the daughter of an empress-第24部分

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〃Be　calm；　tranquillize　yourselfit　will　all　be　well；〃　said　the　latter；　with　a　smile。

The　postilion　blew　his　hornthe　horses　started；　gayly　resounded　the　tones　of　the　silver　bells；　with　a　light　whizzing；　away　flew　the　sledge　over　the　snow。　It　bore　thence　a　dethroned　emperor　and　his　overthrown　family！

Rapidly　did　this　richly…laden　sledge　pass　through　the　streets；　but；　following　it；　was　a　troop　of　armed；　grim…looking　soldiers；　like　unwholesome　ravens　following　their　certain　booty。

At　about　the　same　hour；　another　armed　troop　passed　through　the　streets　of　St。　Petersburg。　With　drawn　swords　they　surrounded　two　closely…　covered　sledges；　the　mysterious　occupants　of　which　no　one　was　allowed　to　descry！　The　train　made　a　halt　at　the　same　gate　through　which　the　overthrown　imperial　family　had　just　passed。　The　soldiers　surrounded　the　sledges　in　close　ranks；　no　one　was　allowed　a　glimpse　at　those　who　alighted　from　them。

But　these　extra　precautions　of　the　soldiery　were　unnecessary；　as　nobody　wished　to　see　the　unfortunate　objects。　Every　one　timidly　glanced　aside；　that　they　might　not；　by　looking　at　the　poor　creatures；　bring　themselves　into　suspicion　of　favoring　men　suffering　under　the　displeasure　of　the　government。　But　though　they　looked　not　at　them；　every　one　knew　who　they　were；　though　they　dared　not　speak　to　each　other；　every　one　tremblingly　said　to　himself：　〃There　go　Munnich　and　Ostermann　to　their　trials！〃

Munnich　and　Ostermann；　the　faithful　servants　of　Peter　the　Great　Munnich；　whom　Prince　Eugene　called　〃his　beloved　pupil；〃　Ostermann；　of　whom　the　dying　Czar　Peter　said　he　had　never　caught　him　in　a　fault；　that　he　was　the　only　honest　statesman　in　RussiaMunnich　and　Ostermann；　those　two　great　statesmen　to　whom　Russia　was　chiefly　indebted　for　what　civilization　and　cultivation　she　had　acquired；　were　now　accused　of　high…treason；　and　sent　for　trial　before　a　commission　commanded　to　find　them　guilty　and　to　punish　them。　They　were　to　be　put　out　of　the　way　because　they　were　feared；　and　to　be　feared　was　held　as　a　crime　deserving　death！

Firm　and　outrageous　stood　they　before　their　judges。　In　this　hour　old　Ostermann　had　shaken　off　his　illness　and　thrown　away　the　shield　of　his　physical　sufferings！　He　would　not　intrench　himself　behind　his　age　and　his　sickness；　he　would　be　a　man；　and　boldly　offer　his　unprotected　breast　to　the　murderous　weapons　of　his　enemies！

For；　that　he　was　lost　he　knew！　A　single　glance　at　his　judges　made　him　certain　of　it；　and　from　this　moment　his　features　wore　a　calm　and　contemptuous　smile；　an　unchangeable　expression　of　scorn。　With　an　ironic　curiosity　he　followed　his　judges　through　the　labyrinth　of　artfully　contrived　captious　questions　by　which　they　hoped　to　entangle　him；　occasionally　he　gave　himself；　as　it　were　for　his　own　amusement；　the　appearance　of　voluntarily　being　caught　in　their　nets；　until　he　finally　by　a　side　spring　tore　their　whole　web　to　pieces　and　laughingly　derided　his　judges　for　not　being　able　to　convict　him！

He　was　accused　of　having；　by　his　cabals　alone；　after　the　death　of　Catharine；　effected　the　elevation　to　the　throne　of　Anna；　Duchess　of　Courland。　And　yet　they　very　well　knew　that　precisely　at　that　time　Ostermann　had　for　weeks　pretended　to　be　suffering　from　illness；　for　the　very　purpose　of　avoiding　any　intermingling　with　state　affairs。　They　accused　him　of　having　suppressed　the　testament　of　Catharine；　and　yet　that　testament　had　been　published　in　all　the　official　journals　of　the　time！

