The Czar and his suite were greatly amused at observing the wonder and admiration which marked the expressive countenance of the youth, as he entered the grand saloon. Gerald’s thoughts, were not however, long so occupied, he was too much interested in ascertaining the object of his summons there.
‘Ha! my lad,’ exclaimed the Czar, in a familiar tone, as Gerald bowed low before the throne, ‘I’ve not forgotten you, you see. Well, how did you get on at your new work?’
‘I hope, Sire,’ Gerald replied with modest dignity, ‘I hope, Sire, I did my duty, and to the satisfaction of your Majesty’s officers.’
‘I’ve heard nothing to the contrary, at all events,’ said the Czar, ‘but what say you to leaving off that sort of work, and taking to something else? Have you become so fond of it that you desire to end your days at it?’
Gerald could not help smiling at this question. ‘Nay, Sire,’ he replied, ‘I did my work cheerfully, because I felt it to be my duty to do so, and I had moreover, an animating motive, but I should rejoice to be engaged in some employment better suited to my taste.’
‘What employment would be suited to your taste?’ the Emperor asked. ‘Would you like to be a soldier?’
‘A soldier’s profession would not be quite suited to my taste, Sire,’ Gerald replied.
‘Why? it is thought to be the most honourable calling by many of my subjects. I am a soldier, myself, but I wish not to put a restraint on your inclination—nay, should you prefer following some useful art, I would give you all encouragement. My nobles here know that I patronise the useful arts, and have set them an example by working at some of them myself.’
‘My inclination, Sire, has always been to pursue a studious life,’ Gerald ventured to say.
‘Ha!’ exclaimed the Czar, ‘I am now founding a university in Moscow, would you like to enter it?’