"Now let us hear your report," said he, seating himself before his toilet-mirror, where first he cleaned his dazzling white teeth, and then pared his nails.
The minister of police, in an attitude of profound respect, began to go over the occurrences of the past two days in St. Petersburg.
Potemkin listened with an occasional yawn, and finally interrupted him. "You are an old fool. What do I care for your burglars and bankrupts! You have not so much as a murder to relate to me. Can you not guess that there are other things of which I wish to hear?"
"Doubtless your highness wishes me to report the doings of the Emperor of Austria."
"You are not quite such a dunce, then, as you seem to be. Well, what has the emperor been about these two days past?"
"He leads the same life as he did in Moscow," said Narischkin. "He goes about as Count Falkenstein."
"He comes as his own ambassador," cried Potemkin, laughing, "and he could not have chosen a worse one than Count Falkenstein. [Footnote: Potemkin's own words.] What a wretched country Austria must be when its emperor travels about like an ordinary Russian gentleman!"
"He arrived in St. Petersburg with one servant carrying his portmanteau, and engaged two rooms at a hotel."
"Oh, yes. I have heard of his passion for living at hotels. It all proceeds from avarice. Were he the guest of the empress, he would be obliged to make some imperial presents here and there. When our great czarina invited him to Sarskoe-Selo, he accepted, on condition that he should be allowed to lodge at an inn. Now there happens to be no inn at Sarskoe-Selo; so the imperial gardener has hung out a sign, and the little Count of Falkenstein is to take up his lodging with him. He never will be the wiser, and will fancy himself at an inn. So that in trifles, as in matters of state, the czarina shall befool Austria, and lead him by the nose. Tell me something more of his eccentricities. Have you dazzled him with a sight of our wealth?"
"He is not to be dazzled, your highness. Even the homage he has received seems to give him no pleasure."