صفحة 146 من 788

Hence the Count admits with regret that civilisation is on a

higher plane among the Muscovites, for there they have ukases of

the Tsar on hunting, and police supervision, and punishment for

offenders."

"As I love my mother," said Telimena, turning to the left-hand

room and fanning her shoulders with a small batiste handkerchief;

"the Count is not mistaken; I know Russia well. You people would

not believe me when I used to tell you in how many respects the

watchfulness and strictness of that government are worthy of

praise, I have been in St. Petersburg more than once or twice!

Tender memories I charming images of the past! What a city! Have

none of you been in St. Petersburg? Perhaps you would like to see

a map of it; I have a map of the city in my desk. In summer St.

Petersburg society usually lives in dachas, that is, in rural

palaces (dacha means cottage). I lived in a little palace, just

above the river Neva, not too near the city, and not too far from

it, on a small artificial hill. Ah, what a cottage that was! I

still have the plan in my desk. Now to my misfortune a certain

petty official, who was serving on an inquest, hired a house near

by.