the daughter of an empress-第25部分

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en　to　the　prayer　of　your　faithful　servantlet　not　this　Anna　Leopoldowna　pass　the　boundary　of　your　realmlet　not　your　most　deadly　enemy　escape！〃

〃Oh；　grant　his　prayer；〃　cried　Lestocq；　kneeling　beside　Alexis；　〃there　is　wisdom　in　his　words；　listen　to　him　rather　than　to　the　too　great　generosity　of　your　own　heart！　Let　not　your　enemies　escape；　but　seize　them　while　they　are　yet　in　your　power！〃

〃Elizabeth；　greatest　and　fairest　woman　on　earth；〃　implored　Alexis；　〃have　compassion　for　my　anxiety；　I　shall　never　laugh　again；　never　be　cheerful；　if　you　allow　these　your　most　dangerous　enemies　to　withdraw　themselves　from　your　power！〃

Elizabeth　bent　down　to　him　with　a　smile　of　tenderness；　and　laid　her　left　hand　upon　his　locks；　while　with　her　right　she　gently　raised　his　head　to　herself。

〃Love　you　me；　then；　so　very　much；　my　Alexis；〃　she　asked；　〃that　you　suffer　with　anxiety　for　my　safety？　Ah；　that　makes　me　happythat　fills　my　whole　heart　with　joy！　Only　look　at　him；　Lestocq；　see　how　beautiful　he　is；　and　then　say　whether　one　can　refuse　the　prayer　of　those　heavenly　eyes；　those　pleading　lips？〃

〃You　will；　then；　grant　my　prayer？〃　exultingly　asked　Alexis。

〃Well；　yes；〃　tenderly　responded　she；　〃since　there　is　no　other　means　of　rendering　you　again　cheerful　and　happy；　I　must；　indeed；　consent　to　the　fulfilment　of　your　wishes；　and　not　let　my　enemies　quit　the　country　if　it　be　yet　possible　to　retain　them。〃

〃They　have　proceeded　by　slow　marches；　and　can　hardly　now　have　arrived　in　Riga；　where　they　are　to　rest　several　days；〃　said　Lestocq。　〃There　will　consequently　be　time　for　a　courier　yet　to　reach　them　with　your　counter…order。〃

〃And　he　must　be　dispatched　immediately！〃　said　Alexis；　pressing　the　hand　of　the　empress　to　his　lips。　〃In　this　hour　will　my　kind　and　gracious　empress　sign　the　command　for　the　arrest　of　Anna　Leopoldowna；　her　husband；　and　her　son！〃

〃Already　another　signature！〃　sighed　Elizabeth。　〃How　you　annoy　me　with　this　eternal　signing　and　countersigning！　Will　it；　then；　never　have　an　end？　I　already　begin　to　hate　my　name；　because　of　being　compelled　so　often　to　write　it　under　your　musty　old　documents。　Why　did　the　emperor；　my　dear　deceased　father；　give　me　so　long　a　name！a　shorter　one　would　now　relieve　me　of　half　my　labor！〃

But　in　spite　of　her　lamentings；　Elizabeth　nevertheless；　a　quarter　of　an　hour　later；　subscribed　the　order　to　arrest　the　regent；　her　husband；　and　son；　and　shut　them　up；　preliminarily；　in　the　citadel　of　Riga。

〃So　now　I　hope　you　will　again　be　happy　and　cheerful；〃　said　she；　throwing　away　the　pen；　and　with　a　tender　glance　at　Razumovsky。　〃Come；　look　at　meI　have　done　all　you　wished；　let　us　now　be　gay　and　take　our　pleasure。〃

And　while　Elizabeth　was　jesting　and　laughing　with　Alexis；　Lestocq；　taking　the　newly…signed　order；　hurried　away　to　dispatch　his　courier。

At　length　they　had　reached　the　borders　of　this　feared；　pernicious　Russian　empire。　They　now　needed　no　longer　to　tremble；　no　longer　to　fear　at　the　slightest　sound。　Only　a　short　quarter　of　an　hour　and　the　boundary　will　be　passed　and　liberty　secured！

They　had　made　a　halt　at　a　small　public　house　near　the　boundary。　The　horses　were　to　be　changed　there；　and　there　the　soldiers　of　the　escort　were　to　get　their　last　taste　of　Russian　brandy　before　crossing　the　border。

