presented with the best horse in my stable, and three gold nobles.-But above all," said Kroutchina, in a half whisper, "be sure to tell the Steward not to allow this Cossack even to quit the yard for a moment; neither is he to permit any stranger to exchange a word with him in private this fortune-teller appears to me to

be a very suspicious character."

Kirsha retired with the servant. At the same moment five Polish noblemen on horseback, richly dressed, entered the Boyard's courtyard, followed by five hussars, whose dress, though magnificent, would appear in our days a mere masquerade costume. They all wore coats of mail and helmets ;-two large wings were fastened to the former, and two smaller ones to the latter. On their shoulders, instead of cloaks, they wore leopard-skins, which floated on the passing breeze and each was armed with a sabre and small javelin, or lance, ornamented with coloured streamers.

:

"Here is Pan Tishkewich, with his compa

nions," said Boyard Kroutchina, looking out

at the window.

"But who is that on his left?

-I think I never saw so ugly a man before !”

Saying this, Schalonsky went to receive his guests, and Vlaciowna and the girls returned to the room of their Boyarishnia.

CHAPTER XII.

CONVERSATION BEFORE DINNER.

"Captain! thou abominable, damned cheater, art thou not ashamed to be called-Captain ?-If Captains were of my mind, they would truncheon you out, for taking their names upon you before you have earned them.- You a Captain, you slave !"

Henry IV.- Part 2.

THE house-steward and some of the servants met the guests on the stairs. A stout, clumsy Pole, who rode by the side of Pan Tishkewich, before he reached the steps, sprang, or rather rolled off his horse; but was sufficiently active to be the first to assist his commander to alight. Probably every one of my readers knows, by

The

report at least, the renowned Sancho Panza, to whom our officious Pole at this moment bore a striking resemblance ;-though the appearance of Pan Tishkewich did not at all remind one of the knight of the woeful conntenance. Pan was of middle stature, broad shouldered, and sat very gracefully on his horse. A quick motion and undaunted look,—a dark but open countenance,-in short, a certain warlike appearance indicated that Pan Tishkewich had passed the greater part of his life in the camp: he had always been accustomed to live in the open air, and marched with as much indifference into the hottest battle, as if he had been going to meet a jovial party of his friends. Three fine Polish youths, distinguished by their enormous moustachios and haughty air, exhibited a strong contrast to the good nature seen on the open and noble physiognomy of their commander.

Boyard Kroutchina met his guests in the dining-room. On seeing the portrait of the King

of Poland, with the well-known inscription, the Poles looked at one another with a triumphant smile; Pan Tishkewich also smiled, but when his eyes met those of the master of the house, something like contempt appeared in them, which he seemed to suppress with difficulty:-nor was there any cordiality in the proffered mark of friendship of Boyard Kroutchina.

After the usual compliments, Tishkewich first presented to the master of the house his brother officers, and then the stout Pole who had so well performed the part of an esquire.

"This rosy-cheeked jester," said he, “ Pan Kopichinsky, would have been your guest, if I had not come; for he is sent as a courier from Moscow, with the news that the Czaric+ is killed."

"How!" cried Kroutchina, "the thief of Touchin ?"

Sigismond King of Poland and Czar of Russia." + The Second Impostor was denominated Czaric by the Poles.