Well, perhaps you are, McShane; but still I do not like that I should be spending your money in this way without your having your share of it at least.
My share of itnow, ODonahue, suppose I had come over here on my own account, where should I have been? I could not have mustered up the amiable impudence you did, to persuade the commander-in-chief to give me letters to the ambassador: nor could I have got up such a turn-out, nor have fitted the turn-out so well as you do. I should have been as stupid as an owl, just doing what I have done the whole of the blessed morning for want of your companylooking after one of the floating bridges across the river, and spitting into the stream, just to add my mite to the Baltic Sea.
Im sorry you were not better amused.
I was amused; for I was thinking of the good-humoured face of Mrs McShane, which was much better than being in high company, and forgetting her entirely. Let me alone for amusing myself after my own fashion, ODonahue, and thats all I wish. I suppose you have heard nothing in your travels about your Powlish princess?
Of course not; it will require some tact to bring in her nameI must do it as if by mere accident.
Shall I ask the courier if she is an acquaintance of his?
An acquaintance, McShane?
I dont mean on visiting terms; but if he knows anything about the family, or where they live?
No, McShane, I think you had better not; we do not know much of him at present. I shall dine at the ambassadors tomorrow, and there will be a large party.
During the day invitations for evening parties were brought in from the Prince Gallitzin and Princess Woronzoff.
The plot thickens fast, as the saying is, observed McShane; youll be certain to meet your fair lady at some of these places.
That is what I trust to do, replied ODonahue; if not, as soon as Im intimate, I shall make inquiries about her; but we must first see how the land lies.
ODonahue dined at the ambassadors, and went to the other parties, but did not meet with the object of his search. Being a good musician, he was much in request in so musical a society as that of Saint Petersburg. The emperor was still at his country palace, and ODonahue had been more than a fortnight at the capital without there being an opportunity for the ambassador to present him at court.
Dimitri, the person whom ODonahue engaged as courier, was a very clever, intelligent fellow; and as he found that ODonahue had all the liberality of an Irishman, and was in every respect a most indulgent master, he soon had his interest at heart. Perhaps the more peculiar intimacy between ODonahue and McShane, as a valet, assisted Dimitri in forming a good opinion of the former, as the hauteur and distance generally preserved by the English towards their domestics are very displeasing to the Continental servants, who, if permitted to be familiar, will not only serve you more faithfully, but be satisfied with more moderate wages. Dimitri spoke English and French pretty well, German and Russian of course perfectly. He was a Russian by birth, had been brought up at the Foundling Hospital, at Moscow, and therefore was not a serf. He soon became intimate with McShane: and as soon as the latter discovered that there was no intention on the part of Dimitri to be dishonest, he was satisfied, and treated him with cordiality.
Tell your master this, said Dimitri, never to give his opinion on political matters before any one while in Petersburg, or he will be reported to the government, and will be looked upon with suspicion. All the servants and couriers here, indeed every third person you meet, is an agent of police.
Then its not at all unlikely that you are one yourself, replied McShane.
I am so, replied Dimitri, coolly, and all the better for your master. I shall be ordered to make my report in a few days, and I shall not fail to do so.
And what will they ask you? said McShane.
They will ask me first who and what your master is? Whether I have discovered from you, if he is of family and importance in his own country? whether he has expressed any political opinions? and whether I have discovered the real business which brought him here?
And what will you reply to all this? answered McShane.
Why, I hardly know. I wish I knew what he wishes me to say, for he is a gentleman whom I am very fond of, and thats the truth; perhaps you can tell me?
Why, yes, I know a good deal about him, thats certain. As for his family, theres not a better in Ireland or England, for hes royal if he had his right.
What! exclaimed Dimitri.
As sure as Im sitting in this old arm-chair, didnt he bring letters from the brother of the present king? does that go for nothing in this country of yours? or do you value men by the length of their beards?
Men are valued here not by their titles, but by their rank as officers. A general is a greater man than a prince, replied Dimitri.
