“I am ordered to Petersburg immediately, on a charge of treason.  My conscience tells me that I have done nothing; but, alas! for me, the emperor has no mercy.  Ekaterina,” for that was the name I went by, “will you accompany me?—­it will be a long, and a melancholy journey.  God knows how it may end.”

I immediately consented—­packed up what we required, and without disturbing those who were enjoying themselves, we gained the courtyard, and took our seats in a britska, in company with the officer.  In four days we arrived at Petersburg, and my mistress was separated from me and thrown into prison.  She never saw her accusers or her judges; her memorial to the emperor was disregarded, and she was condemned—­but her punishment was not immediately decided upon.

For three weeks my mistress remained in prison.  I was, by the humanity of the officer, who had the charge of her, allowed to visit her for a few minutes every day; but it was always in the presence of a third person.  One morning when I came, the poor lady fell upon my neck and sobbed a long while without speaking; the countenance of the officer was also melancholy to a degree, and I perceived that a tear occasionally trickled down his manly cheek.

“Ekaterina,” said she, at last, “I have heard my sentence, and am to be punished to-morrow.  O God! forgive them their cruelty and injustice;” and she sank from my arms upon the floor of the dungeon.

We raised her, and she recovered a little.  “Yes, Ekaterina, I am to be punished to-morrow for a crime of which I am innocent—­a punishment—­God have mercy!—­worse than death.  The knout—­the knout—­and that attended with public exposure in the market-place.  May God forgive the emperor his cruelty!”

I had heard of this dreadful punishment, but little thought that women suffered by it.  It was too barbarous.

* * * * *

“I have not heard of it,” said the pacha.  “Tell me, old woman, is it worse than the bastinado?”

“Yes, your highness.  It is a whip of enormous power, so that if the executioner has a private order, he can kill the party on whom it is inflicted by two or three blows; but your highness will better comprehend the nature of the punishment when I describe what I witnessed.”

My dear mistress begged me, as a favour, that I would attend her to the place of execution, and I consented.  Poor creature! she, as well as I, had but an imperfect idea of what she was to endure.  The punishment was to take place in the great square, and the troops were out, and a large concourse of people were assembled.  She appeared on the raised platform upon which she was to suffer, in a genteel undress, which contributed still more to heighten her extreme beauty.  The sweetness of her countenance obtained for her the commiseration of those who were ordered and accustomed to execute the will of the despotic and cruel emperor.  Young, lively, and admired, sought for, and caressed