the knack of putting an end to an intrigue when it has ceased to amuse me, I have no hesitation in accepting your proposal. As to the sentiments with which you say I have inspired you, I will do my best to share them, and to make you happy. Your supper shall be ready, and later on we will settle the price of the dessert. I shall be delighted to accept the place in your carriage if you can obtain my expenses to Paris as well as my passport. And finally, I hope you will find my plain speaking on a match with yours. Good bye, till the evening.” I found my new friend in a comfortable lodging, and we accosted each other as if we had been old acquaintances. “I shall be delighted to travel with you,” said she, “but I don’t think you will be able to get my passport.” “I have no doubt as to my success,” I replied, “if you will present to the empress the petition I shall draft for you.” “I will surely do so,” said she, giving me writing materials. I wrote out the following petition,-- “Your Majesty,--I venture to remind your highness that my enforced idleness is making me forget my art, which I have not yet learnt thoroughly. Your majesty’s generosity is therefore doing me an injury, and your majesty would do me a great benefit in giving me permission to leave St. Petersburg.” “Nothing more than that?” “Not a word.” “You say nothing about the passport, and nothing about the journey-money. I am not a rich woman.” “Do you only present this petition; and, unless I am very much mistaken, you will have, not only your journey-money, but also your year’s salary.” “Oh, that would be too much!”