matter. A few florins change hands, the
certificate is stamped, and the stranger leaves
the office with a practical lesson, by which he
is likely to benefit. Producing his stamped
certificate and his florins in other places, he
obtains his passport with less trouble and
greater expense than he expected.

Another lesson awaits him at the gate of
the town. The carriage stops, a policeman
takes his passport and submits it to the
Inspector of the Gate. He conies back without
the passport, but with a message: "Pan
Inspector prosye pana na sniedanie." The
stranger is astonished and gratified. The
message has a double sense. It may mean—
the Pan Inspector invites the gentleman to
breakfast with him; and thus does the stranger
understand it. But it may also mean—the
Pan Inspector invites the gentleman to give
him something to breakfast; of which meaning
the stranger, poor man, has not the slightest
suspicion. " Tell your master I am obliged
to him, very much so indeed; but I must go
on, having been detained already. Another
time I shall be happy to breakfast with
him." It is now the policeman's turn to be
astonished; he shrugs his shoulders and
enters the office, on the threshold of which, in
another minute, appears the Pan Inspector
of the Gate. What the Blank " (for these
Russian gentlemen have an ugly knack of
swearing) " I invite you to breakfast! I'll
see you Blanked first! Something for my
breakfast, that's what I want." Saying which,
the irate inspector retreats into his den growling,
and slamming the door. A couple of
florins being sent after him, the passport is
duly returned.

Another official function, and one which, as
some say, is less remote from the practices of
English public life, is the lapowna. This
falls to the share of military officers and the
directors and employés of public institutions.
Its special name is profitka, which answers to
our own Job. According to an ukase or council
Border of the year 1832, all public works, and
all supplies for the army and other establishments,
are to be contracted for by licitation.
These contracts are generally large, and so are
the profits; and the contractors have, moreover,
a chance of acquiring high connexions
and distinctions. Hence, Government contracts
are much sought after, especially by the Jew
and German population of the Russian Empire.
Indeed, the " hunt " commences long before
the day appointed for the licitation, and the
preparations are of greater importance than
the bids. As soon as the news transpires
that such or such an enterprise is to be put
up to licitation, the great question for every
one is, not at what period the thing may be
done, but how and by what means it is
possible to obtain an interview with the
councillor or the general who has the giving
of the contract. In matters of fortification,
there is the General of the Engineers; in
public works, the decision rests with the
Ciiief of the Exchequer Commission, or the
Minister of Woods and Forests—at least,
at St. Petersburg. In the provinces, almost
all the contracts are in the hands of the
governors. To gain admittance to these
functionaries is not an easy matter, and the
Germans, the more awkward race, who go
about begging recommendations and feeling
their way by driblets up the ladder of official
dignitaries, are usually distanced by their
bolder competitors of the Caucasian race.
In the mighty man's closet, the German relies
on his bows and compliments and promises.
Hence, the Russian great do not like them.
They prefer dealing at once with a Jew,
for the Jew makes his way directly to
the great man's wife, or, if there be no wife,
to the valet. If need be, he stands from
early dawn to nightfall, and for a whole week,
at the valet's door. Time is money, but his
time is brilliantly paid for, if, at the end
of the week, he has gained the flunkey's ear,
and through him admittance to his master's
cabinet. The Russian, of course, treats the
Jew sans ceremonie, just as he would like
to treat every one—if he dared.

"Well, what is it, you ragamuffin ?"

"Thank Heaven, my lord is very kind to
me! All mighty, all generous Chief General!
I have come—great and gracious lord, I am an
honest man, and loyal to the Czar our lord—
I—I—dearest Chief General—mighty lord—"

In this strain, he goes on for a long time.
The general smiles. Abraham, who watches
him, sees the smile, and his words become
still more complimentary, incoherent, and
ridiculous, until the general in a thorough
good humour asks:

"Well, rascal, what do you want ?"

The Russians of every degree show their
kindliness of disposition by using very strong
words. Beggar, son of a dog, and some other
compliments too polite for translation, are
words of endearment as well as of vituperation,
according to the tone of the speaker.

"Well, rascal?"

"Great lord—mighty lord—the
contract——"

"Ah! You want the contract?"

"Most mighty lord, I am an honest man,
and these fifteen years I have been in
business. I am a good servant of my Czar,
and——"

"Have you got money, you beggar ?"

"Lord, I will do all I can, and more."

"You'll have to give security."

"It shall be done, my lord. I shall have
credit with my friends."

"Why, if that's the case, attend on the day
and make your offer"

"My lord, I wanted——"

"Go! I am tired. Be off, fellow!"

"Magnificent lord, but one word—one word
—a sacred word——"

The General, aware what he is driving at,
asks good-humouredly, " What is it, you
dog?"