Floating about from one end of Europe to another, they kept up a regular exchange of letters; the prince never took any step without consulting his wife, who usually gave him sound advice.

During the first years of their marriage, he had committed the error of being seriously in love with her: there are some species of ugliness that inspire actually insane passions.

The princess found this in the most wretched taste, and soon brought Dimitri Paulovitch to his senses.

From that moment perfect concord reigned between this wedded couple, who were parted by the entire continent of Europe, united by the mail-bags.

The princess did not bear a very irreproachable record.