Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/228

200 at their head marching to church. My trusty guard Makar afterwards glided into my room, and told me in a subdued and trembling voice: “The officer forbade us to speak under the penalty of an hour's flogging; do not betray me then; the Empress is dead,” and went out. I immediately began to hum the Psalm de profundis, and informed Kapostas, to whom I had already communicated the first reports, that there was no doubt the news was true. Bonneau and Kilinski learnt it also, the information being communicated, as usual, through the medium of the commodités.

Eight days had already elapsed, and my confidants were bringing me from all parts intelligence of great changes which the new Sovereign was making in the administration, but as to our fate nothing as yet transpired. Although I well knew that a Prince, who had waited for thirty years the time of his accession to the throne, had to think about much more important things than the release of poor prisoners, I did not fail, however, to feel rather uneasy.