Ostermann　laughed　loud　at　all　of　these　childish　accusations。

〃Ah；〃　said　he；　〃should　I　be　sitting　in　your　places；　and　you　all；　though　innocent；　should　be　standing　accused　before　me；　my　word　for　it；　I　would　so　involve　you　in　questions　and　answers　that　you　would　be　compelled　to　confess　your　guilt！　But　you　do　not　understand　questioning；　and　old　Ostermann　is　a　sly　fox　that　does　not　allow　himself　to　be　easily　caught！　The　best　way　will　be　for　you　to　declare　me　guilty；　though　I　am　no　criminal；　for　as　your　empress　has　commanded　that　I　should　be　found　guilty；　it　would　certainly　be　in　me　a　crime　worthy　of　death　not　to　be　guilty。〃

〃You　dare　to　deride　our　empress！〃　cried　one　of　the　judges。

〃Aha！〃　said　Ostermann；　laughing；　〃I　have　there　thrown　you　a　bait；　and　you；　good　judicial　fishes；　bite　directly！　That　is　very　well；　you　are　now　in　a　good　way！　Only　go　on；　and　I　will　help　you　to　find　me　guilty；　if　it　be　only　of　simple　high…treason。　It　will　then　be　left　to　the　mercy　of　your　empress　to　declare　me　convicted　of　threefold　high…　treason！　Go　on；　go　on！〃

But　Munnich　showed　himself　less　unruffled　and　sarcastic　in　the　face　of　his　judges。　These　never…ending　questions；　this　ceaseless　teasing　about　trifles；　exhausted　his　patience　at　last。　He　wearied　of　continually　turning　aside　these　laughably　trivial　accusations；　of　convincing　his　judges　of　his　innocence；　and　making　them　ashamed　of　the　nature　of　the　proofs　adduced。

〃Let　it　suffice；〃　said　he；　at　length　to　his　judges；　〃after　hours　of　vain　labor；　you　see　that　in　this　way　you　will　never　attain　your　end。　I　will　propose　to　you　a　better　and　safer　course。　Write　down　your　questions；　and　append　to　each　the　answer　you　desire　me　to　give；　I　will　then　sign　the　whole　protocol　and　declare　it　correct。〃

〃Are　you　in　earnest？〃　joyfully　asked　the　judges。

〃Quite　in　earnest！〃　proudly　answered　Munnich。

They　were　shameless　enough　to　accept　his　offer；　they　troubled　him　with　no　more　questions；　but　wrote　in　the　protocol　such　answers　as　would　best　suit　the　purpose　of　his　judges。　In　these　answers　Munnich　declared　himself　guilty　of　all　the　crimes　laid　to　his　charge；　acknowledged　himself　to　be　a　traitor；　and　deserving　death。

When　they　had　finished　their　artistic　labor；　they　handed　to　Munnich　the　pen　for　his　signature。

He　calmly　took　the　pen；　and；　while　affixing　his　signature；　said　with　a　contemptuous　smile：　〃Was　I　not　right？　In　this　way　it　is　rendered　much　easier　for　you　to　make　of　me　a　very　respectable　criminal；　and　I　have　only　the　trouble　of　writing　my　name！　I　thank　you；　gentlemen；　for　this　indulgence。〃

Quick　and　decisive　as　were　the　hearings；　now　followed　the　sentences。　Ostermann　was　condemned　to　be　broken　on　the　wheel；　Munnich　to　be　quartered；　and　the　two　ministers；　Lowenwald　and　Golopkin；　to　the　axe！

But　Elizabeth　had　promised　her　people　that　no　one　should　be　punished　with　death；　she　must　abide　by　that　promise；　and　she　did。　She　commuted　the　punishment　of　the　condemned；　as　also　of　Julia　von　Mengden；　into　banishment　to　Siberia　for　life。　What　a　grace！　and　even　this　grace　was　first　communicated　to　Ostermann　after　his　old　limbs　had　been　bound　to　the　wheel　and　his　executioners　were　on　the　point　of　crushing　him！

But　even　in　this　extreme　moment　Count　Ostermann's　calm　heroism　did　not　forsake　him。

〃I　was　convinced　that　such　would　be　the　result！〃　he　calmly　said；　quietly　stretching　his　released　limbs；　〃this　Empress　Elizabeth　has　not　the　courage　to　break　her　oath　by　chopping　off　a　few　heads！　It　is　a　pity。　On　the　wheel　it　might　have　become　a　little　warm　for　me；　but　in　Siberia　it　will　be　fearfully　cold。〃

