the daughter of an empress-第21部分

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Lestocq；　whose　sharp；　observing　glances　constantly　rested　upon　her；　divined　her　thoughts　and　the　cause　of　her　irresolution。　He　privately　whispered　some　words　to　Grunstein；　who；　with　thirty　grenadiers；　immediately　approached　the　door　of　Anna's　sleeping…room。

With　a　single　push　the　door　was　forced；　and　with　a　wild　cry　the　soldiers　rushed　to　the　couch　upon　which　Anna　Leopoldowna　was　reposing。

With　a　cry　of　anguish　Anna　springs　up　from　her　slumber；　and　shudderingly　stares　at　the　soldiers　by　whom　she　is　encompassed；　who；　with　rough　voices；　command　her　to　rise　and　follow　them。　They　scarcely　give　her　time　to　put　on　a　robe；　and　encase　her　little　feet　in　shoes。

But　Anna　has　become　perfectly　calm　and　self…possessed。　She　knows　she　is　lost；　and；　too　proud　to　weep　or　complain；　she　finds　in　herself　courage　to　be　tranquil。

〃I　beg　only　to　be　allowed　to　speak　to　Elizabeth；〃　said　she；　aloud。　〃I　will　do　all　you　command　me。　I　will　follow　you　wherever　you　wish；　only　let　me　first　see　your　empress；　Elizabeth。〃

Elizabeth；　leaning　against　the　door…post；　had　heard　these　words；　yielding　to　an　involuntary　impulse　of　her　heart；　she　pushed　open　the　door　and　appeared　upon　the　threshold　of　Anna　Leopoldowna's　chamber。

On　perceiving　her；　a　faint　smile　passed　over　Anna's　features。

〃Ah；　come　you　thus　to　me；　Elizabeth？〃　she　said；　reproachfully；　with　a　proud　glance　at　the　princess。

Elizabeth　could　not　support　that　glance。　She　cast　down　her　eyes；　and　again　Anna　Leopoldowna　smiled。　She　was　conquered；　but　before　her；　blushing　with　shame；　stood　her　momentarily　subdued　conqueror。　But　Anna　now　remembered　her　son；　and；　folding　her　hands；　she　said；　in　an　imploring　tone：

〃Elizabeth；　kill　not　my　son！　Have　compassion　upon　him！〃

Elizabeth　turned　away　with　a　shudder；　she　felt　her　heart　rent；　she　had　not　strength　for　an　answer。

Lestocq　beckoned　the　soldiers；　and　commanded　them　to　remove　the　traitress；　Anna　Leopoldowna。

Thirty　warriors　took　possession　of　the　regent；　who　calmly　and　proudly　submitted　herself　to　them　and　suffered　herself　to　be　led　away。

In　the　corridor　they　encountered　another　troop　of　soldiers；　who　were　escorting　the　regent's　husband；　Prince　Ulrich　of　Brunswick；　and　Anna's　favorite；　Julia　von　Mengden。

〃Anna！〃　sorrowfully　exclaimed　the　prince；　〃oh；　had　you　but　listened　to　my　warning！　Why　did　I　not；　in　spite　of　your　commands；　what　I　ought　to　have　done？　I　alone　am　to　blame　for　this　sad　misfortune。〃

〃It　is　no　one's　fault　but　mine；〃　calmly　responded　Anna。　〃Pardon　me；　my　husband；　pardon　me；　Julia。〃

And　so　they　descended　to　the　sledges　in　waiting　below。　They　placed　the　prince　in　one；　and　the　regent；　with　Julia；　in　the　other。

〃Ah；〃　said　Julia；　throwing　her　arms　around　Anna's　neck；　〃we　shall　at　least　suffer　together。〃

Anna　reclined　her　head　upon　her　friend's　shoulder。

〃God　is　just　and　good；〃　said　she。　〃He　punishes　me　for　my　criminal　love；　and　mercifully　spares　the　object　of　my　affections。　I　thank　God　for　my　sufferings。　Julia；　should　you　one　day　be　liberated　and　allowed　to　see　him　again；　then　bear　to　him　my　warmest　greetings；　then　tell　him　that　I　shall　love　him　eternally；　and　that　my　last　sigh　shall　be　a　prayer　for　his　happiness。　I　shall　never　see　him　again。　Bear　to　him　my　blessing；　Julia！〃

Julia　dissolved　in　tears；　and；　clinging　to　her　friend；　she　sobbed：　〃No；　no；　they　will　not　dare　to　kill　you。〃

