the daughter of an empress-第5部分

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Count　Munnich　took　his　leave。

〃I　go　now；〃　he　smilingly　said；　〃to　take　my　last　dinner　with　the　Duke　of　Courland。　I　shall　return　this　night　at　the　appointed　hour。　We　shall　then　convert　the　duke　into　a　Siberian　convict；　which；　at　all　events；　will　be　a　very　interesting　operation。〃

Thus　he　departed；　with　a　horrible　laugh　upon　his　lips；　to　keep　his　appointment　with　the　regent。

Count　Ostermann　had　again　attained　his　endhe　remained　alone　with　the　princely　pair。　Had　Munnich　been　the　first　who　came；　Ostermann　was　the　last　to　go。

〃Ah；　said　he；　rising　with　apparent　difficulty；　〃I　will　now　bear　my　old；　diseased　body　to　my　dwelling；　to　repose　and　perhaps　to　die　upon　my　bed　of　pain。〃

〃Not　to　die；　I　hope；〃　said　Anna。

〃You　must　live；　that　you　may　see　us　in　our　greatness；〃　said　the　prince。

Ostermann　feebly　shook　his　head。　〃I　see；　I　see　it　all；〃　said　he。　〃You　will　liberate　yourself　from　one　tyrant；　your　highness；　to　become　the　prey　of　another。　The　eyes　of　the　dying　see　clear；　and　I　tell　you；　duchess；　you　were　already　on　the　point　of　giving　away　the　power　you　have　attained。　Know　you　what　Munnich's　demand　will　be？〃

〃Well？〃

〃He　will　demand　what　Biron　refused　him；　and　for　which　refusal　Munnich　became　his　enemy。　He　will　ask　you　to　appoint　him　generalissimo　of　all　your　forces　by　land　and　sea。〃

〃Then　will　he　demand　what　naturally　belongs　to　me；〃　said　the　prince；　excitedly；　〃and　we　shall　of　course　refuse　it。〃

〃Yes；　we　must　refuse　it；〃　repeated　the　princess。

〃And　in　that　you　will　do　well；〃　said　Count　Ostermann。　〃I　may　venture　to　say　so；　as　I　have　no　longer　the　least　ambitiondeath　will　soon　relieve　me　from　all　participation　in　affairs　of　state。　I　am　a　feeble　old　man；　and　desire　nothing　more　than　to　be　allowed　occasionally　to　impart　good　counsels　to　my　benefactors。　And　this　is　now　my　advice：　Guard　yourselves　against　the　ambition　of　Count　Munnich。〃

〃We　shall　bear　your　counsel　in　mind；〃　said　the　prince。

〃We　will　not　appoint　him　generalissimo！〃　exclaimed　the　princess。　〃He　must　never　forget　that　he　is　our　servant；　and　we　his　masters。〃

〃And　now　permit　me　to　go；　your　highness；〃　said　Ostermann。　〃Will　you　have　the　kindness；　prince；　to　command　your　lackeys　to　bear　me　to　my　sedan…chair？　It　is　impossible　for　me　to　walk　a　step。　Yes；　yes；　while　you　are　this　night　contending　for　a　throne；　I　shall；　perhaps；　be　struggling　with　death。〃

And　with　a　groan；　sinking　back　into　the　arms　of　the　lackeys　whom　the　prince　had　called；　Ostermann　suffered　himself　to　be　carried　down　to　his　chair；　which　awaited　him　at　the　door。　He　groaned　and　cried　out　as　they　placed　him　in　it；　but　as　soon　as　its　doors　were　closed　and　his　serfs　were　trotting　with　him　toward　his　own　palace；　the　suffering　expression　vanished　from　Ostermann's　face；　and　a　sly　smile　of　satisfaction　played　upon　his　lips。

〃I　think　I　have　well　employed　my　time；〃　he　muttered　to　himself。　〃The　good　Munnich　will　never　become　generalissimo；　and　poor　old　failing　Ostermann　may　now；　unsuspected；　go　quietly　to　bed　and　comfortably　await　the　coming　events。　Such　an　illness；　at　the　right　time；　is　an　insurance　against　all　accidents　and　miscarriages。　I　learned　that　after　the　death　of　Peter　II。　Who　knows　what　would　then　have　become　of　me　had　I　not　been　careful　to　remain　sick　in　bed　until　Anna　had　mounted　the　throne？　I　will；　therefore；　again　be　sick；　and　in　the　morning　we　shall　see！　Should　this　conjuration　succeed；　very　well；　then；　perhaps；　old　Ostermann　will　gradually　recover　sufficient　health　to　take　yet　a　few　of　the　burdens　of　state　upon　his　own　shoulders；　and　thus　relieve　the　good　Munnich　of　a　part　of　his　cares！〃



