Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/109

Rh Potemkin exercised over Catherine's mind, proved to be more powerful than the passion of his mistress, and Zoritz was banished for ever to his estates, where, enjoying plenty, and giving himself up to debauchery and luxury, he pants after his lost favours; and though the Empress has twenty times since changed her lovers, he always flatters himself that his turn will yet come, and this idea torments, and, at the same time, supports his sinking existence.

It happened by chance that Korsakow, Zoritz's successor, who, like him, was dismissed at the end of a year, received confiscated estates close by those of his companion in gallantry. It was natural that, being both monuments of the vicissitudes of love, they should live in the greatest intimacy. Zoritz, evading often the watchful eye of his attendants, escapes to Korsakow's house, who lives more retired, and there, shut up, tête à tête, with a bowl of punch before them, they spend nights in slandering the present favourites, talking of their past