With all my heart, for then Im somebody, replied McShane.
You? replied the courier.
I mean my master, returned McShane, correcting himself; for hes an officer, and a good one, too.
Yes, that may be; but you said yourself, replied the courier, laughing. My good friend, a valet to any one in Petersburg is no better than one of the mujiks who work in the streets. Well, I know that our master is an officer, and of high rank; as for his political opinions, I have never heard him express any, except his admiration of the city, and of course of the emperor.
Most decidedly; and of the empress also, replied McShane.
That is not at all necessary, continued Dimitri, laughing. In fact, he has no business to admire the empress.
But he admires the government and the laws, said McShane; and you may add, my good fellowthe army and the navyby the powers, hes all admiration, all over!you may take my word for it.
Well, I will do so; but then there is one other question to reply to, which is, why did he come here? what is his business?
To look about him, to be sure; to spend his money like a gentleman; to give his letters of introduction; and to amuse himself, replied McShane. But this is dry talking, so, Dimitri, order a bottle of champagne, and then well wet our whistle before we go on.
Champagne! will your master stand that? inquired Dimitri.
Stand it? to be sure, and hed be very angry if he thought I did not make myself comfortable. Tell them to put it down in the bill for me; if they doubt the propriety, let them ask my master.
Dimitri went and ordered the champagne. As soon as they had a glass, Dimitri observed, Your master is a fine liberal fellow, and I would serve him to the last day of my life; but you see that the reasons you give for your master being here are the same as are given by everybody else, whether they come as spies or secret emissaries, or to foment insurrection; that answer, therefore, is considered as no answer at all by the police (although very often a true one), and they will try to find out whether it is so or not.
What other cause can a gentleman like him have for coming here? He is not going to dirty his hands with speculation, information, or any other botheration, replied McShane, tossing off his glass.
I dont say so; but his having letters from the kings brother will be considered suspicious.
The devil it will. Now in our country that would only create a suspicion that he was a real gentlemanthats all.
What other cause can a gentleman like him have for coming here? He is not going to dirty his hands with speculation, information, or any other botheration, replied McShane, tossing off his glass.
I dont say so; but his having letters from the kings brother will be considered suspicious.
The devil it will. Now in our country that would only create a suspicion that he was a real gentlemanthats all.
You dont understand this country, replied Dimitri.
No, it beats my comprehension entirely, and thats a fact; so fill up your glass. I hope its not treason; but if it is, I cant help saying it. My good friend Dimitri
Stop, said Dimitri, rising and shutting the door, now, what is it?
Why, just this; I havent seen one good-looking woman since Ive been in this good-looking town of yours; now, thats the truth.
Theres more truth than treason in that, replied the courier; but still there are some beautiful women among the higher classes.
Its to be hoped so; for theyve left no beauty for the lower, at all events.
We have very beautiful women in Poland, said the courier.
Why dont you bring a few here, then?
There are a great many Polish ladies in Petersburg at this moment.
Then go down and order another bottle, said McShane, and well drink their healths.
The second bottle was finished, and McShane, who had been drinking before, became less cautious.
You said, observed he, that you have many Polish ladies in Petersburg; did you ever hear of a Princess Czartowinky?I think thats the name.
Czartorinski, you mean, replied Dimitri; to be sure I did; I served in the family some years ago, when the old prince was alive. But where did you see her?
In England, to be sure.
Well, thats probable, for she has just returned from travelling with her uncle.
Is she now in Petersburg, my good fellow?
I believe she isbut why do wish to know?
Merely askedthats all.
Now, Macshanovich,for such was the familiar way in which Dimitri addressed his supposed brother-servantI suspect this Princess Czartorinski is some way connected with your masters coming here. Tell me the truthis such the case? Im sure it is.
Then you know more than I do, replied McShane, correcting himself, for Im not exactly in my masters secrets; all that I do know is, that my master met her in England, and I thought her very handsome.
