the daughter of an empress-第20部分

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〃I　will　now　sleep；〃　said　she。　〃Yes；　sleep！　Possibly　Heaven　may　send　me　a　pleasant　dream；　and　I　may　see　my　Lynar！　But　no；　I　must　first　go　to　Ivan；　to　ascertain　whether　his　slumber　is　tranquil。〃

With　hasty　steps　she　repaired　to　the　adjacent　chamber；　which　was　that　of　the　young　emperor。

There　all　was　still。　Before　the　door　opening　upon　the　corridor　she　heard　the　regular　step　of　the　soldier　on　guard。　The　waiters　upon　the　emperor　were　slumbering　upon　mattresses　around　him。　It　was　a　picture　of　profound　tranquillity。

With　light　steps　Anna　approached　the　cradle　of　her　son；　and；　bending　down　over　him；　regarded　him　with　tender　maternal　glances；　while　his　still　and　peaceful　slumber　seemed　to　touch　her　heart　with　a　sweet　emotion。

〃Sleep；　my　dear　child；　my　charming　little　emperor；〃　she　murmured　〃sleep；　and　in　your　dreams　may　you　play　with　angels　as　beautiful　as　yourself！〃

Bending　again　over　the　cradle；　she　breathed　a　light　kiss　upon　the　rosy　lips　of　her　child；　and　then　noiselessly　returned　to　her　own　chamber。

〃And　now；〃　said　she；　drawing　a　long　breath；　〃now　will　I；　also；　sleep　and　dream！　Good…night；　my　beloved；　good…night；　Lynar！〃

With　a　happy　smile　she　reclined　upon　her　couch；　and　soon　slumbered。

At　this　moment　the　clock　in　the　next　chamber　struck　the　twelfth　hour。　Slowly　and　solemnly　resounded　the　tones　of　the　striking　clocks　that　announced　the　midnight。

At　this　same　hour　a　lively　movement　commenced　in　the　palace　of　the　Princess　Elizabeth。　Lights　were　seen　glancing　from　window　to　window；　hurrying　shadows　were　seen　coming　and　going　in　the　rooms；　every　thing　there　announced　an　activity　unusual　for　the　hour；　and　certainly　it　was　a　signal　good　fortune　for　Elizabeth　that　Anna　had　forbidden　her　husband's　sending　a　patrol　through　the　streets。　One　single　patrol　passing　the　palace　might　have　frustrated　the　whole　conspiracy！

But　the　streets　were　perfectly　quiet；　nowhere　was　a　sentinel　or　watchman　to　be　seen。

The　slight　creaking　and　whizzing　of　a　sledge　upon　the　crackling　snow　was　now　heard；　it　came　nearer　and　nearer；　and　then　there　was　a　knocking　at　the　palace　gate。　The　porter　opened；　and　two　sledges　drove　into　the　court。

The　first；　with　a　rich　covering　and　magnificent　ornaments；　was　empty。　But　Lestocq　was　seen　to　spring　out　of　the　second；　and　hurriedly　enter　the　palace。

Elizabeth；　splendidly　dressed；　sparkling　with　brilliants；　was　waiting　in　her　small　reception…room。　No　one　but　Alexis　Razumovsky　was　with　her。　Neither　of　them　spoke；　and　their　visages　plainly　discovered　that　they　were　in　a　state　of　painfully　uncomfortable　suspense。

Elizabeth　was　pale　and　had　a　convulsive　twitching　about　her　mouth；　her　form　trembled　feverishly；　and　she　was　obliged　to　cling　to　Razumovsky；　to　prevent　falling。

〃Did　you　hear　the　opening　of　the　court…yard　gate？〃　she　breathed　low。　〃Lestocq　is　not　yet　here；　and　it　is　past　midnight。　Certainly　he　is　arrested；　all　is　discovered；　and　we　are　lost！　I　am　fearfully　anxious；　Alexis；　I　already　seem　to　feel　the　sword　at　my　throat。　Ah；　hear　you　not　steps　in　the　corridor？　They　come　this　way。　They　are　my　pursuers。　They　come　to　conduct　me　to　the　scaffold！　Save　me；　Alexis；　save　me！〃

And　with　a　shrill　cry　of　anguish　the　princess　clung　to　the　neck　of　her　favorite。

The　door　was　now　hastily　opened；　and　upon　the　threshold　appeared　Lestocq　and　Woronzow。

