A man of some
consequence, I should think."

Among the passengers were some merchants from the north, who had never
before been at Moscow. They had for some time been putting their heads
out of the windows, and as they caught sight of a few gilt domes and
gaily-coloured roofs, and some convents scattered about, which was all
that was visible of the holy city, they began crossing themselves and
bowing most vigorously. This ceremony lasted till the train rushed into
the station. The luggage was handed out as each person presented his
ticket, and Mr Evergreen found, to his delight, that his hat-box was
safe. A vast number of ishvoshtsticks presented their tickets, and
offered their droskies for hire, and, two being selected, away the whole
party rattled through broadish streets, paved with pebbles, up and down
hill, among gardens, and green-roofed houses, and pink, and yellow, and
grey, and blue walls, till they reached their hotel.

They had been recommended to go to that of Monsieur Chollet, in the
Grand Lubianka, and they had no reason to regret their choice. Nowhere
could a more civil, active, attentive landlord be found. Every language
seemed to flow with the greatest ease from his tongue. He would be
talking to three or four customers in German, and English, and Italian,
addressing his wife in French, and scolding his servants in their native
Russian, answering fifty questions, giving advice, and receiving
accounts, all in one breath. He did all sorts of things better than any
one else. He went to market, came back and cooked the dinner, mixed the
salad, and in another instant appeared dressed as if for a ball, and
took his place at the head of the table. His dinners were very good,
somewhat in the German fashion; and his rooms were very comfortable, and
excessively clean for Russia.

As soon as our friends had dressed and breakfasted, they sallied forth
to gain a general view of the city. Evergreen said he thought he ought
to wait for his new acquaintance, who had promised to call; but an
English merchant, who happened to overhear him, assured him that he must
not be delicate on the subject, as the person in question was simply one
of the guards of the train, and that he was employed by the police to
pick up any information he could about passengers.

"Had he thought you a suspicious character, you would certainly have
been honoured by a visit from him," he added.

"Dear me, if I had said anything t