568 A Passage in the Life
beginning to despair of meeting him whom I came to seek, when the ave- nue I had just entered was crossed by an officer in undress uniform, who salu- ted me and continued his promenade. I asked a gardener's boy at work near me, who that very polite officer was. " The Emperor," answered he.
I immediately darted down an alley which I calculated would traverse the path Alexander was following. I had scarcely gone a hundred yards, before I found myself so near his majesty that I paused in some alarm. The Emperor halted for an instant ; then seeing that respect prevented me from approaching him, he advanced towards me, and I awaited his coming, stand- ing uncovered on the side of the foot- path. The Emperor limped slightly, owing to the re- opening of an acciden- tal wound in the leg, received in one of his journeys to the banks of the Don. As he slowly advanced, I had leisure to ob- serve the great change which had taken place in his appearance since I had seen him in Paris. His countenance, formerly so open and cheerful, had now a sickly and mournful expression, and he was evidently a prey to the deepest melancholy. Notwithstanding this, his looks were so benevolent that I felt re-assured, and as he passed near me, I ventured to address him.
"Sire!"
" Put on your hat, sir," replied he. " It is too cold to remain bare- headed."
Seeing that I hesitated, from re- spect, to obey him, he seized my hat, clapped it on my head, holding my arm the while to prevent my taking it off again. When he found that I made no further resistance, he said
te Well, sir, what have you to say tome?"
Sire this supplication," and I drew the petition from my pocket. The Emperor's countenance fell.
of a Maitre-d' Armes. [Nov.
" Are you aware, sir," said he, " you who pursue me even here, that I absent myself from Sfc Petersburg to avoid petitions and petitioners ?"
" I know it, sire ; but my petition has perhaps, more than most others, a claim on your majesty's gracious con- sideration. It is countersigned by your majesty's august brother by his im- perial highness the Grand-duke Con- stantine."
<* Ah, ha!" exclaimed the Em- peror, holding out his hand, but im- mediately withdrawing it.
" So that I ventured to hope," I continued, "that your majesty would, in this instance, deign to deviate from the rule established."
" No, sir," replied the Emperor quickly. No, sir, I will not take it, because if I did, I should to- morrow be pestered with a thousand such papers ; and I should be compelled to abandon these gardens, where at present I find solitude and quiet. But," added he, observing my disap- pointment at this refusal, and extend- ing his hand in the direction of the city, " put your petition into the post- office. I shall receive it to-night, and the day after to morrow you will have my answer."
Sire, I know not how to express my gratitude."
" Prove it, then," he replied, " by telling no one that you have present- ed a petition, and escaped punishment. Good-day to you, sir."
With these words, and a gracious but melancholy smile, the Emperor pursued his walk. I did not fail to follow his advice, and put my letter into the post. The Emperor was true to his promise, and two days after wards I received his reply.
It was my commission as fencing master to the imperial corps of enj neers, with the rank of captain.