〃Princess　Elizabeth！〃　exclaimed　Lestocq；　with　solemnity；　〃I　have　come　for　you。　The　throne　awaits　its　empress！〃

〃Up；　Princess　Elizabeth；〃　said　Alexis；　〃take　courage；　my　fair　empress；　give　us　an　example　of　spirit　and　resolution！〃

The　princess　slowly　raised　her　pale　face　from　Razumovsky's　shoulder；　and　looking　around　with　timid　glances；　faintly　said：　〃I　suffer　fearfully！　This　anguish　will　kill　me！　My　destiny　is　so　cruel；　I　am　so　tormented。　Why　must　I　be　an　empress？〃

〃That　you　may　be　no　nun；〃　laconically　responded　Lestocq。

〃And　to　become　the　greatest　and　loftiest　woman　in　the　world！〃　said　Woronzow。

〃To　raise　to　your　own　elevation　the　man　you　love；〃　whispered　Alexis。

With　a　glance　of　tenderness；　Elizabeth　nodded　to　him。

〃Yes；〃　said　she；　〃for　your　sake；　my　Alexis；　I　will　become　an　empress！　Come；　let　us　go。　But　where　is　Grunstein？〃

〃With　his　faithful　followers　he　awaits　us　before　the　casern　of　his　regiment。　We　go　there　first。〃

〃Then　let　us　go！〃　said　Elizabeth；　striding　forward。　But　she　stopped　on　seeing　that　Alexis　followed　with　the　other　two。

〃No；〃　said　she；　〃you　must　not　go　with　us；　Alexis。　If　I　am　to　have　courage　to　act　and　speak；　I　must　know　that　you　are　not　mingled　in　the　strifeI　must　not　have　to　tremble　for　your　life！　No；　no；　only　when　I　know　that　you　are　concealed　and　in　safety；　can　I　have　courage　to　struggle　for　an　imperial　crown。　Promise　me；　therefore；　Alexis；　that　you　will　quietly　remain　here　until　I　send　a　messenger　for　you！〃

Razumovsky　begged　and　implored　in　vainin　vain　he　knelt　before　her；　and　covered　her　hands　with　tears　and　kisses。

Elizabeth　remained　inflexible；　and；　as　Alexis　yet　persisted　in　his　prayers；　she　earnestly　and　proudly　said：　〃Alexis　Razumovsky；　I　command　you　to　remain　here。　You　will　obey　the　first　command　of　your　empress！〃

〃I　will　remain；〃　sighed　Alexis；　〃and　the　world　will　point　the　finger　of　scorn　at　me；　calling　me　a　coward！〃

〃And　I　will　compel　the　world　to　honor　you　as　a　king！〃　said　Elizabeth；　with　tenderness；　beckoning　to　Lestocq　and　Woronzow　to　follow　her　from　the　room。

Silently　they　hastened　down　the　stairssilently　was　Elizabeth　handed　into　her　sledge；　while　Lestocq　and　Woronzow　took　their　places　in　the　second。

〃Forward！〃　thundered　Lestocq's　powerful　voice；　and　the　train　rushed　through　the　dark　and　deserted　streets。

St。　Petersburg　slept。　No　one　appeared　at　the　darkened　windows　of　the　silent　palaces；　no　one　boded　that　a　new　empress　was　passing　through　the　streets；an　empress；　who　at　this　time　had　but　two　subjects　in　her　train！

They　had　now　reached　the　casern　of　the　Peobrajensky　regiment。　There　they　halted。　In　the　open　door　stands　Grunstein　with　his　thirty　recruits。

They　silently　approached　the　sledge　of　the　princess　and　prostrated　themselves　before　her。

〃Hail　to　our　empress！〃　whispered　Grunstein　low；　and　as　low　was　it　repeated　by　the　soldiers。

〃Let　us　enter　the　casern；　call　the　soldiers；　and　awaken　the　officers；　I　myself　will　address　them！〃　said　Elizabeth；　alighting　from　her　sledge。　She　was　now　full　of　courage　and　resolution。　In　the　face　of　danger　now　no　longer　to　be　avoided；　she　had　suddenly　steeled　her　heart；　her　father's　spirit　was　awakened　in　her。

With　a　firm　step　she　entered　the　casern；　the　conspirators　had　already　raised　an　alarm　there；　and　the　suddenly　aroused　soldiers　rushed　from　all　the　corridors；　with　wonder　and　admiration　staring　at　this　noble　and　beautiful　woman　who；　radiant　in　the　splendor　of　her　beauty；　and　sparkling　with　jewels；　stood　in　their　midst。

