7S THIRTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 



hours. After having left the police-office, I waited on 

 some of my German friends, who pressed me to leave Nishni- 

 Nowgorod as soon as possible, as a rumour was current 

 that the emperor had arrived at Moscow, and that post- 

 horses had already been ordered to bring him to Nowgorod ; 

 so that the greatest danger menaced me, namely, being 

 shut up in a dungeon, to prevent my making complaints 

 to the monarch. These friends accompanied me to my 

 hotel ; but how great was our astonishment on seeing the 

 door of my room open, and a part of my effects stolen f 

 But that astonishment reached its height when, on going 

 into the stable to speak to the groom, we found hira 

 absent, and the horse bleeding, and on a closer ex- 

 amination, saw that the tendons of his legs had been cut 

 across. It was quite natural that the suspicion of the 

 theft and mutilation of the horse could only fall on the 

 absent groom, and as his immediate capture was impossible, 

 I was obliged to arrest the Bokharian merchant who was 

 security for him. I addressed myself to the police-officer, 

 who was instructed by my friends, and who came in 

 person to make an inspection at the hotel. After the 

 imprisonment of the Bokharian, the groom, who had 

 escaped, came of himself to take the place of the captive. 

 It being impossible now to take the horse with me, I sold 

 him for a mere trifle to one of my friends, an Englishman, 

 Mr. Strubing, who bought him for a sire, and who was so 

 kind as to take upon himself to manage my affairs, for which 

 I gave him full power, and a document was drawn on 

 stamped paper, in the presence of the official authorities. 

 Soon after my arrival at Moscow, I received a letter 

 from Mr. Strubing, informing me that my groom had been 

 released immediately after my departure, without any 

 further process. The merchant, M. Lomoff, with whom 

 I transacted the business of the sable skins at Nowgorod, 

 having been a citizen resident at Moscow, I thought it but 

 right to lay the case before his Excellency Prince Galitzin, 

 Governor of Moscow. But great was my astonishment at 

 my uafricadly reception by the Friace, who said be bad 



