s, which reduced him to a
condition bordering on beggary. His wife unfolded her distressed
circumstances to a Greek, one of her relations, who was Dragoman to the
French embassy, and who, in his turn, related the story to the Marquess
de Vauban, the ambassador. This nobleman became interested for the
unfortunate family, and especially for Sophia, whom the officious
Dragoman described as being likely to fall into the snares that were
laid for her, and to become an inmate of the haram of some Pasha, or
even of a Turk of inferior rank. Prompted by pity, curiosity, or perhaps
by some other motive, the ambassador paid a visit to the distressed
family. He saw Sophia, was charmed by her beauty and intelligence, and
he proposed that her parents should place her under his care, and allow
him to convey her to France. The misery to which the poor people
were reduced, may perhaps palliate the shame of acceding to this
extraordinary proposition; but, be this as it may, they consented
to surrender up their daughter for the sum of 1,500 piastres, and Sophia
was that same day conducted to the ambassador's palace. She found in the
Marquess de Vauban a kind and liberal benefactor. He engaged masters to
instruct her in every branch of education; and elegant accomplishments,
added to her natural charms, rendered her an object of irresistible
attraction.

In the course of a few months the ambassador was called home, and he set
out, accompanied by his Oriental treasure, to travel to France by land.
To diminish as far as possible the fatigue of the long journey, they
proceeded by short stages, and having passed through European Turkey,
they arrived at Kaminieck in Podolia, which is the first fortress
belonging to Russia. Here the Marquess determined to rest for a short
time, before undertaking the remainder of his tedious journey.

Count de Witt, a descendant of the Grand Pensionary of Holland, who was
governor of the place, received his noble visiter with every mark of
attention. The Count, however, no sooner beheld Sophia, than he became
deeply enamoured of her; and on learning the equivocal situation in
which she stood, being neither a slave nor a mistress, but, as it were,
a piece of merchandize purchased for 1,500 piastres, he wound up his
declaration of love by an offer of marriage. The Count was a handsome
man, scarcely thirty years of age, a lieutenant-general in the Russian
service, and enjoying the high favour of his sovereign Cath