the daughter of an empress-第16部分

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ies　present；　and　this　triumph　contented　her　heart。

The　princess　now　approached　her　cousin；　the　Regent　Anna；　who　came　from　the　adjoining　room　to　meet　and　welcome　her；　and　for　one　short　moment　the　courtiers　forgot　her　smiles　and　her　inoffensiveness。　All　eyes　were　with　the　most　intense　anxiety　directed　toward　those　two　women；　all　conversation；　jesting；　and　laughing　were　at　once　suspended。　There　was　a　deep　pause；　all　breathing　was　smothered；　all　feared　that　the　loud　beating　of　their　hearts　might　betray　them　and　cause　them　to　be　suspected。

The　two　princesses　now　approached　each　otherPrincess　Elizabeth　would　have　bent　a　knee　to　the　regentAnna；　with　charming　kindness；　raising　and　kissing　her；　tenderly　reproached　her　for　coming　so　late。

〃I　feared　coming　too　early；〃　said　Elizabeth；　pressing　the　regent's　hand　to　her　lips；　〃for　I　doubted　whether　my　fair　cousin　would　find　time　to　bestow　a　friendly　word　upon　her　poor　relation；　Princess　Elizabeth！〃

〃How　could　Elizabeth　fear　that；　when　she　knows　I　love　her　like　a　sister？〃　tenderly　asked　the　regent；　and；　taking　the　arm　of　the　princess；　she　made　with　her　a　round　through　the　rooms。

Now　again　came　life　and　movement　in　this　lately　so　silent　and　anxiously　expectant　assemblage；　they　now　knew　how　they　were　to　deport　themselves：　Princess　Elizabeth　was　in　the　good　graces　of　the　regent；　and　therefore　they　could　receive　her　polite　greetings　with　the　most　reverential　thankfulness；　they　could　approach　her　and　admire　her　beauty　without　incurring　suspicion。　The　stereotyped　smile　had　reappeared　upon　all　faces；　cheerful　and　lively　conversation　was　again　resumed；　and　wherever　the　two　arm…in…arm　wandering　princesses　appeared；　they　were　greeted　with　endless　shouts　of　ecstasy。

As　we　have　said；　it　was　a　gay　and　very　splendid　festival。　Only　occasionally　did　something　like　a　dark　shadow　pass　through　the　rooms；　only　here　and　there　did　the　chattering　guests　forget　their　wonted　smiles；　only　occasionally　did　the　mask　of　cheerfulness　fall　from　many　a　face；　discovering　serious；　anxious　features；　and　suspicious；　lurking　glances。　Every　one　felt　that　a　catastrophe　was　impending；　but；　as　no　one　could　know　its　result　in　advance；　all　wished　to　keep　as　clear　of　it　as　possible；　and　seem　perfectly　unconscious　and　unaffected　by　these　things。　As　they　could　not　foresee　which　party　would　triumph；　they　found　it　advisable　to　join　neither　while　awaiting　coming　events；　after　which　they　would　hail　as　lords　and　masters　those　who　might　succeed　in　attaining　to　power。

For　the　present；　Anna　Leopoldowna　was　the　ruler；　and；　as　they　were　her　subjects；　they　must　in　humble　submission　pay　homage　to　her；　but　Elizabeth　might　become　empress；　and　therefore　they　must　likewise　pay　homage　to　her；　with　a　prudent　avoidance　of　the　too　much；　which　might　cause　them　to　be　suspected　in　case　the　regent　should　still　continue　in　power。

These　were　the　dangerous　rocks　between　which　this　proud　and　elegant　assemblage　had　to　find　their　winding　way；　and　they　did　it　with　smiles　and　outward　ease；　with　open　admiration　of　both　princesses；　before　whom　they　bowed　to　the　ground　with　slavish　submission。

But　suddenly　something　like　a　panic…terror；　like　an　unnatural　awe；　flew　through　all　these　splendid　halls；　the　smiles　were　arrested　on　all　faces；　the　harmless　jests　on　all　lips；　the　pallor　of　beautiful　women　became　visible　through　their　paint；　and　generals　staggered　to　and　fro　as　if　a　thunderbolt　had　fallen。　As　if　touched　by　a　magic　wand；　every　one　stood　motionless　like　statues　modelled　in　clay；　no　one　daring　to　speak　to　his　neighbor　or　make　a　sign　to　a　friend。　They　would　not　see；　they　would　not　hear；　they　only　wished　to　seem　to　be　indifferent　and　unobserving。