〃Then　they　will　condemn　me　to　a　life…long　imprisonment；〃　calmly　responded　Anna。

〃No；　no；　your　head　is　sacred；　and　so　is　your　freedom。　They　dare　not　attack　either。〃

〃Nothing　is　sacred　in　Russia；〃　laconically　responded　Anna。

The　sledges　stopped　at　the　palace　of　the　Princess　Elizabeth。　Hardly　two　hours　had　passed　since　Elizabeth；　in　those　same　sledges；　had　left　her　palace　as　a　poor；　trembling　princess；　and　now；　as　reigning　empress；　she　sent　them　back　to　the　dethroned　regent。

The　latter　entered　the　palace　of　the　princess　as　a　prisoner；　while　Elizabeth；　as　empress；　took　possession　of　the　palace　of　the　czars。



THE　SLEEP　OF　INNOCENCE

Anna　Leopoldowna　had　hardly　left　the　room　in　which　she　had　been　surprised　and　captured；　when　Lestocq　turned　to　Grunstein　with　a　new　order。

〃Now；〃　said　he；　in　an　undertone　to　him〃now　hasten　to　seize　the　emperor。　This　little　Ivan　must　be　annihilated。〃

Elizabeth　had　overheard　these　words；　and　remembering　Anna's　last　prayer；　she　exclaimed　with　vehemence：

〃No；　no；　I　say；　he　shall　not　be　annihilated！　Woe　to　him　who　injures　a　hair　of　his　head！　I　will　not　be　the　murderer　of　an　innocent　child！　Take　him　prisoner；　get　him　in　your　power；　but　in　him　respect　the　child　and　the　emperor！　Tear　him　not　forcibly　from　his　slumber；　but　protect　his　sleep！　Poor　child；　destined　to　suffer　so　early！〃

〃No　weakness　now；　princess；〃　whispered　Lestocq；　〃show　yourself　great　and　firm；　else　all　is　lost！　Come　away　from　here；　that　the　sight　of　this　child　may　not　yet　more　enfeeble　your　heart。　Come；　much　more　remains　to　be　done。〃

And；　reverently　taking　Elizabeth's　hand；　he　led　her　to　the　door。

〃Now　do　your　duty；〃　said　he　to　Grunstein。　〃Seize　young　Ivan。〃

〃But　remember　my　command；　and　spare　him；〃　said　Elizabeth；　slowly　and　hesitatingly　leaving　the　chamber。

〃Now　to　Ivan！〃　Grunstein　commanded　his　soldiers；　and　with　them　he　hastened　to　the　sleeping…room　of　the　young　emperor。

There　deep　stillness　and　undisturbed　peace　yet　prevailed。　Only　the　waiting…women　were　awakened；　and　had　hastily　fled　in　search　of　concealment　and　safety。　They　had　left　the　young　emperor　entirely　alone；　and　he　had　not　been　awakened　by　the　disturbance　all　around　him。

He　lay　quietly　in　his　splendid　cradle；　which　was　placed　upon　a　sort　of　estrade　in　the　centre　of　the　room；　dimly　lighted　by　a　lamp　suspended　from　the　ceiling　by　golden　chains。　This　slumbering；　smiling；　childish　face；　peeping　forth　from　the　green　silk　coverings　of　the　pillows；　resembled　a　fresh；　bursting　rosebud。　It　was　a　sight　that　inspired　respect　even　in　those　rough　soldiers。

Devoutly　staring；　they　at　first　remained　at　the　door　of　the　room；　then　slowly；　and　stepping　on　the　points　of　their　toes；　they　approached　nearer　and　surrounded　the　cradle。　But；　remembering　the　words　of　their　new　empress；　〃Spare　his　sleep；〃　no　one　dared　to　touch　the　child；　or　awaken　him　from　his　slumber。

In　close　order　the　bearded　warriors　pressed　around　the　cradle　of　the　imperial　child；　leaning　upon　their　halberds；　watching　for　his　awaking。

It　was　a　rare　and　admirable　picture。　In　the　centre；　upon　its　estrade；　was　the　splendid　cradle　of　the　slumbering　child；　and　all　around；　upon　the　steps　of　this　child…throne；　these　soldiers　with　their　wild　and　threatening　faces；　all　eyes　expectantly　resting　upon　the　smiling　infantile　brow。

