In one of the apartments of the palace Grodonoff, behold its proprietor,
the baron himself! He is seated in an old oak chair, with a heavy table
of the same material in front of him. On the table is spread out a map
of the world; and by the side of the chair stands a large terrestrial
globe. Several shelves standing against the wails contain books; and
yet the apartment is not a library in the proper sense of the word:
rather is it a large oblong saloon; having three of its sides occupied
by spacious glass cases, in which are exhibited objects of natural
history,--birds, quadrupeds, reptiles, and insects,--all mounted in
proper form and arranged in due order. It is, in fact, a museum,--a
private collection--made by the baron himself; and the books that fill
the shelves are works relating to natural history alone.
In a man of military aspect--an old veteran with snow-white hair, and
grand moustaches of like hue--such as he who is seated at the table--you
would scarce expect to meet the lover of a study so pacific in its
character as that of natural history? Rather would you look to find him
pouring over plans of fortifications, with the pages of Yauban spread
open before him; or some history detailing the campaigns of Suwarrow,
Diebitsch, Paskiewitch or Potemkin? In this instance, however,
appearances were deceptive. Though the baron had proved an excellent
military officer, and seen service, he was a student of Nature. His
early years, spent as a hunter, had begot within him a taste for natural
history; which, as soon as the opportunity offered, had become developed
by study and research. It was now no longer a predilection, but a
passion; and in his retirement nearly the whole of his time was devoted
to his favourite study. A vast fortune, which his grateful sovereign
had bestowed upon him, enabled him to command the means for gratifying
his taste; and the magnificent collection by which he was surrounded
gave evidence that no expense was spared in its gratification.
It was a map and globe of the world that now occupied his attention.
Could these have reference to a question of natural history?
In an indirect manner they had,--and what follows will account for their
presence.
A hand-bell stood upon the table. The baron rang it; and before its
tingling had ceased, the door opened, and a servant entered the
apartment.
"Summon my sons to attend me!"
The servant bowed, and retired.
A few minutes after, two youths entered the apartment. They appeared to
be of the respective ages of sixteen and eighteen. One, the elder and
taller, was of a darkish complexion, with brown waving hair, and hazel
eyes. The expression of his countenance was that of a youth of firm and
rather serious character; while the style of his dress, or rather his
manner of wearing it, showed that he was altogether without vanity in
matters of personal appearance. He was handsome withal, having that
aristocratic air common to the nobility of Russia. This was Alexis.
The younger brother differed from him as much as if no kinship existed
between them. He was more the son of his mother, the baroness; while
Alexis inherited the features and a good deal of the disposition of his
father. Ivan was a fair-haired lad, with golden locks curling over a
forehead of bright blonde complexion, and cheeks that exhibited the hue
of the rose. His eyes were of a deep azure-blue--such as is often seen
among the Sclavonic races--and their quick sparkle told that in the
breast of Ivan there beat a heart brimming with bright thoughts, and
ever ready for mischief and merriment, but without any admixture of
malice.
Both approached their father with a serious expression of countenance.
That of Alexis bespoke sincerity; while Ivan stole forward with the air
of one who had been recently engaged in some sly mischief, and who was
assuming a demure deportment with the design of concealing it.
A word about these two youths, and the object for which their father had
summoned them into his presence. They had now been each of them more
than ten years engaged in the study of books, under some of the ablest
teachers that Russia could furnish. Their father himself had given much
time to their instruction; and, of course, an inclination to their minds
similar to that which characterised his own, but chiefly to the mind of
Alexis.
The latter had imbibed a fondness for the study of nature, while Ivan
was more given to admire the records of stirring events, with a strong
_penchant_ for the splendours of the world, in which he felt longing to
bear a part. The nature of the books which had passed through their
hands--a great number of them being books of travel--had begotten within
these youths a wish to see the world, which, increasing each day, had
grown into an eager desire. This desire had been often expressed in
hints to their father; but at length, in a more formal manner, by means
of a written petition, which the boys, after much deliberation, had
drawn up and presented to him, and which was now seen lying open before
him upon the table.
The petition was simply their united request, that their father would be
so good as to allow them to travel and see foreign countries--where, and
how, to be left to his wise guidance and discretion.
It was to receive an answer to this petition, that his sons were now
summoned into his presence.