As　we　said；　a　panic…terror　pervaded　the　halls；　and　like　an　evil…　announcing　night…spectre　passed　over　the　heads　of　the　stiffened；　lifeless　crowd　the　dismal　rumor〃The　regent　and　the　princess　are　at　variance；　the　regent　is　speaking　to　her　with　vehemence；　and　the　princess　weeps！〃

This　certainly　was　a　terrible　announcement。　But　if　the　regent　was　angry；　it　must　be　because　she　knew　of　the　intrigues　and　machinations　of　the　princess；　and　knowing　them　she　could　counteract　and　nullify　them；　consequently　the　plans　of　the　princess　were　upset；　Anna　Leopoldowna　would　remain　ruler；　and　her　son　Ivan　the　Czar　of　all　the　Russias。

Now　the　touch；　the　vicinity　of　Elizabeth's　friends　became　an　evil…　breathing　pest；　a　death…bringing　terror；　they　anxiously　avoided　the　vicinity　of　Lestocq；　they　crowded　back　from　Woronzow　and　Razumovsky；　whom　they　had　before　sought　with　every　demonstration　of　friendliness；　they　even　avoided　looking　at　the　French　ambassador；　for；　if　the　regent　knew　all；　she　must　know　of　the　intimate　relations　of　Lestocq　with　the　Marquis　de　la　Chetardie；　and　he　was　therefore　doomed　like　the　other　three。

And　moreover；　this　pernicious　rumor　had　not　lied；　the　two　princesses　were　at　this　moment　no　longer　so　tender　and　friendly　disposed　as　shortly　before。

They　had　long　wandered　through　the　halls；　confidingly　chatting　and　smiling；　and　Anna；　leaning　upon　Elizabeth's　armAnna　who　this　day　saw　every　thing　/couleur　de　rose/felt　a　sort　of　disquiet　that　people　should　suspect　her　who　was　walking　by　her　side　with　such　innocent　candor　and　unconstraint；　seeming　not　to　have　the　least　presentiment　of　the　dark　cloud　gathering　over　her　head。

〃She　is　inconsiderate；〃　thought　the　regent；　〃she　allows　herself　to　be　carried　away　by　her　temperament；　and　behind　her　inclination　and　her　weakness　for　handsome　grenadiers　and　soldiers；　her　enemies　seek　to　discover　an　insidious　and　well…considered　conspiracy；　this　is　cruel　and　unjust！　This　good　Elizabeth　must　be　warned；　that　she　may　become　more　cautious；　and　give　her　numerous　enemies　no　occasion　for　suspecting　her。　Poor　innocent　child；　so　gay　and　ingenuous；　she　plays　with　roses　under　which　serpents　lie　concealed！　It　is　my　duty　to　warn　her；　and　I　will。〃

Wholly　penetrated　with　this　noble　and　generous　resolution；　the　regent　drew　her　cousin　Elizabeth　into　the　little　boudoir　which　lay　at　the　end　of　the　hall；　offering　a　convenient　resting…place　for　a　confidential　conversation。

But　at　this　moment　Anna's　eyes　fell　upon　the　lace　mantelet　of　the　princess；　and　quite　involuntarily　came　to　her　mind　the　warning　words　of　Ostermann；　who　had　said　to　her：　〃The　French　ambassador；　by　command　of　his　government；　provides　the　princess　not　only　with　money；　but　also　with　the　newest　modes　and　most　costly　stuffs。〃　This　lace　mantelet　could　surely　only　come　from　Paris；　nothing　similar　to　it　had　been　seen　in　St。　Petersburg；　it　certainly　required　especial　sources　and　especial　means　for　the　procurement　of　such　a　rare　and　magnificent　exemplar。

A　cloud　drew　over　the　regent's　brow；　and　in　a　rather　sharp　and　cutting　tone　she　said；　〃One　question；　princess！　How　came　you　by　this　admirable　lace　veil；　the　like　of　which　I　have　not　seen　here　in　St。　Petersburg？〃