The　door　now　opened；　and；　her　face　pallid　with　terror；　Ivan's　nurse　rushed　into　the　room　and　to　the　cradle　of　her　imperial　nursling。　The　soldiers；　with　imperious　glances；　beckoned　her　to　await　in　silence；　like　themselves；　the　awakening　of　the　emperor。　The　poor　woman　spoke　not；　but　her　fast…flowing　tears　indicated　the　depth　of　her　grief。

Time　passes。　As　if　under　enchantment；　earnest；　immovable；　silent；　stand　the　soldiers。　Behind　the　cradle；　her　eyes　and　arms　raised　imploringly　toward　heaven；　stands　the　nurse；　while　the　child　continues　to　slumber；　smiling　in　its　sleep。

At　the　expiration　of　an　hour　thus　passed；　the　imperial　infant　moves；　throws　up　its　little　rosy　arms；　opens　its　eyesit　is　awake！

A　cry　of　triumph　escapes　the　lips　of　all　the　soldiersall　arms　were　stretched　forth　to　seize　him　who；　an　hour　before；　had　been　their　lord　and　emperor。

The　child；　frightened　by　the　aspect　of　these　rough　soldiers；　bursts　out　into　a　cry　of　alarm；　and　stretches　out　its　little　arms　toward　its　nurse。

She　takes　him　in　her　arms　and　weeps　over　him。　The　frightened　child　buries　its　little　face　in　the　bosom　of　his　nurse；　and　the　soldiers　now　convey　them　both　to　the　waiting　sledges。　The　dethroned　emperor　is　quickly　transported　to　the　dethroned　regent　at　Elizabeth's　palace；　who；　with　hot　tears；　clasps　her　son　to　her　heart。



THE　RECOMPENSING

Meanwhile；　Elizabeth　had　made　herself　absolute　mistress　of　the　imperial　palace。　Hastening　to　the　throne…room；　she　had　taken　possession　of　the　throne　of　her　father；　and　administered　the　oath　of　allegiance　to　the　guards　surrounding　her。

They　lay　upon　their　knees　before　her；　these　cowardly　instruments　of　despotism；　they　bowed　their　heads　in　the　dust；　and　these　four　or　five　thousand　slaves；　to　which　number　the　followers　of　the　empress　already　amounted；　swore　fealty　to　Elizabeth；　ready　to　strangle　the　regent　and　the　young　emperor　at　her　command；　or　to　serve　her　the　same　if；　peradventure；　the　regent　should　regain　a　momentary　power。

While　the　guards　were　doing　homage　in　the　palace；　Grunstein　and　Woronzow；　by　Lestocq's　command；　led　their　men　to　Munnich's　and　Ostermann's；　and　both　were　imprisoned；　with　them；　a　great　number　of　leading　and　suspected　persons；　who；　perhaps；　might　have　been　disposed　to　draw　the　sword　for　Anna　Leopoldowna。　Lestocq　had　thought　of　every　thing；　had　considered　every　thing；　at　the　same　time　that　he　entered　the　regent's　palace　with　Elizabeth；　he　sent　to　the　printer　the　manifesto　which　proclaimed　Elizabeth　as　empress。　With　the　appearance　of　the　sun　in　the　horizon；　Elizabeth　was　recognized　as　empress　in　the　capital；　and　soon　after　throughout　the　whole　empire。　Who　were　they　who　recognized　her？　It　was　not　the　people；　for　in　Russia　there　are　no　peoplethere　are　only　masters　and　slaves。　Elizabeth　had　become　empress　because　fortune　and　Anna　Leopoldowna's　generous　confidence　had　favored　her；　not　the　exigencies　of　the　people；　nor　the　tyranny　of　her　predecessor　had　called　her　to　the　throne；　but　she　had　attained　to　it　by　the　cunning　and　intrigues　of　some　few　confederates。　She　had　become　empress　because　Lestocq　was　tired　of　being　only　physician　to　a　poor　princess；　because　Grunstein　thought　the　position　of　under…officer　was　far　too　humble　for　him；　and　because　Alexis　Razumovsky；　the　former　precentor　in　the　imperial　chapel；　found　it　desirable　to　add　to　his　name　the　title　of　count　or　prince！

When　St。　Petersburg　awoke　it　heard　with　astonishment　the　news　of　a　new　revolution。　From　mouth　to　mouth　flew　this　astounding　announcement：　〃We　have　changed　our　rulers！　We　are　no　longer　the　servants　of　the　Emperor　Ivan；　but　of　the　Empress　Elizabet