Anna　and　her　husband　have　remained　in　the　sledge。　She　holds　her　son　in　her　arms；　she　presses　him　to　her　bosom；　full　of　exulting　maternal　joy：　for　he　is　now　saved；　this　poor　little　emperor；　Anna　has　now　no　longer　to　fear　that　her　son　will　be　torn　from　herhe　is　savedhe　belongs　to　her；　she　can　rejoice　in　his　childish　beauty；　in　the　happy　consciousness　of　safety。

She　has　thrown　back　the　curtains　of　the　sledge。　She　felt　no　cold。　With　joy…beaming　eyes　she　looked　forward　to　that　blessed　land　beyond　the　boundary！　There；　where　upon　its　tall　staff　the　Russian　flag　floated　high　in　the　air；　there　freedom　and　happiness　were　to　begin　for　her　there　will　she　find　again　her　youth　and　her　maiden　dreams；　her　cheerfulness　and　her　pleasurethere　is　freedomgolden；　heavenly　freedom！

She　is　so　happy　at　this　moment　that　she　loves　all　and　every　one。　For　the　first　time　she　feels　a　sort　of　tenderness　for　her　husband；　who　patiently　bearing　all　in　silence；　had　complained　and　wept　only　for　her。　Gently　she　reclined　her　head　upon　his　shoulder；　and　with　a　cry　of　ecstasy　the　prince　encircled　her　neck　with　his　arms。

〃Oh；　my　husband；〃　she　whispered；　with　overflowing　eyes；　〃look　there；　over　there！　There　is　our　future；　there　will　we　seek　for　happiness。　Perhaps　we　may　unitedly　find　it　in　the　same　path；　for　we　have　here　a　sweet　bond　to　hold　our　hands　together。　Look　at　him；　your　son。　Ulrich；　you　are　the　father　of　my　child！　Grant　my　heart　only　a　little　repose；　and　perhaps　we　may　yet　be　happy　with　each　other。〃

Prince　Ulrich's　eyes　were　suffused　with　tears；　he　experienced　a　moment　of　the　purest　happiness。　He　impressed　a　kiss　upon　the　brow　of　his　wife；　and　in　a　low　tone　called　her　by　the　tenderest　names。

The　child　awoke　and　smilingly　looked　up　from　Anna's　bosom　to　both　of　his　parents。　Anna　lifted　up　the　little　Ivan。

〃Look　there；　my　son；〃　said　she〃there　you　will　no　longer　be　an　emperor；　but　you　will　have　the　right　to　be　a　free　and　happy　man。　No　crown　awaits　you　there；　but　freedom；　worth　more　than　all　the　crowns　in　the　world。〃

Little　Ivan　exultingly　stretched　forth　his　tiny　arms；　as　if　he　would　draw　down　to　his　childish　heart　this　future　and　this　freedom　so　highly　lauded　by　his　mother。

And；　like　the　child；　the　parents　looked　smilingly　out　upon　the　broad　expanse　that　stretched　away　before　them。

Look　only　forward；　constantly　forward；　where　the　skies　are　clear；　and　dream　of　happiness！　Look　forwardno；　turn　not　backward　your　glance；　for　the　horizon　darkens　in　your　rear；　misfortune　is　closely　following　upon　your　track！　You　see　it　not；　you　only　look　forward　and　still　you　smile。

It　draws　nearer　and　nearer；　this　black　cloud　of　evil。　It　is　the　ravens；　the　booty…scenting　ravens　who　are　following　you！

Look　forward；　dream　yourselves　happy；　and　smile　yet。　What　would　it　help　you　to　look　back！　You　cannot　escape　the　calamity。

Nearer　and　nearer；　with　a　wild　cry；　rush　these　ravens　of　misfortune；　the　air　already　bears　detached　sounds　to　Anna's　ears。

She　trembles。　It　is　as　if　her　boding　soul　scented　the　approaching　evil。　Pressing　her　child　closer　to　her　bosom；　she　gives　her　husband　her　hand。

The　horses　are　attached　to　the　sledge；　and　the　soldiers　leave　the　public　house。　All　is　ready　for　the　train　to　go　on　over　the　boundary。　The　postilions　draw　the　rein！　Now　a　wild　cry　of　〃Halt！　halt！〃

The　soldiers　bear　up；　the　postilions　halt！

〃Forward！　forward！〃　shrieks　Prince　Ulrich；　in　mortal　anguish。

〃Halt！　in　the　name　of　the　empress！〃　cried　an　officer　who　came　rushing　past　upon　a　foaming　steed；　and　he　handed　to　the　commander　of　the　escort　an　open　writing；　furnished　with　the　imperial　seal。

