"You?" replied the courier.

"I mean my master," returned McShane, correcting himself; "for he's an
officer, and a good one, too."

"Yes, that may be; but you said yourself," replied the courier,
laughing. "My good friend, a valet to any one in Petersburg is no
better than one of the mujiks who work in the streets. Well, I know
that our master is an officer, and of high rank; as for his political
opinions, I have never heard him express any, except his admiration of
the city, and of course of the emperor."

"Most decidedly; and of the empress also," replied McShane.

"That is not at all necessary," continued Dimitri, laughing. "In fact,
he has no business to admire the empress."

"But he admires the government and the laws," said McShane; "and you may
add, my good fellow--the army and the navy--by the powers, he's all
admiration, all over!--you may take my word for it."

"Well, I will do so; but then there is one other question to reply to,
which is, why did he come here? what is his business?"

"To look about him, to be sure; to spend his money like a gentleman; to
give his letters of introduction; and to amuse himself," replied
McShane. "But this is dry talking, so, Dimitri, order a bottle of
champagne, and then we'll wet our whistle before we go on."

"Champagne! will your master stand that?" inquired Dimitri.

"Stand it? to be sure, and he'd be very angry if he thought I did not
make myself comfortable. Tell them to put it down in the bill for me;
if they doubt the propriety, let them ask my master."

Dimitri went and ordered the champagne. As soon as they had a glass,
Dimitri observed, "Your master is a fine liberal fellow, and I would
serve him to the last day of my life; but you see that the reasons you
give for your master being here are the same as are given by everybody
else, whether they come as spies or secret emissaries, or to foment
insurrection; that answer, therefore, is considered as no answer at all
by the police (although very often a true one), and they will try to
find out whether it is so or not."

"What other cause can a gentleman like him have for coming here? He is
not going to dirty his hands with speculation, information, or any other
botheration," replied McShane, tossing off his glass.

"I don't say so; but his having letters from the king's brother will be
considered suspicious."

"The devil it will. Now in our country that would only create a
suspicion that he was