aid he; "still I will gladly assist and protect him to the
utmost of my power."

When Saveleff heard, through Mr Allwick, the promise which had been
made him, he also shook his head. "I am deeply grateful to the Count,"
said he; "but I have no faith in what my countrymen can do for me."

A few days after this occurrence the whole party set off for Moscow, to
be present at the coronation of the Emperor.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

Letter from Fred Markham to his Mother--Entrance of the Czar into
Moscow--Saveleff presents his Petition--Grand Review of Troops--
Coronation of the Emperor--Fete at the Opera--State Balls--The
Illumination--The People's Feast--The People's Ball--Fireworks--
Character of Russians--Thieving Propensities--Russian's Aptitude for
Commerce--Cucumber-water--Aqueduct of Moscow--Cursing Heretics--
Blessing the Waters--Blessing Fruits--Christening Ceremony--Story of a
Post-office for the Saints--High Mass in a Greek Church--Preparations
for Leaving Moscow--Last News of Saveleff.

"Moscow, _30th September_, 1856.

"Dearest Mother,--We are delighted that we came back to Moscow, for we
have seen some magnificent sights, such as we are not likely to see
again; and, thanks to the Count's kindness, we saw everything to the
best advantage, which I will now try and describe to you as briefly as I
can. The very day we came here the Emperor arrived at his
boiled-crab-like palace of Petrofsky, in front of which his camp of
sixty thousand men is pitched. The 29th of August was fixed for his
entrance into the city. A long, somewhat winding street, with houses of
all heights and sizes, leads from the city gate to the Kremlin. Rows
above rows of benches were placed at every interval between the houses,
as also on their roofs, and in front of them, every bench being covered
with people in their best attire, while the sides of the street were
densely crowded with mujicks, both men and women, in their holiday
suits, the centre part being kept clear by lines of cavalry; gay
carpets, cloths, flags, and banners of every description hung out of all
the windows, adding to the brilliancy of the scene. We got first-rate
seats near the entrance to the Kremlin. The morning was rainy, but in
the forenoon the weather cleared, and ringing of bells and firing of big
guns, and talking and laughing, and hurrying of people to and fro to
their posts, and marching of infantry and cavalry, occupied the time
till