Page:Thirty-five years in the East.djvu/118

75 hours. After having left the police-office, I waited on some of my German friends, who pressed me to leave Nishni-Nowgorod as soon as possible, as a rumour was current that the emperor had arrived at Moscow, and that post-horses had already been ordered to bring him to Nowgorod; so that the greatest danger menaced me, namely, being shut up in a dungeon, to prevent my making complaints to the monarch. These friends accompanied me to my hotel ; but how great was our astonishment on seeing the door of my room open, and a part of my effects stolen! But that astonishment reached its height when, on going into the stable to speak to the groom, we found him absent, and the horse bleeding, and on a closer examination, saw that the tendons of his legs had been cut across. It was quite natural that the suspicion of the theft and mutilation of the horse could only fall on the absent groom, and as his immediate capture was impossible, I was obliged to arrest the Bokharian merchant who was security for him. I addressed myself to the police-officer, who was instructed by my friends, and who came in person to make an inspection at the hotel. After the imprisonment of the Bokharian, the groom, who had escaped, came of himself to take the place of the captive. It being impossible now to take the horse with me, I sold him for a mere trifle to one of my friends, an Englishman, Mr. Strubing, who bought him for a sire, and who was so kind as to take upon himself to manage my affairs, for which I gave him full power,and a document was drawn on stamped paper, in the presence of the official authorities. Soon after my arrival at Moscow, I received a letter from Mr.Strubing, informing me that my groom had been released immediately after my departure, without any further process. The merchant, M. Lomoff, with whom I transacted the business of the sable skins at Nowgorod, having been a citizen resident at Moscow, I thought it but right to lay the case before his Excellency Prince Galitzin, Governor of Moscow. But great was my astonishment at my unfriendly reception by the prince, who said be bad