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

288ORIGIN OF THE LAVAL FAMILY.

name of Lovel, young and agreeable in person, gained the affections of a very wealthy and high-born maiden. Her family were hostile to the union, on account of the foreigner's possessing neither name nor fortune. The two lovers, reduced to despair, had recourse to a romantic expedient. They stood in wait for the emperor, in some street by which he was to pass, threw themselves at his feet, and besought his protection. Paul, who was good-natured when he was not mad, promised the consent of the family, which he doubtless procured by more than one means, and among others, by this : " Mademoiselle Kaminska shall marry," said the emperor, "M. the Count de Laval, a young French emigre of illustrious family, and the possessor of a considerable fortune."

Thus endowed, the young Frenchman was united to the object of his affections.

To prove the words of the sovereign, M. de Laval caused his escutcheon to be proudly sculptured over the door of his mansion.

Unfortunately, fifteen years afterwards, a M. de Montmorency Laval journeyed into Russia; and seeing, by chance, his arms above a door, he made inquiries, and learnt the history of M. Lovel.

On his representations, the Emperor Alexander caused the escutcheon of the Lavals to be taken down, and the door of M. Lovel remained stripped of its glory; which has not, however, prevented him up to this day from doing the honours of an excellent house in Petersburg, which will be always called the Hotel de Laval, out of respect for the memory of the Emperor Paul, to whom an expiatory veneration is indeed owing.