the daughter of an empress-第3部分

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〃You　forfeit　your　word　of　honor？〃

〃No；　ask　something　else；　and　I　will　grant　it。　But　this　is　not　feasible。　I　must　myself　be　the　generalissimo　of　my　own　troops；　or　I　should　no　longer　be　the　ruler！　Ask；　therefore；　for　something　else。〃

Munnich　was　silent。　His　features　indicated　a　frightful　commotion；　and　his　bosom　heaved　violently。

〃I　have　nothing　further　to　ask；〃　said　he；　after　a　pause。

〃But；　I　will　confer　upon　you　a　favor　without　your　asking　it！〃　proudly　responded　the　duke。　〃Count　Munnich；　I　confirm　you　in　your　offices　and　dignities；　and；　to　prove　to　you　my　unlimited　confidence；　you　shall　continue　to　be　what　you　were　under　the　Empress　Anna；　field…marshal　in　the　Russian　army！〃

〃I　thank　you；　sir　duke；〃　calmly　replied　Munnich。　〃It　is　very　noble　in　you　that　you　do　not　send　me　into　banishment　for　my　presumptuous　demand。〃

Clasping　the　offered　hand　of　the　duke；　he　respectfully　pressed　it　to　his　lips。

〃And　now　go；　to　kiss　the　hand　of　the　young　emperor；　that　you　may　not　be　accused　of　disrespect；〃　smilingly　added　Biron；　〃one　must　always　preserve　appearances。〃

Munnich　silently　bowed；　while　walking　backward　toward　the　door。

〃We　part　as　friends？〃　asked　the　duke；　nodding　an　adieu。

〃As　friends　for　life　and　death！〃　said　Munnich；　with　a　smile。

But　no　sooner　had　the　door　closed　behind　him　than　the　smile　vanished　from　his　features；　and　was　replaced　by　an　expression　of　furious　rage。　He　threateningly　shook　his　fist　toward　the　door　which　separated　him　from　the　duke；　and　with　convulsively　compressed　lips　and　grating　teeth　he　said：　〃Yes；　we　now　part　as　friends；　but　we　shall　yet　meet　as　enemies！　I　shall　remember　this　hour；　sir　duke；　and　shall　do　my　best　to　prevent　your　forgetting　it。　Ah；　you　have　not　sent　me　to　Siberia；　but　I　will　send　you　there！　And　now　to　the　Emperor　Ivan。　I　shall　there　meet　his　parents；　the　shamefully…slighted　Ulrich　of　Brunswick；　and　his　wife　Anna　Leopoldowna。　I　think　they　will　welcome　me。〃

With　a　firm　step；　rage　and　vengeance　in　his　heart；　but　outwardly　smiling　and　submissive；　Field…Marshal　Count　Munnich　betook　himself　to　the　palace　of　the　Duke　of　Brunswick　to　kiss　the　hand　of　the　cradled　Emperor　Ivan。



COUNT　OSTERMANN

Four　weeks　had　passed　since　Biron；　Duke　of　Courland；　had　commenced　his　rule　over　Russia；　as　regent；　in　the　name　of　the　infant　Emperor　Ivan。　The　Russian　people　had　with　indifference　submitted　to　this　new　ruler；　and　manifested　the　same　subjection　to　him　as　to　his　predecessor。　It　was　all　the　same　to　them　whoever　sat　in　godlike　splendor　upon　the　magnificent　imperial　thronewhat　care　that　mass　of　degraded　slaves；　who　are　crawling　in　the　dust；　for　the　name　by　which　their　tyrants　are　called？　They　remain　what　they　are；　slaves；　and　the　one　upon　the　throne　remains　what　he　is；　their　absolute　lord　and　tyrant；　who　has　the　right　to…day　to　scourge　them　with　whips；　to…morrow　to　make　them　barons　and　counts；　and　perhaps　the　next　day　to　send　them　to　Siberia；　or　subject　them　to　the　infliction　of　the　fatal　knout。　Whoever　proclaims　himself　emperor　or　dictator；　is　greeted　by　the　Russian　people；　that　horde　of　creeping　slaves；　as　their　lord　and　master；　the　supreme　disposer　of　life　and　death；　while　they　crawl　in　the　dust　at　his　feet。

