's hand, and again and again kissed it; begged
to present her Ladies,--"about four hundred so-called Ladies, who
were of her Suite."--Surely not so many as four hundred, you too witty
Princess? "Mere German serving-maids for the most part," says the witty
Princess; "Ladies when there is occasion, then acting as chambermaids,
cooks, washerwomen, when that is over."

Queen Sophie was averse to salute these creatures; but the Czarina
Catherine making reprisals upon our Margravines, and the King looking
painfully earnest in it, she prevailed upon herself. Was there ever seen
such a travelling tagraggery of a Sovereign Court before? "Several of
these creatures [PRESQUE TOUTES, says the exaggerative Princess] had,
in their arms, a baby in rich dress; and if you asked, 'Is that yours,
then?' they answered, making salaams in Russian style, 'The Czar did me
the honor (_m'a fait l'honneur de me faire cet enfant_ )!'"--

Which statement, if we deduct the due 25 per cent, is probably not
mythic, after all. A day or two ago, the Czar had been at Magdeburg, on
his way hither, intent upon inspecting matters there; and the Official
Gentlemen,--President Cocceji (afterwards a very celebrated man) at the
head of them,--waited on the Czar, to do what was needful. On entering,
with the proper Address or complimentary Harangue, they found his
Czarish Majesty "standing between two Russian Ladies," clearly Ladies of
the above sort; for they stood close by him, one of his arms was round
the neck of each, and his hands amused themselves by taking liberties in
that posture, all the time Cocceji spoke. Nay, even this was as nothing
among the Magdeburg phenomena. Next day, for instance, there appeared in
the audience-chamber a certain Serene high-pacing Duke of Mecklenburg,
with his Duchess;--thrice-unfortunate Duke, of whom we shall too often
hear again; who, after some adventures, under Charles XII. first of
all, and then under the enemies of Charles, had, about a year ago, after
divorcing his first Wife, married a Niece of Peter's:--Duke and Duchess
arrive now, by order or gracious invitation of their Sovereign Uncle, to
accompany him in those parts; and are announced to an eager Czar,
giving audience to his select Magdeburg public. At sight of which
most desirable Duchess and Brother's Daughter, how Peter started up,
satyr-like, clasping her in his arms, and snatching her into an inner
room, with the door left ajar, and there--It is too Samoei