THE　NIGHT　OF　THE　CONSPIRACY

It　was　a　splendid　dinner；　that　which　the　regent　had　this　day　prepared　for　his　guests。　Count　Munnich　was　very　much　devoted　to　the　pleasures　of　the　table；　and；　sitting　near　the　regent；　he　gave　himself　wholly　up　to　the　cheerful　humour　which　the　excellent　viands　and　delicate　wines　were　calculated　to　stimulate。　At　times　he　entirely　forgot　his　deep…　laid　plans　for　the　coming　night；　and　then　again　he　would　suddenly　recollect　them　in　the　midst　of　his　gayest　conversation　with　his　host；　and　while　volunteering　a　toast　in　praise　of　the　noble　regent；　and　closing　it　by　crying〃A　long　life　and　reign　to　the　great　regent；　Biron　von　Courland！〃　he　secretly　and　with　a　malicious　pleasure　thought：　〃This　is　thy　last　dinner；　sir　duke！　A　few　hours；　and　those　lips；　now　smiling　with　happiness；　will　be　forever　silenced　by　our　blows！〃

These　thoughts　made　the　field…marshal　unusually　gay　and　talkative；　and　the　regent　protested　that　Munnich　had　never　been　a　more　agreeable　/convive/　than　precisely　to…day。　Therefore；　when　the　other　guests　retired；　he　begged　of　Munnich　to　remain　with　him　awhile；　and　the　field…marshal；　thinking　it　might　possibly　enable　him　to　prevent　any　warning　reaching　the　regent；　consented　to　stay。

They　spoke　of　past　times；　of　the　happy　days　when　the　Empress　Anna　yet　reigned；　and　when　all　breathed　of　pleasure　and　enjoyment　at　that　happy　court；　and　perhaps　it　was　these　recollections　that　rendered　Biron　sad　and　thoughtful。　He　was　absent　and　low…spirited；　and　his　large；　flashing　eyes　often　rested　with　piercing　glances　upon　the　calm　and　smiling　face　of　Munnich。

〃You　all　envy　me　on　account　of　my　power　and　dominion；〃　said　he　to　Munnich；　〃of　that　I　am　not　ignorant。　But　you　know　not　with　what　secret　pain　and　anguish　these　few　hours　of　splendor　are　purchased！the　sleepless　nights　in　which　one　fears　seeing　the　doors　open　to　give　admission　to　murderers；　and　then　the　dreams　in　which　blood　is　seen　flowing；　and　nothing　is　heard　but　death…shrieks　and　lamentations！　Ah；　I　hate　the　nights；　which　are　inimical　to　all　happiness。　In　the　night　will　misfortune　at　some　time　overtake　mein　the　night　the　evil　spirit　reigns！〃

With　a　drooping　head　the　regent　had　spoken　half　to　himself；　but　suddenly　raising　his　head　and　looking　Munnich　sharply　in　the　eyes；　he　said：　〃Have　you；　Mr。　Field…Marshal；　during　your　campaigns；　never　in　the　night　foreseen　any　important　event？〃

Munnich　shuddered　slightly；　and　the　color　forsook　his　cheeks。　〃He　knows　all；　and　I　am　lost；〃　thought　he；　and　his　hand　involuntarily　sought　his　sword。　〃I　will　defend　myself　to　the　last　drop　of　my　blood；〃　was　his　first　idea。

But　Biron；　although　surprised；　saw　nothing　of　the　field…marshal's　strange　commotionhe　was　wholly　occupied　with　his　own　thoughts；　and　only　awaited　an　answer　to　his　question。

〃Well；　Mr。　Field…Marshal；〃　he　repeated；　〃tell　me　whether　in　the　night　you　have　ever　had　the　presentiment　of　any　important　event？〃

〃I　was　just　considering；〃　he　calmly　said。　〃At　this　moment　I　do　not　recollect　ever　having　foreseen　any　extraordinary　event　by　night。　But　it　has　always　been　a　principle　of　mine　to　take　advantage　of　every　favorable　opportunity；　whether　by　day　or　night。〃