〃Soldiers；〃　cried　Elizabeth；　with　a　firm　voice；　〃I　come　to　implore　your　support　in　my　attempt　to　obtain　justice　in　the　realm　of　my　father！　I　am　the　daughter　of　the　great　Emperor　Peter；　the　rightful　heir　to　the　throne　of　Russia；　and　I　claim　what　is　mine！　I　will　no　longer　suffer　a　German　princess　to　give　laws　to　you；　my　beloved　brethren　and　countrymen！　Follow　me；　therefore；　and　let　us　drive　away　these　foreign　intruders　who　have　usurped　the　throne　of　your　lawful　sovereign！〃

〃All　hail；　Elizabeth；　our　empress！〃　cried　the　conspirators；　prostrating　themselves。

Surprised；　benumbed；　and　overpowered；　the　others　made　no　opposition。　Miserable　slaves；　they　were　accustomed　to　obey　whoever　dared　assume　the　command　over　them；and　they　therefore　submitted。　Falling　upon　their　knees；　they　took　the　oath　of　allegiance　to　the　new　empress！

Elizabeth　was　now　the　empress　of　three　hundred　soldiers。

〃Up；　now；　my　friends；　to　the　palace　of　the　czar；　where　these　usurpers　dwell　and　inflict　upon　you　the　shame　of　calling　a　cradled　infant　your　emperor。　Come；　and　let　us　punish　them　for　this　insult；　by　thrusting　them　from　their　usurped　power！〃

〃We　will　follow　our　empress　in　life　and　death！〃　cried　the　soldiers。

They　therefore　started　again；　and　once　more　hastened　through　the　silent　streets　until；　at　length；　they　reached　the　imperial　palace；　where　dwelt　the　Emperor　Ivan　with　his　parents。

Elizabeth；　with　her　confidential　partisans　in　four　sledges；　had　hastened　on　in　advance　of　the　others。　With　renewed　courage　they　approached　the　principal　entrance　of　the　palace。

The　guard　took　to　their　arms；　and　the　drummer　was　preparing　to　beat　an　alarm；　when　a　single　blow　of　Lestocq's　fist　broke　through　the　skin　of　the　drum。

The　terrified　drummer　fell；　and　over　his　body　passed　the　band　of　conspirators；　Elizabeth　at　their　head。

No　one　ventured　to　oppose　them；　the　slaves　fell　upon　their　knees　in　homage　to　her　who　announced　herself　as　their　mistress　and　empress！

Thus　meeting　with　universal　submission　and　obedience；　they　approached　the　wing　of　the　palace　occupied　by　the　Emperor　Ivan　and　his　mother　the　regent。　Here　is　stationed　an　officer　of　the　guard。　He　alone　ventures　defiance　to　the　intruders。　He　meets　them　with　his　sword　drawn；　and　swears　to　strike　down　the　first　person　who　attempts　to　enter　the　corridor。

〃Unhappy　man；　what　is　it　you　dare！〃　said　Lestocq；　boldly　advancing。　〃You　are　guilty　of　high…treason。　Fall　upon　your　knees　and　implore　pardon　of　your　empress；　Elizabeth！〃

The　officer　shrank　bank　in　terror。　It　was　an　empress　who　stood　before　him；　and　he　had　dared　to　defy　her！

Begging　forgiveness　and　mercy；　he　dropped　his　sword　and　fell　upon　his　knees。　The　Russian　slave　was　awakened　in　him；　and　he　bent　before　the　one　who　had　the　power　to　command。

Unobstructed；　retained　by　no　one；　Elizabeth　and　her　followers　now　strode　through　the　corridor　leading　to　the　private　apartments　of　the　regent。　Sentinels　were　placed　at　every　door；　with　strict　commands　to　strike　down　any　one　who　should　dare　to　oppose　them。

In　this　manner　they　reached　the　anteroom　of　the　regent's　chamber。

Elizabeth　had　not　the　courage　to　go　any　farther。　She　hesitatingly　stopped。　A　deep　shame　and　repentance　came　over　her　when　she　thought　of　the　noble　confidence　Anna　had　shown；　and　which　she　was　now　on　the　point　of　repaying　with　the　blackest　treason。

Lestocq；　whose　sharp；　observing　glances　constantly　rested　upon　her；　divined　her　thoughts　and　the　cause