ersburg, as it stands on its millions of wooden piles, the
liquid, rapidly-flowing Neva, the moving, living crowd of uniform-clad
inhabitants--men, women, and children, coaches, droskies, and horses,
infantry and cavalry, Cossacks of the Don on their ragged ponies, and
skeleton-looking guards with their glittering halberds at every corner.
Those at home may gain a fair notion of the scene from Burford's
Panorama, but they will soon forget it, while we shall remember it all
our lives: there is nothing like the reality to impress it on our
minds." So said Cousin Giles as our friends began to descend into the
world below.

"We must now visit some of these places in detail," said Cousin Giles as
they stood in the square outside the Admiralty gates. "Where shall we
go first?"

"To the big new church!" exclaimed Harry. "I want to see if it is as
fine inside as it is out."

To the Isaac Church accordingly they steered their course. On their way
they encountered a party of British naval officers, whose ship was lying
at Cronstadt. Several of them were well-known to Cousin Giles, and they
gladly accepted his invitation to visit the church. When, however, they
got to the gate in the wooden paling which still surrounded it, the
porter signified to them that without a ticket they could not be
admitted. Even a silver rouble could not soften him. He looked at it
wistfully, but for some reason was afraid of accepting the bribe. Just
as they were going away in despair, a tall, gentleman-like officer
stepped through the gateway. He looked at them for an instant, and then
inquired in French what they wanted. Cousin Giles explained.

"Oh, I will soon arrange that, I doubt not," he replied, returning into
the enclosure. He quickly came back, and begged them to enter. "After
you have seen the church, if you will come to the Hermitage, I will be
there, and shall have great pleasure in showing you over it."

Cousin Giles and the commander of the English ship and the other
officers bowed and thanked him, and accepted his offer. He then left
them, and they mounted the long flight of steps which leads up to the
southern portico. It must be understood that there are three similar
porticoes, with lofty granite columns, constituting the chief beauty of
the exterior of the building. The roof is supported by massive columns:
they, and every part of the walls, are covered with the richest marbles
of every colour, highly polished.