the daughter of an empress-第14部分

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might　make　one　die　with　laughter。〃

The　princess　threw　herself　upon　the　divan　and　laughed　until　the　tears　ran　down　her　cheeks。

〃Princess；〃　said　Lestocq；　rising；　〃these　four　men；　at　whom　you　now　laugh；　will　make　you　empress；　and　then　it　will　be　in　your　power　to　convert　this　chirurgeon　into　a　privy　councillor　and　court　physician；　this　bankrupt　merchant　into　a　rich　banker；　this　chamberlain　into　an　imperial　lord…marshal；　and　your　private　secretary　into　a　count　or　prince　of　the　empire。〃

The　eyes　of　the　princess　shone　yet　brighter；　and　with　a　tender　glance　at　Alexis　Razumovsky　she　said：　〃Yes；　I　will　make　him　a　prince　and　overload　him　with　presents　and　honors。　Ah；　that　is　an　object　worth　the　pains　of　struggling　for　an　imperial　crown。〃

〃No；　no；〃　interposed　Alexis；　kissing　her　hand；　〃I　need　neither　wealth　nor　titles；　I　need　nothing；　desire　nothing　but　to　be　near　you；　to　be　able　to　breathe　the　air　that　has　fanned　your　cheek。　I　desire　nothing　for　myself；　but　everything　for　my　friends　here；　with　whose　faithful　aid　we　shall　soon　be　enabled　to　greet　you　a　real　empress。〃

Elizabeth's　brow　beamed　with　the　purest　blessedness。　〃You　are　as　unselfish　as　the　angels　in　heaven；　my　Alexis；〃　said　she。　〃It　suffices　you　that　I　am　Elizabeth；　you　languish　not　for　this　imperial　title　which　these　others　would　force　upon　me。〃

Alexis　smilingly　shook　his　fine　head。　〃You　err；　princess；〃　said　he；　〃I　would　freely　and　joyfully　give　my　heart's　blood；　could　I　this　day　but　salute　you　as　empress！　I　should　then；　at　least；　have　no　more　to　fear　from　this　strange　prince　whom　they　would　compel　you　to　marry！〃

A　cloud　passed　over　the　brow　of　the　princess。　〃Yes；　you　are　right；〃　said　she；　〃we　must　avoid　that　at　all　events；　and　if　there　are　no　other　means；　very　well；　I　shall　know　what　to　decide　uponI　shall　venture　an　attempt　to　dethrone　the　regent　and　make　myself　empress！　But；　my　friends；　let　that　now　suffice。　I　need　rest。　Call　my　women　to　undress　me；　Woronzow。　Good…night；　good…night；　my　high　and　lofty　vassals；　your　great　and　powerful　empress　allows　you　to　kiss　her　hand！〃

With　a　pleasing　graciousness　she　extended　her　fair　hands　to　her　friends；　who　respectfully　pressed　them　to　their　lips　and　then　departed。

〃Alexis！〃　called　the　princess；　as　Razumovsky　was　about　to　withdraw　with　the　others〃Alexis；　you　will　remain　awhile。　While　my　women　are　undressing　me；　you　shall　sing　me　to　sleep　with　that　charming　slumber…　song　you　sing　so　splendidly！〃

Alexis　smiled　and　remained。

A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　deep　silence　prevailed　in　the　dark　palace　of　Elizabeth；　and　through　the　stillness　of　the　night　was　heard　only　the　sweetly…melodious　voice　of　the　handsome　Alexis；　who　was　singing　his　slumber…song　to　the　princess。

From　this　day　forward　her　four　trusted　friends　left　the　princess　no　peace。　They　so　stormed　her　with　prayers　and　supplications；　Alexis　so　well　knew　how　to　represent　his　despair　at　her　approaching　and　unavoidable　marriage；　that　the　amiable　princess；　to　satisfy　her　friends　and　be　left　herself　at　peace；　declared　herself　ready　to　sanction　the　plans　of　her　confidants　and　enter　into　a　conspiracy　against　the　regent。

