“All is ready,” answered Orloff, bowing respectfully.
The whole party went down to the sea-shore. Count Alexis Gregorevitch was specially respectful to the Princess. He himself placed her shawl on her shoulders, and taking her parasol from the hands of her maid, opened it, and, walking by her side, shielded her from the sun, all the while whispering in her ears the most passionate protestations of love.
The whole crowd of spectators collected on the sea-shore looked admiringly at his general’s uniform of dark green with red facings, all covered with gold embroidery, which adorned his splendid figure, and on all sides we could hear cries of “Vivat,” mixed with whispers of “Oh! what a couple!”
They all took their places in the boats and barges standing ready by the sea-shore. The Princess seated herself in a splendid gilded barge, ornamented and arranged with imperial luxury. The wives of Admiral Greig and of the English consul took their places by her side. The count went with the Admiral, and I with the retinue of the Princess. The barge floated in the direction of the Russian flotilla. We were received by the squadron with the greatest pomp. Flags waved everywhere. The officers in their brightest uniforms stood at their posts; the sailors at the masts. From all the ships floated the most delicious music. The waves gently rocked us. The receding shore was covered with spectators.
As we touched the admiral’s ship, the Three Hierarchs, a splendid gilt arm-chair was let down, in which first of all the Princess was pulled up, and then the other ladies. We mounted the trap. The ladies had hardly stepped on deck, when from all sides came cries of “Hurrah!” and cannon were fired. The sight was splendid. The spectators in the streets and on shore merrily waved their hats and handkerchiefs. All were in high expectation that Orloff would conduct the manœuvres, and, to make the illusion more complete, would burn some old useless ship. A great many glasses were pointed at us from the shore. Dozens of little boats, filled with onlookers, started from the shore in the direction of our ship. On board the Three Hierarchs there seemed to be great commotion. The whole staff of the admiral’s servants were running to and fro, with trays loaded with wine, bon-bons, and fruit. There was dancing in the saloon. The younger gentlemen and ladies were dancing with all their heart the contre-danse and cotillon. The wives of the admiral and consul surrounded the Princess with little attentions.
The ladies were soon invited into a special cabin, where presently they were joined by the count and the admiral, who were busily talking together. The latter seemed quite out of sorts, and very gloomy.
“They are going to marry the count and the Princess,” I heard one of the officers whisper to another.
I was dumbfounded.
“But why here?” asked the one to whom the question was addressed. “Why all this mystery, all this haste?”