50 THELlFEOf 



and whenever he came to this, he always threw it 

 alide unfigned. 



Anxious to ferve the gentleman who had fo 

 long waited for it, I procured it to be new 

 drawn out and fomewhat altered in form ; when 

 placing it near the top, I prefented the whole 

 together. The Prince fhuffled them as ufual, 

 but not expedling to fee his old friend with a 

 new face, and it happening to fall into his hands, 

 he figned it without difcovering what he had 

 done; nor was he difpleafed when I told him 

 (which I did fome time after) how he had been 

 tricked. 



- I was likewife treated with much diftinclion 

 by the Emprefs, from whom I received many 

 prefcnts; one in particular I mention, not from 

 its value, but becaufe it does away every idea of 

 my having left Ruflla in difgrace ; fhe gave me, 

 for fome little fervices I had rendered, a prefent 

 of i;oo ducats of Holland in fpecie, a very few 

 days before my departure. The court of the 

 Emprefs was very fplendid, but fhe was herfelf 

 a wonder of regularity and exertion. Every morn- 

 ing at five her Secretary (Befborodko) attended 

 her, at fix the intendant general of police and 

 Giihers had their audience and received their 

 orders. She dined precifely at twelve, and every 

 evening at nine there was a fupper for the party 

 at court. The Emprefs amufed herfelf with 



walking 