While　putting　this　question；　the　regent's　eyes　were　fixed　with　a　piercing；　interrogating　expression　upon　the　face　of　the　princess：　she　wished　to　observe　the　slightest　shrinking；　the　least　movement　of　her　features。

But　Elizabeth　was　prepared　for　the　question；　she　had　already　considered　her　answer　with　the　marquis　and　Lestocq。　Her　features　therefore　betrayed　not　the　least　disturbance　or　disquiet；　raising　her　bright　and　childlike　eyes；　she　said；　with　an　unconstrained　smile：　〃You　wonder；　do　you　not；　how　I　came　by　this　costly　ornament？　Ah；　I　have　for　the　last　eight　days　rejoiced　in　the　expectation　of　surprising　you　to…day　with　the　sight　of　it！〃

〃But　you　have　not　yet　told　me　whence　you　have　these　costly　laces？〃　asked　the　regent　in　a　sharper　tone。

〃It　is　a　wager　I　have　won　of　the　good　Marquis　de　la　Chetardie；〃　said　Elizabeth；　without　embarrassment；　〃and　your　highness　must　confess　that　this　French　ambassador　has　paid　his　wager　with　much　taste。〃

The　regent　had　constantly　become　more　serious　and　gloomy。　A　dark；　fatal　suspicion　for　a　moment　overclouded　her　soul；　and　in　her　usually　unsuspicious　mind　arose　the　questions：　〃What　if　Ostermann　was　right；　if　Elizabeth　is　really　conspiring；　and　the　French　ambassador　is　her　confederate？〃

〃And　what；　if　one　may　ask；　was　the　subject　of　the　wager？〃　she　asked；　with　the　tone　of　an　inquisitor。

〃Ah；　this　good　marquis；〃　said　the　princess；　laughing；　〃had　never　yet　experienced　the　rigor　of　a　Russian　winter；　and　he　would　not　believe　that　our　Neva　with　its　rushing　streams　and　rapid　current　would　in　winter　be　changed　into　a　very　commodious　highway。　I　wagered　that　I　would　convince　him　of　the　fact；　and　be　the　first　to　cross　it　on　the　ice；　he　would　not　believe　me；　and　declared　that　I　should　lack　the　courage。　Well；　of　course　I　did　it；　and　won　my　wager！〃

The　regent　had　not　turned　her　eyes　from　the　princess　while　she　was　thus　speaking。　This　serene　calmness；　this　unembarrassed　childishness；　completely　disarmed　her。　The　dark　suspicion　vanished　from　her　mind；　Anna　breathed　freer；　and　laid　her　hand　upon　her　heart　as　if　she　would　restrain　its　violent　beating。　The　letter　of　Lynar　slightly　rustled　under　her　hand。

A　ray　of　sunshine　became　visible　in　Anna's　face；　she　thought　of　her　beloved；　she　felt　his　presence；　and　immediately　all　the　vapors　of　mistrust　were　scatteredAnna　feared　no　more；　she　suspected　no　more；　she　again　became　cheerful　and　happyfor　she　thought　of　her　distant　lover；　his　affectionate　words　rested　upon　her　bosomhow；　therefore；　could　she　feel　anger？

She　only　now　recollected　that　she　had　intended　to　warn　Elizabeth。　She　therefore　threw　her　arms　around　the　neck　of　the　princess；　and；　sitting　with　her　upon　the　divan；　said：　〃Do　you　know；　Elizabeth；　that　you　have　many　enemies　at　my　court；　and　that　they　would　excite　my　suspicions　against　you？〃

〃Ah；　I　may　well　believe　they　would　be　glad　to　do　so；　but　they　cannot；〃　said　Elizabeth；　laughing；　〃I　am　a　foolish；　trifling　woman；　who；　unfortunately　for　them；　do　nothing　to　my　enemies　that　can　render　me　suspected；　as；　in　reality；　I　do　nothing　at　all。　I　am　indolent；　Anna；　very　indolent；　you　ought　to　have　raised　me　better；　my　dear　lady　regent！〃

And　with　an　amiable　roguishness　Elizabeth　kissed　the　tips　of　Anna's　fingers。

〃No；　no；　be　serious　for　once；〃　said　Anna；　〃laugh　not；　Elizabeth；　but　listen　to　me！〃

And　she　related　to　the　listening　princess　how　people　came　from　all　sides　to　warn