THE COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE. 50 



' There was immediately a scene ; some stormed, some 

 vomited, especially the ladies, calling him a nasty, dirty, old 

 pig. But most^of the guests laughed heartily at the chop- 

 iaflen wag and would-be wit, by whom the shoe had been 



o 



sent. 



'Poor Major did not live long after this to enjoy the 

 sweets of his repose. It turned out that there was a large 

 quantity of gold on the estate; and the late Emperor 

 Nicholas very nobly and generously reconfirmed his 

 brother's gift, and left Major in undisturbed possession, 

 with full liberty to wash the gold. But as it often happens 

 what we think our greatest good proves our greatest evil. 

 So was it now. Maj or very unwisely would persist in keeping 

 his gold in his own cabinet, contrary to law, and despite 

 the expostulations of his friends. The quantity at one 

 time amounted to five poods, worth 100,000 roubles. 



' One Sunday evening while he was reading his Bible in 

 his bed-room, being about to retire to rest, he heard an 

 unaccountable noise in the back passage, and after 

 repeatedly calling out, " Tcho tarn?" [Who's there?], and 

 getting no answer, he took his bed-room candle and went 

 to see what it was ; but as he opened the door he was 

 met by a blow on the head from an axe, which felled him 

 to the ground to rise no more, while the murderous 

 villians made of with their booty the box of gold. It is 

 a satisfaction to know that in a very ingenious aray, which 

 I have not time to describe, the deed was feretted out by 

 a General specially appointed by the Emperor, and 

 an admirer, and a friend of the Major. He re- 

 covered the gold, sold off the estate to the present 

 owners, the Bazanofts. then went to England and divided 

 fairly a handsome fortune amongst all of the relatives* of 

 Major he could find. The actual perpetrator of the deed 

 died under that dreadful infliction the gauntlet. The 

 rest were sent to Siberia in irons for life. They had first 

 killed a faithful old man and an equally faithful woman 

 servant before they could get at Major. It is a somewhat 

 remarkable coincidence that the Bible was found open at 



