"'By his Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Constantine, your majesty's august brother.'
"'Ah!' exclaimed the emperor, putting out his hand, but as quickly withdrawing it again.
"'I hope your majesty will for once infringe your custom, and will deign to accept this supplication.'
"'No, sir; I will not receive it; for to-morrow, I shall have a thousand, and shall be compelled to desert these gardens, where it seems I can no longer hope to enjoy privacy.' He perceived my disappointment in my countenance, and his natural kindness would not suffer him to dismiss me with a harsh refusal. Pointing with hand toward the church of St. Sophia, he said—'Put that petition into the post-office in the city, and I shall see it to-morrow, and the day after, you will have an answer.'
"I expressed my gratitude in animated terms.
"'Prove it,' was his quick reply.
"I declared my willingness to do any thing he required, as the test of that feeling.
"'Well, tell nobody that you have presented me a petition and got off with impunity,' and he resumed his walk.
"I followed his advice, and posted my paper, and three days after received a favorable reply to my petition."