Soon　a　small　party　was　formed　for　the　cause　of　the　princess。　Grunstein　who；　as　the　princess　had　said；　from　a　bankrupt　merchant　had　attained　the　position　of　subordinate　officerGrunstein　had　succeeded　in　winning　for　the　cause　of　the　princess　some　fifty　grenadiers　of　the　Preobrajensky　regiment；　to　which　he　belonged；　and　these　people；　drunkards　and　dissolute　fellows；　were　the　principal　props　upon　which　Elizabeth's　throne　was　to　be　established！　They　were　neither　particular　about　the　means　resorted　to　for　the　accomplishment　of　the　proposed　revolution；　nor　careful　to　envelop　their　movements　in　secrecy。

Elizabeth　soon　began　to　find　pleasure　and　distraction　in　exciting　the　enthusiasm　of　the　soldiers。　She　often　repaired　to　the　caserns　of　the　guards；　and　her　mildness　and　affability　won　for　her　the　hearts　of　the　rough　soldiers　accustomed　to　slavish　subjection。　When　she　rode　through　the　streets；　it　was　not　an　unusual　occurrence　to　see　common　soldiers　approach　her　sledge　and　converse　familiarly　with　her。　Wherever　she　showed　herself；　there　the　soldiers　received　her　with　shouts；　and　the　palace　of　the　princess　was　always　open　to　them。　In　this　way　Elizabeth　made　herself　popular；　and　the　Regent　Anna；　who　was　informed　of　it；　smiled　at　it　with　indifference。

Just　as　incautiously　did　Elizabeth's　fanatical　political　manager；　Lestocq；　set　about　his　work。　He　made　no　secret　of　his　intercourse　with　the　French　ambassador；　and　in　the　public　coffee…houses　he　was　often　heard　in　a　loud　voice　to　prophesy　an　approaching　political　change。

But　with　regard　to　all　these　imprudences　it　seemed　as　if　the　court　and　the　regent　were　blinded　by　the　most　careless　confidence；　as　if　they　could　not　see　what　was　directly　before　their　eyes。　It　was　as　if　destiny　covered　those　eyes　with　a　veil；　that　they　might　not　see；　and　against　destiny　even　the　great　and　the　powerful　of　the　earth　struggle　in　vain。



THE　WARNING

The　4th　of　December；　the　day　of　the　court…ball；　to　which　Elizabeth　had　looked　forward　with　a　longing　heart　because　of　her　anxiety　to　display　at　court　her　new　Parisian　dresses；　at　length　had　come。　A　most　active　movement　prevailed　in　the　palace　of　the　regent。　The　lord…marshal　and　the　chamberlains　on　service　passed　up　and　down　through　the　rooms；　overlooking　with　sharp　eyes　the　various　ornaments；　festoons；　garlands；　and　draperies；　to　make　sure　that　all　was　splendid；　and　tasteful；　and　magnificent。

Anna　Leopoldowna　troubled　herself　very　little　about　these　busy　movements　in　her　palace。　She　was　in　her　boudoir；　delightedly　reading　a　letter　from　her　distant　lover；　which　had　just　been　received　under　Julia's　address。　She　had　already　read　this　letter　several　times；　but　ever　recommenced　it；　and　ever　found　some　new　word；　some　new　phrase　that　proved　to　her　the　glowing　love　of　her　absent　friend。

〃Ah；　he　still　loves　me；〃　murmured　she；　pressing　the　letter　to　her　lips；　〃he　really　loves　me；　and　this　short　separation　will　not　estrange　his　heart；　but　cause　it　to　glow　with　warmer　passion！　Oh；　what　a　happiness　will　it　be　when　he　again　returns！　And　he　will　return！　Yes；　he　will　be　with　me　again　on　the　18th　of　December；　and；　animated　by　his　glances；　I　shall　for　the　first　time　appear　in　all　the　splendor　of　an　imperial　crown。　Ah；　they　have　no　presentiment；　my　councillors　and　ministers；　that　I　have　selected　the　18th　of　December　for　the　ceremony　precisely　because　it　is　the　birthday　of　my　beloved！　He　will　know　it；　he　will　understand　why　his　Anna　has　chosen　this　particular　day；　and　he　will　thank　me　with　one　of　those　proud　and　glowing　glances　which　always　made　my　heart　tremulous　with　overpowering　happiness。　Oh；　my　Lynar；　what　a　blessed　moment　will　be　that　when　I　see　you　again！〃

A　slight　knock　at　the　door　interrupted　the　imaginings　of　the　princess。　It　was　Julia　von　Mengden；　who　came　to　announce　the　old　Count　Ostermann。

