the daughter of an empress-第22部分

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eth！　A　new　dynasty　has　arisen；　and　we　have　a　new　oath　of　allegiance　to　take！〃

At　first　only　a　few　ventured　to　spread　this　extraordinary　intelligence；　and　these　few　were　tremblingly　and　anxiously　avoided；　it　was　dangerous　to　listen　to　them；　people　fled　from　them　without　answering。　But　as　the　rumors　became　constantly　louder　and　more　significant；　as　at　length　their　truth　could　no　longer　be　doubted；　as　it　became　certain　that　the　regent　and　her　son　were　dethroned　and　Elizabeth　was　established　in　power；　all　the　doubting　and　anxious　faces　were；　as　by　an　electric　spark；　lighted　up　with　joy；　then　nothing　was　heard　but　the　cry　of　triumph　and　jubilation；　then　was　Anna　Leopoldowna　loudly　cursed　by　those　who　had　blessed　her　on　the　preceding　day；　then　was　the　new　Empress　Elizabeth　loudly　lauded　by　those　who　yesterday　had　smiled　with　contempt　at　her　powerlessness。

All　again　hastened　to　the　imperial　palace；　the　great　and　the　noble　again　brought　out　their　state　coaches　for　the　purpose　of　throwing　themselves　at　the　feet　of　the　new　possessor　of　power　and　swearing　a　new　allegiance；　again　nothing　was　heard　but　the　sound　of　universal　rejoicing；　nothing　seen　but　faces　lighted　up　by　ecstasy　and　eyes　glistening　with　tears　of　joy。　And　this　was；　in　fourteen　months；　the　third　time　that　they　had　done　homage　to　a　new　ruler　who　had　as　regularly　dethroned　his　predecessor；　and　they　had　each　time　gone　through　the　same　ceremony　with　the　same　evidences　of　joy；　the　same　ecstasies；　the　same　slavish　humility；　not　commiserating　the　defeated　party；　but　professing　love　and　devotion　to　the　victor！

And　as　the　day　dawned　on　St。　Petersburg；　as　it　gloriously　beamed　upon　the　young　empress；　as　she　saw　these　thousands　of　worshipping　slaves　at　her　feet；　Elizabeth's　heart　swelled　with　a　proud　joy；　and　looking　down　upon　the　masses　of　humble　and　devoted　subjects；　whose　mistress　she　was；　she　felt　herself　momentarily　overcome　by　a　deep　and　holy　emotion。

〃I　will　be　a　mother　to　this　people；〃　thought　she；　〃I　will　love　and　spare　them；　I　will　govern　them　with　mildness；　they　shall　not　curse；　but　adore　me！〃

Yielding　to　this　first　generous　impulse　of　her　heart；　Elizabeth　rose　from　the　throne；　and　with　uplifted　hands　loudly　and　solemnly　swore　that　she　would　be　a　mother　to　her　subjectsa　mother　who；　when　compelled　to　punish；　would　never　forget　love　and　forbearance！

〃No　one；　however　great　his　crime；〃　said　she；　with　flashing　eyes〃no　one　shall　be　punished　with　death　so　long　as　I　sit　upon　this　throne！　From　this　day　the　punishment　of　death　is　abolished　in　my　realm！　I　will　punish　crime；　but　I　will　spare　the　life　of　the　criminal！〃

When　Elizabeth　had　thus　spoken；　the　large　hall　again　resounded　with　the　rejoicing　shouts　of　the　great　and　noblemen　breathed　freer　and　deeper；　they　raised　their　heads　more　proudly；　for　centuries　the　all…　powerful　word　of　the　czars　had　swept　over　the　heads　of　Russians　like　the　sword　of　Damoclesit　now　seemed　to　be　removed；　and　to　promise　to　each　one　a　longer　life；　a　longer　unendangered　existence。　For　where　was　there　a　subject　of　the　czars　who　might　not　at　any　time　be　convicted　of　a　crimewhere　an　innocent　person　who　might　not　at　any　moment　be　condemned　to　death？　A　glance；　a　smile；　an　inconsiderate　word；　had　often　sufficed　to　cause　a　head　to　fall！　And　now　this　eternally　present　danger　seemed　to　be　removed！　What　wonder；　then；　that　they　raised　shouts　of　joy；　that　they　embraced　each　other；　that　they　loudly　and　solemnly　called　down　the　blessings　of　Heaven　upon　this　noble　and　merciful　empress！

