"As many as 20,000 persons, it is counted, have come home from Siberian Exile:" the L'Estocs, the Munnichs, Bierens, all manner of internecine figures, as if risen from the dead.

"Since the night when Munnich arrested Bieren [readers possibly remember it, and Mannstein's account of it [Supra, vol.vii.

p.
363.]], the first time these two met was in the gay and tumultuous crowd which surrounded the new Czar.

'Come, bygones be bygones,' said Peter, noticing them; 'let us three all drink together, like friends!'-- and ordered three glasses of wine.

Peter was beginning his glass to show the others an example, when somebody came with a message to him, which was delivered in a low tone; Peter listening drank out his wine, set down the glass, and hastened off; so that Bieren and Munnich, the two old enemies, were left standing, glass in hand, each with his eyes on the Czar's glass;--at length, as the Czar did not return, they flashed each his eyes into the other's face; and after a moment's survey, set down their glasses untasted, and walked off in opposite directions." [Rulhiere, p.