That was the nucleus. Then I
commanded all officials, priests, and great landowners to build
houses--each of them, one--whether they intended to live in it or
not. Now I have a hundred thousand. I know they talk and say that I
build towns, but don't dwell in them myself. No! I build not for
myself, but for the Russians. I hate Moscow, which smells of the
Khan of the Tartars, and would prefer to live in the country. That
is no one else's affair. Drink, old man! We have the whole day
before us till five o'clock. Then I must be sober."
The old man drank cautiously, and did not know exactly how to behave
in this grand society, which was at the same time so nautical.
"Now you must tell me some of the stories which the people relate
about me. You know lots of them, Jaen."
"I know some certainly, but it is not possible...."
"Then I will tell some," said Peter, "Do you know the story of the
pair of compasses and the cheese? No? Well, it runs thus: 'The Czar
is so covetous that he always carries a box of drawing instruments
in his pocket. With a pair of compasses he measures his cheese, to
see whether any of it has been stolen since the last meal!' That is
a good story! Here is another! 'The Czar has a Tippler's Club. Once
they determined to hold a festival, and the guests were shut up
three days and three nights in order to drink.
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