〃And　is　it　for　him　that　you　disturb　my　delightful　solitude？〃　asked　the　princess；　somewhat　reproachfully。　〃Is　this　Count　Ostermann；　is　this　whole　miserable　realm　of　so　much　importance　to　me　as　the　sweet　contemplation　of　a　letter　from　my　friend？　When　I　am　reading　his　letter　it　seems　to　me　that　my　beloved　himself　is　at　my　side；　and　therefore　you　must　clearly　see　that　I　cannot　receive　Count　Ostermann；　as　Lynar　is　with　me！〃

〃Put　your　letter　and　your　lover　in　your　bosom；〃　said　Julia；　with　a　laugh；　〃he　will　be　very　happy　there；　and　then　you　can　receive　the　old　count　without　betraying　your　lover's　presence！　The　count　has　so　pressingly　begged　for　an　audience　that　I　finally　promised　to　intercede　with　you　for　him。〃

〃Ah；　this　eternal　business！〃　angrily　exclaimed　the　princess。　〃They　will　never　let　me　have　any　peace；　they　harass　me　the　whole　day。　Even　now；　when　it　is　time　to　be　making　my　toilet　for　the　balleven　now　I　must　be　tormented　with　affairs　of　state。〃

〃Shall　I；　then；　send　away　Count　Ostermann？〃　sulkily　asked　Julia。

〃That　I　may；　consequently；　for　the　whole　evening　see　you　with　a　dissatisfied　face？　No；　let　him　come；　but　forget　not　that　I　submit　to　this　annoyance　only　to　please　you。〃

With　a　grateful　smile；　Julia　kissed　the　regent's　hand；　and　then　hastened　to　bear　to　Count　Ostermann　the　favorable　answer。

In　a　few　minutes；　Count　Ostermann；　painfully　supporting　himself　upon　two　crutches；　entered　the　regent's　cabinet。

Anna　Leopoldowna　received　him；　sitting　in　an　armchair；　and　listlessly　rummaging　in　a　band…box　filled　with　various　articles　of　dress　and　embroidery；　which　had　just　been　brought　to　her。

〃Well；〃　said　she；　raising　her　eyes　for　a　moment　to　glance　at　Ostermann；　〃you　come　at　a　very　inconvenient　hour；　Herr　Minister　Count　Ostermann。　You　see　that　I　am　already　occupied　with　my　toilet；　and　am　endeavoring　to　find　a　suitable　head…dress。　Will　you　aid　me　in　the　choice；　sir　count？〃

Ostermann　had　until　now；　painfully　and　with　many　suppressed　groans；　sustained　himself　upon　his　feet；　at　a　silent　nod　from　the　princess　he　glided　down　into　a　chair；　and　staring　at　Anna　with　his　piercing　and　wonderfully…flashing　eyes；　he　said：

〃You　highness　would　select　a　head…dress？　Well；　as　you　ask　my　advice　in　the　matter；　I　will　give　it；　choose　a　head…dress　so　firm　and　solid　as　to　prove　a　fortification　for　the　defence　of　your　head。　Choose　a　head…　dress　that　will　protect　you　against　conspiracies　and　revolutions；　against　false　friends　and　smiling　enemies！　Choose　a　head…dress　that　will　keep　your　head　upon　your　shoulders！〃

〃Count　Ostermann　speaks　in　riddles；〃　said　Anna；　smiling；　and　at　the　same　time　arranging　a　wreath　of　artificial　roses。　〃Or　no；　it　was　not　Count　Ostermann；　but　a　toad　singing　his　hoarse　song。　Drive　away　that　toad；　Ostermann；　it　is　broad　daywhy；　then；　have　we　the　croaking　of　such　night…birds？〃

〃Listen　to　the　croaking　of　this　toad；〃　anxiously　responded　the　old　man。　〃Believe　me；　princess；　when　the　toads　croak　in　broad　daylight；　it　betokens　an　approaching　misfortune。　Let　it　warn　you；　Madame　Regent　Anna！　You　have　called　me　a　toadvery　well；　toads　always　have　correctly　prophesied　misfortune；　and　if　they　can　never　avert　it；　it　is　because　otherwise　people　will　not　listen　to　such　oracular　voices　of　all…wise　Nature！　Let　me　be　your　toad；　your　highness；　and　listen　to　me！　I　foresee　misfortune　for　you