They　had　sworn　allegiance　to　the　Regent　Biron；　as　they　had　to　the　Empress　Anna；　they　threw　themselves　upon　the　earth　when　they　met　him；　they　humbly　bared　their　heads　when　passing　his　palace；　and　when　the　magnates　of　the　realm；　the　princes　and　counts　of　Russia；　in　their　proud　equipages；　discovered　the　regent's　carriage　in　the　distance；　they　ordered　a　halt；　descended　from　their　vehicles；　and　bowed　themselves　to　the　ground　before　their　passing　lord。　In　Russia；　all　distinctions　of　rank　cease　in　the　presence　of　the　ruler；　there　is　but　one　lord；　and　one　trembling　slave；　be　he　prince　or　beggar；　and　that　lord　must　be　obeyed；　whether　he　commands　a　murder　or　any　other　crime。　The　word　and　will　of　the　emperor　purify　and　sanctify　every　act；　blessing　it　and　making　it　honorable。

Biron　was　emperor；　although　he　bore　only　the　name　of　regent；　he　had　the　power　and　the　dominion；　the　infant　nurseling　Ivan；　the　minor　emperor；　was　but　a　shadow；　a　phantom；　having　the　appearance　but　not　the　reality　of　lordship；　he　was　a　thing　unworthy　of　notice；　he　could　make　no　one　tremble　with　fear；　and　therefore　it　was　unnecessary　to　crawl　in　the　dust　before　him。

Homage　was　paid　to　the　Regent　Biron；　Duke　of　Courland；　the　palace　of　Prince　Ulrich　of　Brunswick；　and　his　son；　the　Emperor　Ivan；　stood　empty　and　desolate。　No　one　regarded　it；　and　yet　perhaps　it　was　worthy　of　regard。

Yet　many　repaired　to　this　quiet；　silent　palace；　to　know　whom　Biron　would　perhaps　have　given　princedoms　and　millions！　But　no　one　was　there　to　betray　them　to　the　regent；　they　were　very　silent　and　very　cautious　in　the　palace　of　the　Prince　of　Brunswick　and　his　wife　the　Princess　Anna　Leopoldowna。

It　was；　as　we　have　said；　about　four　weeks　after　the　commencement　of　the　regency　of　the　Duke　of　Courland；　when　a　sedan…chair　was　set　down　before　a　small　back　door　of　the　Duchess　Anna　Leopoldowna's　palace；　it　had　been　borne　and　accompanied　by　four　serfs；　over　whose　gold…　embroidered　liveries；　as　if　to　protect　them　from　the　weather；　had　been　laid　a　tolerably　thick　coat　of　dust　and　sweat。　Equally　splendid；　elegant；　and　unclean　was　the　chair　which　the　servants　now　opened　for　the　purpose　of　aiding　their　age…enfeebled　master　to　emerge　from　it。　That　person；　who　now　made　his　appearance；　was　a　shrunken；　trembling；　coughing　old　gentleman；　his　small；　bent；　distorted　form　was　wrapped　in　a　fur　cloak　which；　somewhat　tattered；　permitted　a　soiled　and　faded　under…dress　to　make　itself　perceptible；　giving　to　the　old　man　the　appearance　of　indigence　and　slovenliness。　Nothing；　not　even　the　face；　or　the　thin　and　meagre　hands　he　extended　to　his　servants；　was　neat　and　cleanly；　nothing　about　him　shone　but　his　eyes；　those　gray；　piercing　eyes　with　their　fiery　side…glances　and　their　now　kind　and　now　sly　and　subtle　expression。　This　ragged　and　untidy　old　man　might　have　been　taken　for　a　beggar；　had　not　his　dirty　fingers　and　his　faded　neck…tie；　whose　original　color　was　hardly　discoverable；　flashed　with　brilliants　of　an　unusual　size；　and　had　not　the　arms　emblazoned　upon　the　door　of　his　chair；　in　spite　of　the　dust　and　dirt；　betrayed　a　noble　rank。　The　arms　were　those　of　the　Ostermann　family；　and　this　dirty　old　man　in　the　ragged　cloak　was　Count　Ostermann；　the　famous　Russian　statesman；　the　son　of　a　German　preacher；　who　had　managed　by　wisdom；　cunning；　and　intrigue　to　continue　in　place　under　five　successive　Russian　emperors　or　regents；　most　of　whom　had　usually　been　thrust　from　power　by　some　bloody　means。　Czar　Peter；　who　first　appointed　him　as　a　minister　of　state；　and　confided　to　him　the　department　of　foreign　affairs；　on　his　death…bed　said　to　his　successor；　the　first　Catherine；　that　Ostermann　was　the　only　one　who　had　never　made　a　false　step；　and　recommended　him　to　his　wife　as　a　prop　to　the　empire。　Catherine　appointed　him　imperial　chancellor　and　tutor　of　Peter　II。；　he　knew　how　to　secure　and　preserve　the　favor　of　both；　and　the　successor　of　Peter　II。；　the　Empress　Anna；　was　glad　to　retain　the　services　of　the　celebrated　statesman　and　diplomatist　who　had　so　faithfully　served　her　predecessors。　From　Anna　he　came　to　her　favorite；　Baron　of　Courland；　who　did　not　venture　to　remove　one　whose　talents　had　gained　for　him　so　distinguished　a　reputation；　and　who　in　any　case　might　prove　a　very　dangerous　enemy。

