To the Victor the Spoils : Museum of Sevastopol  − 14 September, 1867

[Following the long struggle against and eventual victory over the Weedking]

Before the victor Musrum departed westward, he gathered with gleeful acquisitiveness numerous pieces of booty both useful and ornamental. Returning to the Estate at Odessa, he entrusted to Palfreyman the preservation and transport of this widely plundered hoard. In making an inventory of these spoils, Palfreyman came upon an immense building whose fantastically carven masonry appeared like a kind of frozen pageant. This was the famous Museum of Sevastopol!

It was a most fortunate discovery. Marshalling the employees of the Estate, Palfreyman saw to it that all the souvenirs of the musroid camp[aigns were housed in this vast structure.

When this work was accomplished, word was sent to Musrum, who was leading an expedition to the northern territories in order to negotiate a treaty with the wolves. In good time Musrum returned and, together with Palfreyman and the rest of his followers, entered the Museum to view his many prizes.

In order to reach the great portals of the building he needed to set sail across the sea of Azov which had been transferred to the Estate as an ornamental lake.

In its blue waters they saw reflected the strange carvings upon the Museum’s wide façade, spirited representations of scenes from some unheard history.

Landing towards evening, they climbed the great steps of the Richelieu Stairway, purloined from Odessa, and passed under the imposing lintel of the main door.