And so did he?
Thats as may be; between ourselves, Ive an idea he was a little smitten in that quarter; but thats only my own opinion, nothing more.
Has he ever spoken about her since you were here? said Dimitri.
Just once, as I handed his waistcoat to him; he saidI wonder if all the ladies are as handsome as that Polish princess that we met in Cumberland?
If I thought he wished it, or cared for her, I would make inquiry, and soon find out all about her; but otherwise, its no use taking the trouble, replied the courier.
Well, then, will you give me your hand, and promise to serve faithfully, if I tell you all I know about the matter?
By the blessed Saint Nicholas, I do! replied Dimitri; you may trust me.
Well, then, its my opinion that my masters over head and ears in love with her, and has come here for no other purpose.
Well, Im glad you told me that; it will satisfy the police.
The police; why murder and Irish! youre not going to inform the police, you villain?
Not with whom he is in love, most certainly, but that he has come here on that account; it will satisfy them, for they have no fear of a man thats in love, and he will not be watched. Depend upon it, I cannot do a better thing to serve our master.
Well, then, perhaps you are right. I dont like this champagneget a bottle of Burgundy, Dimitri. Dont look so hardits all right. The captain dines out every day, and has ordered me to drink for the honour of the house.
Hes a capital master, replied Dimitri, who had begun to feel the effects of the former bottles.
As soon as the third bottle was tapped, McShane continued
Now, Dimitri, Ive given my opinion, and I can tell you, if my master has, as I suspect, come here about this young lady, and succeeds in obtaining her, it will be a blessed thing for you and me; for hes as generous as the day, and has plenty of money. Do you know who she is?
To be sure I do; she is an only daughter of the late Prince Czartorinski, and now a sort of ward under the protection of the Emperor. She inherits all the estates, except one which was left to found an hospital at Warsaw, and is a rich heiress. It is supposed the emperor will bestow her upon one of his generals. She is at the palace, and a maid of honour to the empress.
Whew! whistled McShane; wont there be a difficulty.
I should think so, replied the courier, gravely.
He must run away with her, said McShane, after a pause.
How will he get to see her?
He will not see her, so as to speak with her, in the palace; that is not the custom here; but he might meet her elsewhere.
To be sure, at a party or a ball, said McShane.
No, that would not do; ladies and gentlemen keep very apart here in general company. He might say a word or two when dancing, but that is all.
But how is he to meet her, when, in this cursed place of yours, if men and women keep at arms length?
That must depend upon her. Tell me, does she love him?
Well, now, thats a home question: she never told him she did, and she never told me, thats certain; but still Ive an idea that she does.
Then all I can say, Macshanovich, is, that your master had better be very careful what he is about. Of course, he knows not that you have told me anything; but as soon as he thinks proper to trust me, I then will do my utmost in his service.
You speak like a very rational, sensible, intelligent courier, replied McShane, and so now let us finish the bottle. Heres good luck to Captain ODonahue, alive or dead: and nowplease the fleasIll be asleep in less than ten minutes.
Chapter Fourteen
Going to Court, and CourtingWhen McShane awoke the next morning he tried to recall what had passed between him and Dimitri, and did not feel quite convinced that he had not trusted him too much. I think, said he, it was all upon an if. Yes, sure; if ODonahue was in love, and if she was. Yes, Im sure that it was all upon ifs. However, I must go and tell ODonahue what has taken place.
McShane did so; and ODonahue, after a little thought, replied, Well, I dont know: perhaps its all for the best; for you see I must have trusted somebody, and the difficulty would have been to know whom to trust, for everybody belongs to the police here, I believe: I think, myself, the fellow is honest; at all events, I can make it worth his while to be so.
He would not have told me he belonged to the police if he wished to trap us, replied McShane.
Thats very true, and on the whole I think we could not do better. But we are going on too fast; who knows whether she meant anything by what she said to me when we parted; or, if she did then, whether she may not have altered her mind since?