But　with　Count　Ostermann　it　had　gone　as　with　Count　Munnich。　Neither　of　them　had　been　able　to　obtain　from　the　regent　any　thing　more　than　a　confirmation　of　their　offices　and　dignities；　to　which　Biron；　jealous　of　power；　had　been　unwilling　to　make　any　addition。　Deceived　in　their　expectations；　vexed　at　this　frustration　of　their　plans；　they　had　both　come　to　the　determination　to　overthrow　the　man　who　was　unwilling　to　advance　them；　they　had　become　Biron's　enemies　because　he　did　not　show　himself　their　friend；　and；　openly　devoted　to　him　and　bowing　in　the　dust　before　him；　they　had　secretly　repaired　to　his　bitterest　enemy；　the　Duchess　Anna　Leopoldowna；　to　offer　her　their　services　against　the　haughty　regent　who　swayed　the　iron　sceptre　of　his　despotic　power　over　Russia。

A　decisive　conversation　was　this　day　to　be　held　with　the　duchess　and　her　husband；　Prince　Ulrich　of　Brunswick；　and　therefore；　an　unheard…of　case；　had　even　Count　Ostermann　resolved　to　leave　his　dusty　room　for　some　hours　and　repair　to　the　palace　of　the　Duchess　Anna　Leopoldowna。

〃Slowly；　slowly；　ye　knaves；〃　groaned　Ostermann；　as　he　ascended　the　narrow　winding　stairs　with　the　aid　of　his　servants。〃　〃See　you　not；　you　hounds；　that　every　one　of　your　movements　causes　me　insufferable　pain？　Ah；　a　fearful　illness　is　evidently　coming；　it　is　already　attacking　my　limbs；　and　pierces　and　agonizes　every　part　of　my　system！　Let　my　bed　be　prepared　at　home；　you　scamps；　and　have　a　strengthening　soup　made　ready　for　me。　And　now　away；　fellows；　and　woe　to　you　if；　during　my　absence；　either　one　of　you　should　dare　to　break　into　the　store…room　or　wine…　cellar！　You　know　that　I　have　good　eyes；　and　am　cognizant　of　every　article　on　hand；　even　to　its　exact　weight　and　measure。　Take　care；　therefore；　take　care！　for　if　but　an　ounce　of　meat　or　a　glass　of　wine　is　missing；　I　will　have　you　whipped；　you　hounds；　until　the　blood　flows。　That　you　may　depend　upon！〃

And；　dismissing　his　assistants　with　a　kick；　Count　Ostermann　ascended　the　last　steps　of　the　winding　stairs　alone　and　unaided。　But；　before　opening　the　door　at　the　head　of　the　stairs；　he　took　time　for　reflection。

〃Hem！　perhaps　it　would　have　been　better　for　me　to　have　been　already　taken　ill；　for　if　this　plan　should　miscarry；　and　the　regent　discover　that　I　was　in　the　palace　to…day；　how　then？　Ah；　I　already　seem　to　feel　a　draught　of　Siberian　air！　But　no；　it　will　succeed；　and　how　would　that　ambitious　Munnich　triumph　should　it　succeed　without　me！　No；　for　this　time　I　must　be　present；　to　the　vexation　of　Munnich；　that　he　may　not　put　all　Russia　in　his　pocket！　The　good　man　has　such　large　pockets　and　such　grasping　hands！〃

Nodding　and　smiling　to　himself；　Ostermann　opened　the　door　of　the　anteroom。　A　rapid；　searching　glance　satisfied　him　that　he　was　alone　there；　but　his　brow　darkened　when　he　observed　Count　Munnich's　mantle　lying　upon　a　chair。