on all sides, I was carried on by the crowd, in spite of all opposition, when suddenly another rush of the multitude threw into my arms a young and beautiful lady—that lady was Liesli! I uttered an exclamation of joy and surprise, which, however, no sooner escaped me, than a second rush separated us again! Maddened and desperate, I threw off the market-woman, turned over the Finlander, kicked down the Droschki driver, and upsetting the whole group, with the little chambermaid to boot, most strenuously endeavoured to free myself from their fangs, and to dash forward and regain hold of Liesli; but in vain! They clung to me like bees, and instead of herself, I succeeded only in gaining—her shawl! I called out Liesli! Liesli! but my voice was completely lost amongst the multitude, the charming apparation had vanished from my sight! My way was in fact so completely obstructed by the crowds of Kalmucks, Wogulians, Barabinzelians, Tunguselians and Tschetschewzelians, that nothing further could be heard or seen—and I thanked heaven that I had been so happy as to catch even the shawl.
A Kalmuck, standing near me, and who had seen how I had effected this seizure, how much trouble and exertion the attaining of this prize from amidst the crowd had cost me, secretly gave a knowing wink and grinned at me, as if to testify his approbation, and to applaud the address I had shewn. At this moment, also, pressing his way through the immense legions of the various semi-barbarous tribes and nations under Russian domination, appeared a supple Frenchman, who gave me to understand, pretty intelligibly, his inclination to purchase the rag, if I would part with it at a moderate price; as I, however, pretended not to hear or understand his debasing offer, the crafty knave mumbled between his teeth as he left me, about the police being very near at hand, and that they would soon know how to deal with those polite people who spared the ladies the trouble of carrying home their shawls. This hint, however, I did not allow escape me without profiting by it, for, indeed, what had I further
