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"And, ood omen," said

Joseph "I have placed acommencement, is it not, Sir Count? You must know that

better than any one"

"Indeed yes, I , and

continually stroking his long black beard "By a fair and well-timed

murder one can always make his fortune in Russia A well-timed and

well-executed murder is with us often rewarded with a barony and

the title of count Indeed, sorace Ah, a , only onethe right man An unsuccessfulI would have nothing to do with one, and

never have had any thing to do with one Whatever I have undertaken I

have always boldly and successfully accoood Emperor

Peter III knew that, and consequently trembled when I, with Passeb and

Bariatinsky, entered his cha, it was soon finished Yes, yes, that was a deed done at the right

tirateful to us, and

honoured us above all the illustrious grandees of her eic and horrible events connected with

Catharine's accession to the throne, and of the

strangulation of Peter, in which he took so active a part,