During　this　time　of　general　rejoicing　among　the　great　and　noble　of　the　realm　in　the　brilliant　imperial　halls　above；　the　palace　was　surrounded　by　dense　masses　of　people　looking　up　with　curiosity　at　the　bright　windows；　and　listening　with　astonishment　to　the　joyful　shouts　that　reached　their　ears　below。　And　when　they　heard　the　cause　of　the　rejoicing　above；　they　shrugged　their　shoulders　and　murmured　low：　〃The　empress　will　henceforth　punish　no　one　with　death！　What　is　that　to　us？　That　the　great　shall　no　more　be　put　to　death　by　the　empress；　is　no　concern　of　ours；　the　serfs　of　the　great！　The　empress　is　powerful；　but　our　lords　and　masters　have　yet　more　power　over　us。　They　will　still　scourge　us　to　death；　and　the　empress　cannot　hinder　them！〃

That　a　word　of　authority　from　the　czarina　had　abolished　the　punishment　of　death；　did　not　stir　them　up　from　their　dull；　expectant　silence；　but　when　a　messenger　from　the　empress　came　and　announced　that　Elizabeth　had　ordered　a　flask　of　brandy　to　be　given　to　each　one　of　the　crowd　assembled　below；　that　they　might　drink　her　health；　then　came　life　and　movement　to　these　stupid　masses；　then　their　dull　faces　were　distorted　into　a　friendly　grin；　then　they　screamed　and　howled　with　a　brutish　ecstasy；　and　they　all　rushed　to　the　opened　door　to　avail　themselves　of　the　promised　benevolence　of　the　empress　and　receive　the　divine　liquor！

For　the　great；　the　abolition　of　capital　punishmentfor　the　people；　a　flask　of　brandythese　were　the　first　rays　that　announced　the　appearance　of　the　newly…rising　sun　Elizabeth　in　the　horizon　of　her　realm！

No；Elizabeth　did　yet　more！in　this　hour　she　remembered　with　a　grateful　heart　the　faithful　friends　who　had　assisted　her　to　the　throne；　to　reward　these　was　her　next　and　most　sacred　duty！

A　nod　from　her　called　to　her　presence　the　thirty　grenadiers　of　the　Preobrajensky　regiment　whom　Grunstein　had　won　over；　and　the　empress　with　a　gracious　smile　gave　them　her　hand　to　kiss。

Then；　rising　from　her　throne；　and　glancing　at　the　assembled　magnates　and　princes；　she　said；　in　a　clear　and　flattering　tone：　〃It　is　service　that　ennobles；　it　is　fidelity　that　lends　fame　and　splendor。　And　service　and　fidelity　have　you　rendered　and　shown　to　me；　my　faithful　grenadiers！　I　will　reward　you　as　you　deserve。　From　this　hour　you　are　free；　nay；　more；　you　are　magnates　of　my　realm；　you　belong；　with　the　best　of　right；　to　their　circle；　for；　in　virtue　of　my　imperial　power；　I　raise　you　to　the　nobility　by　creating　you　barons；　all　of　you；　my　thirty　faithful　grenadiers；　and　you；　Grunstein；　the　leader　of　this　faithful　band！　Receive　them　into　your　ranks；　my　counts　and　barons；　they　are　worthy　of　you！〃

Hesitating；　not　daring　to　mingle　with　those　proud　magnates；　stood　the　new　barons；　but　the　princes　and　counts　advanced　to　them　with　open　arms；　with　exclamations　of　tenderness　and　assurances　of　friendship。　The　empress　had　spoken；　the　slaves　must　obey；　and　these　princes　and　counts；　these　generals　and　field…marshals；　who　yesterday　would　hardly　have　thrown　away　a　contemptuous　glance　upon　these　grenadiers；　now　called　them　friends　and　brothers；　and　were　most　happy　to　admit　them　into　their　circle。

Elizabeth　gave　a　satisfied　glance　at　these　hearty　greetings：　she　found　it　infinitely　sweet　and　agreeable　to　make　so　many　men　happy　in　so　easy　a　manner；　and　with　pleasure　she　recollected　that　she　had　yet　to　reward　her　coachman　who　had　guided　her　sledge　in　the　great　and　decisive　hour。

