Page:Pushkin - Russian Romance (King, 1875).djvu/244

 prefer it to the tall talk of some employé of the sixth class, travelling on the service of the Crown.

It will be easily guessed that I have some friends amongst this respectable class of men. Indeed, the memory of one of them is precious to me. Circumstances had once brought us together, and it is of him I now intend to speak to my kind readers.

In May, 1816, I happened to be travelling through the government of * * *, on a road which is now in disuse. My rank was insignificant; I changed carriages at every stage, paying post-rates for two horses. Consequently the station-masters did not treat me with any distinction, and I often had to obtain by force what should have been mine by right. Young and impetuous, I used to vent my indignation on the station-masters for their meanness and obsequiousness, when the troika to which I had a right was given up for the carriage of some person of high rank. Equally did it take me some time to get accustomed to being passed over by a discriminating serf at the governor's dinner-table. To-day, both these circumstances appear to me to be in the order of things. Indeed, what would become of us, if the one very convenient maxim, Rank honours rank, were superseded by this other, Intellect honours intellect? What differences of opinion would arise; and who would dependents wait upon first? But to return to my tale.

The day was hot. A few drops of rain fell at three versts from the station, but it soon began to pour, and I got wet through. On arrival, my first care was to change my clothes as quickly as possible, my second to order tea.