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

72ENGLISH NOBILITY.

"I knew that we should agree," replied the prince, with a graceful gravity that is peculiar to him.

Struck witli this easy manner of making acquaintance, I began to examine the countryman of the Prince

К, Prince D, the celebrity of whose name

had already attracted my attention. I beheld a man still young: his complexion wore a leaden hue; a quiet patient expression was visible in his eye ; but his forehead was full, his figure tall, and throughout his person there was a regularity which accorded with the coldness of his manners, and the harmony produced by which was not unpleasing.

Prince К, who never tired of conversation

continued: —

" To prove to you that the English notions of nobility differ from ours, I will relate a little anecdote which will perhaps amuse you.

(í In 1814 I attended the Emperor Alexander on his visit to London. At that time his majesty honoured me with much confidence, which procured for me many marks of kindness on the part of the Prince of Wales, then regent. This prince took me aside one day, and said to me, ¢ I should like to do something that would be agreeable to the emperor. He appears to have a great regard for the physician who accompanies him; could I confer on this person any favour that would please your master?'

" ( You could, sir,' I replied.

" ' What, then, should it be ?'

" < Nobility.'

" On the morrow the doctor was made a knight. The emperor took pains to ascertain the nature of the distinction which thus constituted his physician a