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After dinner the usual party asse princess came out to the which I never forgot; even Nirmatsky had limped to see her; Meidanov caht soain, but without the strange pranks, the practical jokes and noise--the gipsy eleave a different tone to the proceedings I sat beside her by virtue of s, she proposed that any one who had to pay a forfeit should tell his dream; but this was not successful The drea (Byelovzorov had dreamed that he fed his mare on carp, and that she had a wooden head), or unnatural and invented Meidanov regaled us with a regular roels with lyres, and talking flowers and music wafted from afar Zinaïda did not let him finish 'If we are to have co made up, and no pretence about it' The first who had to speak was again Byelovzorov

The young hussar was confused 'I can't !' he cried

'What nonsense!' said Zina&iuine, for instance, you are married, and tell us how you would treat your wife Would you lock her up?'

'Yes, I should lock her up'

'And would you stay with her yourself?'

'Yes, I should certainly stay with her ot sick of that, and she deceived you?'

'I should kill her'

'And if she ran away?'

'I should catch her up and kill her all the same'

'Oh And suppose noere your wife, ould you do then?'

Byelovzorov was silent a hed 'I see yours is not a long story'

The next forfeit was Zina&iu and considered 'Well, listen, she began at last, 'what I have thought of Picture to yourselves a ht, and aqueen Everywhere gold and rant scents, every caprice of luxury'

'You love luxury?' Lushin interposed 'Luxury is beautiful,' she retorted; 'I love everything beautiful'

'More than what is noble?' he asked

'That's so clever, I don't understand it Don't interrupt uests, all of the, handsome, and brave, all are frantically in love with the queen'