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The palace, as the peasant called it, was lighted by two tallow candles The walls were hung with gold paper But every thing else, the benches, the table, the basin hung up by a cord, the towel on a nail in the wall, the shelf laden with earthen vessels, were exactly the sa his scarlet cafetan and high Cossack cap, with his hand on his hip, sat beneath the sacred pictures common to every Russian abode Around him stood several of his chiefs I could see that the arrival of an officer fro had awakened some curiosity, and that they had prepared to receive nized ravity disappeared

"Ah! it is your lordship! how are you? What brings you here?"

I replied that I was traveling about my private business, when his people arrested me

"What business?" asked he I did not knohat to answer Pougatcheff thinking that I would not speak before witnesses gave a sign to his comrades to leave All obeyed except two "Speak before these," said he; "conceal nothing frolanced at these intimates of the usurper One was an oldbut a blue riband crossed over his coarse gray cloth cafetan; but I shall never forget his companion He was tall, of powerful build, and seeray eyes, a nose without nostrils, ave to his broad face, pitted by shis robe, and wide Cossack pantaloons Although wholly pre- occupied by atcheff recalled ht you froested itself toaveon the step, I replied: "I aorsk to liberate an oppressed orphan there"

Pougatcheff's eyes flashed "Who dares to oppress an orphan? Were he seven feet high, he shall not escape uilty one?"

"Alexis; he holds in slavery that sairl whom you saw at Father Garasiive Alexis a lesson! I'll teach hi him"

"Permit me a word," said thethe co the one of them on the first accusation"