"I will surely do so," said she, giving me writing materials.
I wrote out the following petition,—
"Your Majesty,—I venture to remind your highness that my enforced idleness is making me forget my art, which I have not yet learnt thoroughly. Your majesty's generosity is therefore doing me an injury, and your majesty would do me a great benefit in giving me permission to leave St. Petersburg."
"Nothing more than that?"
"Not a word."
"You say nothing about the passport, and nothing about the journey-money.
I am not a rich woman."
"Do you only present this petition; and, unless I am very much mistaken, you will have, not only your journey-money, but also your year's salary."
"Oh, that would be too much!"
"Not at all. You do not know Catherine, but I do. Have this copied, and present it in person."
"I will copy it out myself, for I can write a good enough hand. Indeed, it almost seems as if I had composed it; it is exactly my style. I believe you are a better actor than I am, and from this evening I shall call myself your pupil. Come, let us have some supper, that you may give me my first lesson."