Haughtyandmajesticinherdemeanour，shewassupposedtobetheonlywomanatcourtwhocontinuedfaithfultoherhusband；whichsuppositionprobablyoriginatedinherartandeducation，shebeingaGermanborn：forIafterwardsfoundhervirtuewasonlypride，andaknowledgeofthenationalcharacter。TheRussianloverrulesdespoticoverhismistress：requiresmoney，submission，andshouldhemeetopposition，threatensherwithblows，andthediscoveryofhersecret。
DuringElizabeth’sreignforeignerscouldneitherappearatcourt，norinthebestcompany，withouttheintroductionofBestuchef。I
andSievers，gentlemenofthechamber，wereatthattimetheonlyGermanswhohadfreeegressandregressinallhousesoffashion；mybeingprotectedbytheEnglishandAustrianambassadorsgavemeverypeculiaradvantages，andmademycompanyeverywherecourted。
Bestuchefhadbeenresident，duringthelatereign，atHamburg，inwhichinferiorstationhemarriedthecountess，atthattime，thoughyoungandhandsome，onlythewidowofthemerchantBoettger。UnderElizabeth，Bestuchefrosetothesummitofrankandpower，andthewidowBoettgerbecamethefirstladyoftheempire。WhenIknewhershewaseightandthirty，consequentlynobeauty，thoughawomanhighlyendowedinmindandmanners，ofkeendiscernment，dislikingtheRussians，protectingthePrussians，andatwhoseaversionsalltrembled。
HercarriagetowardstheRussianswas，whatitmustbeinhersituation，lofty，cautious，andironical，ratherthankind。Tomesheshowedtheutmostesteemonalloccasions，welcomedmeathertable，andoftenadmittedmetodrinkcoffeeincompanywithherselfaloneandColonelOettinger。ThecountessneverfailedgivingmetounderstandshehadperceivedmylovefortheprincessN—；and，thoughIconstantlydeniedthefact，sherelatedcircumstanceswhichshecouldhaveknown，asIthought，onlyfrommymistressherself；