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and from their windows sometimes peeped forth the head of an elegant
high…born lady。 Rumour； as usual； reported that his iron coffers were
full of untold gold； treasures； diamonds； and all sorts of pledges；
but that； nevertheless； he was not the slave of that avarice which is
characteristic of other usurers。 He lent money willingly； and on very
favourable terms of payment apparently； but； by some curious method of
reckoning； made them mount to an incredible percentage。 So said
rumour； at any rate。 But what was strangest of all was the peculiar
fate of those who received money from him： they all ended their lives
in some unhappy way。 Whether this was simply the popular superstition；
or the result of reports circulated with an object； is not known。 But
several instances which happened within a brief space of time before
the eyes of every one were vivid and striking。
〃Among the aristocracy of that day； one who speedily drew attention to
himself was a young man of one of the best families who had made a
figure in his early years in court circles； a warm admirer of
everything true and noble； zealous in his love for art； and giving
promise of becoming a Maecenas。 He was soon deservedly distinguished
by the Empress； who conferred upon him an important post； fully
proportioned to his desertsa post in which he could accomplish much
for science and the general welfare。 The youthful dignitary surrounded
himself with artists； poets； and learned men。 He wished to give work
to all； to encourage all。 He undertook； at his own expense； a number
of useful publications； gave numerous orders to artists； offered
prizes for the encouragement of different arts； spent a great deal of
money； and finally ruined himself。 But； full of noble impulses； he did
not wish to relinquish his work； sought to raise a loan； and finally
betook himself to the well…known usurer。 Having borrowed a
considerable sum from him； the man in a short time changed completely。
He became a persecutor and oppressor of budding talent and intellect。
He saw the bad side in everything produced； and every word he uttered
was false。
〃Then； unfortunately； came the French Revolution。 This furnished him
with an excuse for every kind of suspicion。 He began to discover a
revolutionary tendency in everything； to concoct terrible and unjust
accusations； which made scores of people unhappy。 Of course； such
conduct could not fail in time to reach the throne。 The kind…hearted
Empress was shocked； and； full of the noble spirit which adorns
crowned heads； she uttered words still engraven on many hearts。 The
Empress remarked that not under a monarchical government were high and
noble impulses persecuted； not there were the creations of intellect；
poetry； and art contemned and oppressed。 On the other hand； monarchs
alone were their protectors。 Shakespeare and Moliere flourished under
their magnanimous protection； while Dante could not find a corner in
his republican birthplace。 She said that true geniuses arise at the
epoch of brilliancy and power in emperors and empires； but not in the
time of monstrous political apparitions and republican terrorism；
which； up to that time； had never given to the world a single poet；
that poet…artists should be marked out for favour； since peace and
divine quiet alone compose their minds； not excitement and tumult；
that learned men； poets； and all producers of art are the pearls and
diamonds in the imperial crown： by them is the epoch of the great
ruler adorned； and from them it receives yet greater brilliancy。
〃As the Empress uttered these words she was divinely beautiful for the
moment； and I remember old men who could not speak of the occurrence
without tears。 All were interested in the affair。 It must be remarked；
to the honour of our national pride； that in the Russian's heart there
always beats a fine feeling that he must adopt the part of the
persecuted。 The dignitary who had betrayed his trust was punished in
an exemplary manner and degraded from his post。 But he read a more
dreadful punishment in the faces of his fellow…countrymen： universal
scorn。 It is impossible to describe what he suffered； and he died in a
terrible attack of raving madness。
〃Another striking example also occurred。 Among the beautiful women in
which our northern capital assuredly is not poor； one decidedly
surpassed the rest。 Her loveliness was a combination of our Northern
charms with those of the South； a gem such as rarely makes its
appearance on earth。 My father said that he had never beheld anything
like it in the whole course of his life。 Everything seemed to be
united in her； wealth； intellect； and wit。 She had throngs of
admirers； the most distinguished of them being Prince R。； the most
noble…minded of all young men； the finest in face； and an ideal of
romance in his magnanimous and knightly sentiments。 Prince R。 was
passionately in love； and was requited by a like ardent passion。
〃But the match seemed unequal to the parents。 The prince's family
estates had not been in his possession for a long time； his family was
out of favour； and the sad state of his affairs was well known to all。
Of a sudden the prince quitted the capital； as if for the purpose of
arranging his affairs； and after a short interval reappeared；
surrounded with luxury and splendour。 Brilliant balls and parties made
him known at court。 The lady's father began to relent； and the wedding
took place。 Whence this change in circumstances； this
unheard…of…wealth； came； no one could fully explain； but it was
whispered that he had entered into a compact with the mysterious
usurer； and had borrowed money of him。 However that may have been； the
wedding was a source of interest to the whole city； and the bride and
bridegroom were objects of general envy。 Every one knew of their warm
and faithful love； the long persecution they had had to endure from
every quarter； the great personal worth of both。 Ardent women at once
sketched out the heavenly bliss which the young couple would enjoy。
But it turned out very differently。
〃In the course of a year a frightful change came over the husband。 His
character； up to that time so noble； became poisoned with jealous
suspicions； irritability； and inexhaustible caprices。 He became a
tyrant to his wife； a thing which no one could have foreseen； and
indulged in the most inhuman deeds； and even in blows。 In a year's
time no one would have recognised the woman who； such a little while
before； had dazzled and drawn about her throngs of submissive adorers。
Finally； no longer able to endure her lot； she proposed a divorce。 Her
husband flew into a rage at the very suggestion。 In the first outburst
of passion； he chased her about the room with a knife； and would
doubtless have murdered her then and there； if they had not seized him
and prevented him。 In a fit of madness and despair he turned the knife
against himself； and ended his life amid the most horrible sufferings。
〃Besides these two instances which occurred before the eyes of all the
world； stories circulated of many more among the lower classes； nearly
all of which had tragic endings。 Here an honest sober man became a
drunkard； there a shopkeeper's clerk robbed his master； again； a
driver who had conducted himself properly for a number of years cut
his passenger's throat for a groschen。 It was impossible that such
occurrences； related； not without embellishments； should not inspire a
sort of involuntary horror amongst the sedate inhabitants of Kolomna。
No one entertained any doubt as to the presence of an evil power in
the usurer。 They said that he imposed conditions which made the hair
rise on one's head； and which the miserable wretch never afterward
dared reveal to any other being； that his money possessed a strange
power of attraction； that it grew hot of itself； and that it bore
strange marks。 And it is worthy of remark； that all the colony of
Kolomna； all these poor old women； small officials； petty artists； and
insignificant people whom we have just recapitulated； agreed that it
was better to endure anything； and to suffer the extreme of misery；
rather than to have recourse to the terrible usurer。 Old women were
even found dying of hunger； who preferred to kill their bodies rather
than lose their soul。 Those who met him in the street experienced an
involuntary sense of fear。 Pedestrians took care to turn aside from
his path； and gazed long after his tall； receding figure。 In his face
alone there was sufficient that was uncommon to cause any one to
ascribe to him a supernatural nature。 The strong features； so deeply
chiselled； the glowing bronze of his complexion； the incredible
thickness of his brows； the intolerable； terrible eyeseverything
seemed to indicate that the passions of other men were pale compared
to those raging within him。 My father stopped short every time he met
him； and could not refrain each time from sayin