Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

S0UVEX1RS OF VERSAILLES.137

On entering the spacious and brilliant saloon, where the governor, his lady, and their numerous family awaited me, I could have imagined myself in London, or rather in Petersburg, for the lady of the house was ensconced, à la russe, in the little cabinet enclosed by gilded trellis, and raised a few steps, which occupied a corner of the saloon, and which is called the a¡tane. The governor received me with politeness, and led me across the saloon, past several male and female relatives who had met there, into the verdant cabinet, where I found his wife.

Scarcely had she invited me to sit down in this sanctuary than she thus addressed me: " Monsieur de Custine, does Elzéar still write fables ?"

My unele, Count Elzéar de Sabran, had been from his boyhood celebrated in the society of Versailles for his poetical talent, and he would have been equally so in public society if his friends and relations could have persuaded him to publish his collections of fables — a species of poetical code, enlarged by time and experience; for every circumstance of his life, every public and private event, has inspired him with one of these apologues, always ingenious, and often profound, and to which an elegant and easy versification, an original and piquant turn of expression, impart a peculiar charm. The recollection of this was far from my thoughts when I entered the house of the governor of Yaroslaf, for my mind was occupied with the hope, too rarely satisfied, of finding real Russians in Russia.

I replied to the lady of the governor by a smile of astonishment, which silently said ■— explain to me this mystery. The explanation was soon given. " I was brought up," continued the lady, " by a