A popular novella by the famous writer of its time, Yevgeny Karnovich (1824–1885). Its heroes are a Maltese knight, Count Yulius Litta, and a noble lady, Ekaterina Skavronskaya. The author provides descriptions of their romantic fates against a broad historical backdrop. The reader, captivated by the plot intrigue, learns about the era of Paul I much of what, over time, has been firmly forgotten.