He walked in rapidly, bowing to right and left as if anxious to get the first moments of the reception over.

The band played the polonaise in vogue at that time on account of the words that had been set to it, beginning: "Alexander, Elisaveta, all our hearts you ravish quite..." The Emperor passed on to the drawing room, the crowd made a rush for the doors, and several persons with excited faces hurried there and back again.

Then the crowd hastily retired from the drawing-room door, at which the Emperor reappeared talking to the hostess.