From　the　windows　of　her　palace　Elizabeth　had　witnessed　the　preparations　for　this　pretended　execution；　and　as　she　knew　that　at　last　their　punishment　would　be　commuted；　she　was　amused　to　see　the　solemn　earnestness　and　the　death…shudder　of　the　condemned。　It　was　a　very　entertaining　hour　that　she　and　her　friends　passed　at　that　window；　and　the　comical　face　of　old　Ostermann；　the　proud　gravity　of　Count　Munnich；　the　folded　hands　and　heaven…directed　glances　of　Golopkin　and　Lowenwald；　had　often　made　her　laugh　until　the　tears　ran　down　her　cheeks。

〃That　was　a　magnificent　comedy！〃　said　she；　retreating　from　the　window　when　the　condemned　were　released　from　their　bands　and　raised　into　the　vehicles　that　were　immediately　to　start　with　them　for　Siberia。　〃Yes；　it　was；　indeed；　very　amusing！　But　tell　me；　Lestocq；　where　are　they　about　to　take　old　Count　Ostermann？〃

〃To　the　most　northerly　part　of　Siberia！〃　calmly　replied　Lestocq。

〃Poor　old　man！〃　signed　Elizabeth；　〃it　must　be　very　sad　for　him　thus　to　pass　his　last　years　in　suffering　and　deprivation。〃

Lestocq　seemed　not　to　have　heard　her　remark；　and　laughingly　continued：　〃To　Munnich　I　have　thought　to　apply　a　jest　of　his　own。〃

〃Ah；　a　jest！〃　cried　Elizabeth；　suddenly　brightening　up。　〃Let　me　hear　it。　You　know　I　love　a　jest；　it　is　so　amusing！　Quick；　therefore；　let　us　hear　it！〃

〃Perhaps　your　majesty　may　remember　Biron；　Duke　of　Courland；〃　said　Lestocq。　〃Count　Munnich；　as　you　know；　overthrew　him；　and　placed　Anna　Leopoldowna　in　the　regency。　Biron　has　ever　since　lived　at　Pelym　in　Siberia；　and；　indeed；　in　a　house　of　which　Munnich　himself　drew　the　plan；　the　rooms　of　which　are　so　low　that　poor　Biron；　who　is　as　tall　as　Munnich；　could　never　stand　erect　in　them。　The　good　Munnich；　he　was　very　devoted　to　the　duke；　and　hence　in　pure　friendship　invented　this　means　of　reminding　him；　every　hour　in　the　day；　of　the　architect　of　his　house；　his　friend　Munnich！〃

〃Ah；　you　promised　us　a　jest；　and　you　are　there　repeating　an　old　and　well…known　story！〃　interposed　the　empress；　yawning。

〃Now　comes　the　joke！〃　continued　Lestocq。　〃We　have　transferred　Biron　to　another　colony；　and　Herr　Munnich　will　occupy　the　poetical　pleasure…　house　of　his　friend　Biron　at　Pelym。〃

〃Ah；　that　is　delightful；　in　fact！〃　cried　Elizabeth；　clapping　her　little　hands。　〃How　will　Munnich　curse　himself　for　cruelty　which　now　comes　home　to　himself！　That　is　very　witty　in　you；　Herr　Lestocq；　very　laughable；　is　it　not；　Alexis？　But；　Alexis；　you　do　not　laugh　at　all；　you　look　sad。　What　is　the　matter　with　you？　Who　has　disobliged；　who　has　wounded　you？〃

Alexis　sighed。　〃You　yourself！〃　he　said；　in　a　low　tone。

〃I？〃　exclaimed　the　astonished　empress。　〃I　could　not　be　so　inhuman！〃

〃No；　only　to　wound　me　by　refusing　the　first　request　I　addressed　to　you！〃

〃Name　your　request　once　more；　I　have　forgotten　it！〃　said　Elizabeth　with　vehemence。

Alexis　Razumovsky　fell　upon　his　knees　before　her；　and；　imploringly　raising　his　hands；　said：

〃Elizabeth；　my　empress；　have　compassion　for　my　care　and　anxiety　on　your　account；　leave　me　not　to　tremble　for　your　safety！　Grant　me　the　happiness　of　seeing　you　unthreatened　and　free　from　danger　in　your　greatness　and　splendor！　Oh；　Elizabeth；　listen　to　the　prayer　of　your　faithful　servantlet　not　this　Anna　Leopoldo