"I knew," thought Nicholas, "that I should never understand anything in this crazy world."

"Oh, don`t ask me, don`t ask me! I don`t know myself. Tomorrow... But no! Good-by, good-by!" he muttered. "It`s an awful time!" and dropping behind the carriage he stepped onto the pavement.

Bring glory then to Alexander`s reign
And on the throne our Titus shield.
A dreaded foe be thou, kindhearted as a man,
A Rhipheus at home, a Caesar in the field!
E`en fortunate Napoleon
Knows by experience, now, Bagration,
And dare not Herculean Russians trouble...