The　commander　turned　to　the　postilions。

〃To　the　right　about；　toward　Riga！〃　ordered　he；　and　then；　turning　to　the　trembling　princely　pair；　he　said：　〃In　the　name　of　the　empress；　you　are　my　prisoners！　I　am　directed　to　conduct　you　to　the　citadel　of　Riga！〃

With　a　loud　groan；　Anna　sinks　into　the　arms　of　her　husband。　He　consoles　her　with　the　most　soothing　and　affectionate　words；　he　has　thought；　sorrow；　only　for　herhe　feels　not　for　himself；　but　only　for　her。

For　a　moment　Anna　was　overpowered　by　this　unexpected　horror；　then　she　calmly　rose　erect；　and　pressed　her　son　more　closely　to　her　bosom。

〃We　are　all　lost；〃　whispered　she；　〃prisoners　forever！　Poor　child　poor；　unhappy　husband！〃

〃Despair　not；〃　said　Prince　Ulrich；　〃all　may　yet　turn　out　well！　Who　knows　how　soon　aid　may　reach　us！〃

Anna　lightly　shook　her　head；　and　thinking　of　the　last　words　of　her　friend；　she　murmured　low：　〃Punishment　passes；　but　love　remains！〃



THE　PALACE　OF　THE　EMPRESS

The　new　empress；　Elizabeth；　had　rewarded　and　punished；　and　with　that　thought　she　had　finished　her　imperial　labors　and　forever　dismissed　all　her　difficulties。

〃I　have　shaken　off　my　imperial　burdens；〃　said　she　to　her　friends；　〃let　us　now　begin　to　enjoy　the　imperial　pleasures。　Ah！　we　shall　lead　a　pleasant　life　in　this　splendid　palace。　My　first　law　is　this：　No　one　shall　speak　to　me　of　government　business　or　state　affairs。　I　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　such　things；　do　you　hear！　For　what　purpose　do　I　have　my　ministers　and　my　council？　Go　you　with　such　wearisome　questions　to　my　grand　chancellor；　Tscherkaskoy；　and　my　minister；　Bestuscheff；　they　shall　govern　for　me。　I　can　demand　that　of　them；　as　I　pay　them　for　it。　If　you　seek　an　office；　if　you　have　invented　any　thing　for　promoting　the　welfare　of　the　country；　if　you　have　found　any　official　abuse；　or　discovered　any　conspiracy；　then　go　to　Bestuscheff　or　to　Woronzow；　or　also　to　Lestocqspare　me！　But　when　you　have　a　grace　to　demand；　when　you　need　money；　when　you　desire　a　title　or　orders；　then　come　to　me；　and　I　will　satisfy　your　wishes。　We　have　much　money；　many　ribbons　for　orders；　and　as　for　titles；　they　are　the　cheapest　and　most　convenient　of　all；　as　they　cost　absolutely　nothing。　Ah；　a　jest　just　now　occurs　to　me。　We　will　amuse　ourselves　a　little　to…day。　We　will　have　a　title…auction。　Call　our　courtiers；　attendants；　and　servants。　We　shall　have　a　gay　time　of　it！　We　will　have　a　game　at　dice。　Bring　the　dice！　I　will　at　each　throw　announce　the　prize；　and　the　dice　shall　then　decide　who　is　the　winner！〃

They　all　gathered　around　her；　the　noble　gentlemen　of　her　body…guard；　consisting　of　the　grenadiers　who　had　been　raised　to　nobility　and　created　officers　at　the　commencement　of　her　reign。　They　came　noisily；　with　singing　and　laughing；　and　saluting　their　empress；　Elizabeth；　with　a　thundering　/viva/。

〃First　of　all；　let　us　drink　your　health；　sir　captain！〃　said　she；　ordering　wine　to　be　brought；　as　well　as　brandy　of　the　costly　sort　she　had　lately　received　as　a　present　from　the　greatest　distiller　of　her　capital；　to　which　she　herself　was　very　partial。

Loudly　clinked　their　glasses；　loudly　was　shouted　a　/viva/　to　the　empress；　which　Elizabeth　laughingly　accepted　by　offering　them　her　hands　to　kiss；　and　was　delighted　when　they　fell　into　ecstasies　over　the　beauty　and　freshness　of　those　hands。

〃Now；　silence；　gentlemen　of　the　body…guard！〃　she　cried。　〃I；　your　captain；　command　attention！〃

And；　when