She　ordered　him　to　be　called。　A　considerable　time　elapsed；　and　all　were　looking　expectantly　toward　the　door；　which　finally　opened；　and；　led　by　four　lackeys；　the　coachman　stumbled　into　the　hall。　They　had　had　some　trouble　in　finding　him；　until　at　length　he　was　discovered　among　the　people　in　the　court…yard；　enjoying　the　brandy　distributed　by　order　of　the　empress。　From　this　crowd　they　had　withdrawn　him　in　spite　of　his　resistance；　in　order　to　bring　him　to　his　sovereign。

She　received　the　staggering　Petrovitch　with　a　gracious　smile；　she　praised　the　dauntlessness　with　which　he　had　guided　her　sledge　in　that　eventful　night；　and　in　gratitude　for　his　good　conduct　she　raised　him；　as　she　had　the　grenadiers；　to　the　rank　of　a　nobleman　by　naming　him　a　baron　of　the　Russian　empire。

Petrovitch　listened　to　her　with　a　stupid　laugh；　and　when　the　magnates　crowded　around　him；　offering　their　hands　and　assuring　him　of　their　friendship；　he　tremblingly　and　with　effort　stammered　some　unmeaning　words；　and　falling　upon　his　knees；　he　bowed　his　head　in　the　dust　before　these　great　and　powerful　magnates；　humbly　kissing　the　hems　of　their　garments；　not　suspecting　that　he　was　their　equal　in　rank。

And　constantly　more　brilliant　and　beautiful　beamed　the　imperial　grace。　None　of　Elizabeth's　faithful　friends　and　servants　were　forgotten；　for　she　possessed　a　virtue　rare　among　princesshe　was　grateful。

She　named　Lestocq　her　first　physician；　president　of　the　medical　college；　and　member　of　her　privy　council。　She　made　Grunstein　an　imperial　aide…de…camp；　with　the　rank　of　brigadier…general；　and　Woronzow　a　count　and　her　first　chamberlain。

Then；　at　last；　she　repeated　the　name　of　her　friend　Alexis　Razumovsky。　Her　fair　brow　lighted　up　as　with　a　reflected　sunbeam　on　his　approaching　her　throne；　and；　holding　out　to　him　both　hands；　she　said　aloud：　〃Alexis　Razumovsky；　I　have　you　most　to　thank　for　my　success　in　dispossessing　the　usurpers　who　have　robbed　me　of　my　father's　throne；　for　your　wise　counsels　gave　me　courage　and　force：　be　then；　henceforth；　next　to　my　throne；　my　chamberlain；　Count　Razumovsky！〃

Bending　a　knee　before　her；　Alexis　gratefully　kissed　her　beloved　hand；　and　the　counts　and　gentlemen　surrounded　him；　loudly　praising　the　great　wisdom　of　the　empress；　whose　divine　penetration　enabled　her　everywhere　to　discover　and　reward　true　service！

〃Ah；〃　sighed　Elizabeth；　when；　on　the　evening　of　this　glorious　day；　she　was　again　alone　with　her　confidential　friends；　〃ah；　my　friends；　I　have　now　complied　with　your　wishes　and　allowed　you　to　make　an　empress　of　me！　But　forget　not；　Lestocq；　that　I　have　become　empress　only　on　condition　that　I　am　not　to　be　troubled　with　business　and　state　affairs。　This　has　been　a　day　of　great　exertion　and　fatigue；　and　I　hope　you　will　henceforth　leave　me　in　repose。　I　have　done　what　you　wished；　I　am　empress；　and　have　rewarded　you　for　your　aid；　but　now　I　also　demand　my　reward；　and　that　is　undisturbed　peace！　Once　for　all；　in　my　private　apartments　no　one　is　to　speak　of　state　affairs；　here　I　will　have　repose；　you　can　carry　on　the　government　through　your　bureaux　and　/chancelleries/；　I　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　it！　Here　we　will　be　gay　and　enjoy　life。　Come　here；　my　Alexis；come　here　and　tell　me　if　this　imperial　crown　is　becoming；　and　whether　you　found　me　fair　in　my　ermine…trimmed　purple　mantle？〃

〃My　lofty　empress　is　always　the　fairest