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2 this time with me. I was to have gone there by steamer early
3 in the morning, but a thick fog hovering in the atmosphere,
4 rendering it impossible to start at the appointed hour, the crew
5 waited for clearer weather. As it did not change, we departed
6 at nine o’clock, but not far from the harbour we ran on a sand
7 bank, and were not able to move any further. Happily there
8 appeared an empty steamer coming up the river from Kronstadt,
9 as if sent by Providence to our rescue. We went on board, and
10 proceeded, after a short delay, to the place of our destination.
11 On the steamer there was a respectably dressed young man, who
12 spoke German, and whose behaviour demonstrated him to be
13 of good breeding. After a conversation, in which he learned
14 that my intention was to stay only that day and one night
15 at Kronstadt, he proposed to me, in a very engaging manner,
16 to take up my quarters in his house, an offer which I heartily
17 accepted. On our arrival at Kronstadt, I accompanied him
18 home ; but the first sight of his rooms produced in me a very
19 repugnant sensation ; for everything in his abode indicated dis-
20 order and uncleanliness. My displeasure increased still more,
21 when, after a short stay in his hospitable abode, he declared to
22 me that he was ruined, having just lost in three days all his for-
23 tune by card-playing at Petersburgh. We had not finished our
24 conversation, which took place close to the window that looked
25 into the yard, when on a sudden the gate opened, and a troop of
26 chimney-sweepers rushed in, whom my host informed me were
27 his own servants. I looked for an excuse to leave as soon as
28 possible the house of the chimney-sweeper ; and afterwards I
29 was informed that this profession is a very lucrative one in
30 Russia, and that those who follow it are generally rich and
31 respectable men.
32 Of what further occurred to me after my return to St. Peters-
33 burgh, I have nothing to relate, for I left the capital immediately
34 after my arrival there, and set off for Moscow. The arrange-
35 ment of my affairs having now been completed, I felt no stronger
36 desire than that of again seeing my native country. It was in
37 the winter season, and the ground was covered with snow, when