ularity, expressed at once a gentleness and a
nobility difficult to describe; a long white beard, falling below the
chest, added to the venerable appearance of his magnificent head. His
dress was simple and dignified. He wore a long white robe, divided in
front, from top to bottom, by a broad strip of black material, which
made the whiteness of his beard stand out admirably. His walk, his
gestures, his glance,--everything about him commanded respect from the
very first. The great archimandrite was a superior man. He had a
profound mind and great learning, and spoke several languages;
besides, by reason of his virtues and kindness he was cherished by all
who knew him. His grave vocation never prevented him from being
affable and gracious toward high society. One of the Princesses
Galitzin, who was very beautiful, seeing him in a garden one day, ran
to throw herself on her knees before him. The old man at once picked a
rose and gave it to her, accompanying it with his blessing. One of my
regrets on leaving St. Petersburg was my not having done the
archimandrite's portrait, for I believe no painter could ever meet
with a finer model.

CHAPTER XI

FAMILY AFFAIRS

PONIATOWSKI, LAST KING OF POLAND -- HIS AMIABLE CHARACTER -- THE
AUTHORESS'S FACULTY OF PRESAGING DEATH -- PONIATOWSKI, THE NEPHEW
-- MME. LEBRUN RECEIVED AS A MEMBER OF THE ST. PETERSBURG ACADEMY
-- HER DAUGHTER'S UNTOWARD MARRIAGE -- RESULTING IN ESTRANGEMENT
BETWEEN MOTHER AND CHILD.

I will now speak of a man I frequently saw for whom I entertained a
lively friendship, and who, after wearing a crown, was then living in
St. Petersburg as a private gentleman. This was Stanislaus Augustus
Poniatowski, Poland's last king. In my early youth I had heard this
prince, who had not then ascended the throne, talked of by people in
the habit of meeting him at Mme. Geoffrin's, where he often went to
dinner. All his companions of that date praised his amiability and his
good looks. For his good or his harm--it is difficult to decide
which--he made a journey to St. Petersburg. Catherine II. showed him
every distinction, and helped him with all her might to become King of
Poland. Poniatowski was crowned in September of the year 1764. But
this same Catherine destroyed her own work and overthrew the monarch
she had so heartily helped. The ruin of Poland once determined, Replin
and Stachelberg, the Russian envoys, became the actual rulers of