Munnich　remained　with　the　regent　until　eleven　o'clock　in　the　evening；　and　then　they　separated　with　the　greatest　kindness　and　the　heartiest　assurances　of　mutual　friendship　and　devotion。

〃Ah；　that　was　a　hard　trial！〃　said　Munnich；　breathing　easier　and　deeper；　as　he　left　the　palace　of　the　duke　behind　him。　〃I　was　already　convinced　that　all　was　lost；　but　this　Biron　is　unsuspecting　as　a　child！　Sleep　now；　Biron；　sleep！in　a　few　hours　I　shall　come　to　awaken　you；　and　realize　your　bloody　dream！〃

With　winged　steps　he　hastened　to　his　own　palace。　Arrived　there；　he　summoned　his　adjutant；　Captain　von　Mannstein；　and；　after　having　briefly　given　him　the　necessary　orders；　took　him　with　him　into　his　carriage　for　the　purpose　of　repairing　to　the　palace　of　the　Prince　of　Brunswick。

It　was　a　cold　November　night　of　the　year　1740。　The　deserted　streets　were　hushed　in　silence；　and　no　one　of　the　occupants　of　the　dark　houses；　no　one　on　earth；　dreamed　that　this　carriage；　whose　rumbling　was　only　half　heard　in　sleep；　was　in　a　manner　the　thundering　herald　of　new　times　and　new　lords。

Munnich　had　chosen　his　time　well。　For　if　it　was　forbidden　to　admit　any　one　whatever；　during　the　night；　to　the　palace　occupied　by　the　young　czar；　and　if　also　the　regent　had　given　the　guards　strict　orders　to　shoot　any　one　who　might　attempt；　in　spite　of　these　commands；　to　penetrate　into　the　forbidden　precincts；　this　day　made　an　exception　for　Munnich；　as　a　portion　of　one　of　his　own　regiments　was　to…day　on　duty　at　the　imperial　palace。

Unimpeded；　stayed　by　no　one；　Munnich　penetrated　to　the　apartments　of　Anna　Leopoldowna。　She　was　awaiting　him；　and　at　his　side　she　descended　to　receive　the　homage　of　the　officers　and　soldiers；　who　had　been　commanded　by　Munnich　to　submit　themselves　to　her。

With　glowing　words　she　described　to　the　listening　soldiers　all　the　insults　and　injuries　to　which　the　regent　had　subjected　herself；　her　husband；　and　their　son　the　emperor。

〃Who　can　say　that　this　miserable　low…born　Biron　is　called　to　fill　so　exalted　a　place；　and　to　lord　it　over　you；　my　beloved　friends　and　brothers？　To　me；　as　the　niece　of　the　blessed　Empress　Anna；　to　me；　as　the　mother　of　Ivan；　chosen　as　emperor　by　Anna；　to　me　alone　belongs　the　regency；　and　by　Heaven　I　will　reconquer　that　of　which　I　have　been　nefariously　robbed！　I　will　punish　this　insolent　upstart　whose　shameful　tyranny　we　have　endured　long　enough；　and　I　hope　you；　my　friends；　will　stand　by　me　and　obey　the　commands　of　your　generals。〃

A　loud　/viva/　followed　this　speech　of　Anna　Leopoldowna；　who　tenderly　embraced　the　enraptured　officers；　commanding　them　to　follow　her。

Accompanied　by　Marshal　Munnich　and　eighty　soldiers；　Anna　then　went　out　into　the　streets。　In　silence　they　advanced　to　within　a　hundred　steps　of　Biron's　palace。　Here；　making　a　halt；　Mannstein　alone　approached　the　palace　to　command　the　officers　of　the　guard　in　the　name　of　the　new　regent；　Anna　Leopoldowna；　to　submit　and　pay　homage　to　her。　No　opposition　was　made；　accustomed　always　to　obey；　they　had　not　the　courage　to　dispute　the　commands　of　the　new　ruler；　and　declared　themselves　ready　to　assist　her　in　the　arrest　of　the　regent。

Mannstein　returned　to　Anna　and　Munnich　with　this　joyful　intelligence；　and　received　orders　to　penetrate　into　the　palace　with　twenty　men；　to　capture　the　duke；　and　even　kill　him　if　he　made　resistance。

Without　opposition　Mannstein　again　returned　to　the　palace　with　his　small　band；　carefully　avoiding　making　the　least　noise　in　his　approach。　All　the　soldiers　in　the　palace　knew