[18] Aloshki was a native of Oukraine, but was brought thence to sing in the choir of the Imperial chapel. His splendid voice first attracted the attention of the Empress Elizabeth Petrowna. His handsome figure and beautiful face did the rest.
[19] The title given to the chief over all the Cossacks in Little Russia.
[20] A pet name. Nearly all family names admit of this suffix. The Russians have any number of pet names and diminutives. “Aloshki” (p. 44), for instance, is the diminutive for Alexis.
[21] The Russian version of this nursery tale is rather different to the English.
[22] To this day this breed remains unrivalled, and it is called, after the Count, “Orlovski Rissak.”
[23] A sheepskin coat with the wool inside. The hide is embroidered with gaily-coloured silks, and being peculiarly tanned, is very expensive.
[24] Chic.—A diminutive expressive of endearment.
[25] A species of dove, remarkably short-beaked and short-winged. In flying they turn over and over.
[26] There are a hundred different ways of saying Russian names.
[27] i.e. “If you play me false, you forfeit your head.”