the daughter of an empress-第8部分

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sury；　offices；　honors；　and　titles　might　be　gambled　for；　justice　and　punishment　might　be　bought　and　sold；　vice　and　immorality　might　universally　prevailAnna　would　not　know　it。　She　would　neither　see　nor　hear　any　thing　of　this　outside　world！　The　palace　is　her　world；　in　which　she　is　happy；　in　which　she　revels！

Ah；　that　charming；　silent　little　boudoir；　with　is　soft　Turkish　carpet；　with　its　elastic　divans　and　heavily　curtained　windows　and　doorsthat　little　boudoir　is　now　her　paradise；　the　temple　of　her　happiness！　In　it　she　lingers；　and　in　it　is　she　blessed。　There　she　reposes；　dreaming　of　past　delightful　hours；　or　smiling　with　the　intoxication　of　the　still　more　delightful　present　in　the　arms　of　the　one　she　loves。



THE　FAVORITE

See　how　her　eyes　flash；　how　her　heart　beatshow　beautiful　she　is　in　the　warm　glow　of　excitement；　this　beautiful　Anna　Leopoldowna。

The　door　opens；　and　a　smiling　young　maiden　looks　in　with　many　a　nod　of　her　little　head。

〃Ah；　is　it　you；　my　Julia？〃　calls　the　princess；　opening　her　arms　to　press　the　young　girl　to　her　heart。　〃Come；　I　will　kiss　you；　and　imagine　it　is　he　who　receives　the　kiss！　Ah；　what　would　this　poor　Anna　Leopoldowna　be　if　deprived　of　her　dear　friend；　Julia　von　Mengden？〃　And　drawing　her　favorite　down　into　her　lap；　she　continued：　〃Now　relate　to　me；　Julia。　Set　your　tongue　in　motion；　that　I　may　hear　one　of　your　very　pleasantest　stories。　That　will　divert　me；　and　cause　the　long　hours　before　his　coming　to　pass　more　quickly。〃

Julia　von　Mengden　roguishly　shook　her　beautifully　curling　locks　with　a　comic　earnestness；　and；　very　aptly　and　unmistakably　imitating　the　somewhat　hoarse　and　nasal　voice　of　Prince　Ulrich；　said：

〃Your　grace　forgets　that　you　are　regent；　and　have　to　hold　the　reins　of　government　in　the　name　of　the　illustrious　imperial　squaller；　your　son；　since　his　imperial　grace　still　remains　in　his　swaddling…clothes；　and　has　much　less　to　do　with　state　affairs　than　with　many　other　little　occupations！〃

Anna　Leopoldowna；　breaking　out　in　joyous　laughter；　exultingly　clapped　her　little　hands；　which　were　sparkling　with　brilliants。

〃This　is　superb；〃　said　she。　〃You　play　the　part　of　my　very　worthy　husband　to　perfection。　It　is　as　if　one　saw　and　heard　him。　Ah；　I　would　that　he　resembled　you　a　little；　as　he　would　then　be　less　insupportable；　and　it　would　be　somewhat　easier　to　endure　him。〃

Julia　von　Mengden；　making　no　answer　to　this　remark；　continued　with　her　nasal　voice　and　comic　pathos：

〃Your　grace；　this　is　not　the　time　to　analyze　our　diverting　little　domestic　dissensions；　and　occupy　ourselves　with　the　quiet　joys　of　our　happy　union！　Your　grace　is；　above　all　things；　regent；　and　must　give　your　attention　to　state　affairs。　Without　are　standing　three　most　worthy；　corpulent；　tobacco…scented　ambassadors；　who　desire　an　audience。　Your　grace　is；　above　all　things；　regent；　and　must　receive　them。〃

〃Must！〃　exclaimed　Anna；　suddenly　contracting　her　brows。　〃We　will　first　hear　what　they　desire　of　us。〃

〃The　first　is　the　envoy　of　the　great　Persian　conqueror；　Thamas…Kouli…　Khan；　who　comes　to　lay　at　your　feet　the　magnificent　presents　of　his　master。〃

〃Bah！　they　are　presents　for　the　young　Emperor　Ivan。　He　may；　therefore；　be　conducted　to　the　cradle　of　my　son；　and　there　display　his　presents。　It　does　not　interest　me。〃

〃The　second　is　a　messenger　from　our　camp。　He　brings　news　of　a　great　victory　obtained　by　one　of　your　brave　generals　over　the　Swedes！〃

〃But　what　does　that　concern　me？〃　angrily　cried　the　regent。　〃Let　them　conquer　or　be　defeated；　it　is　all　the　same　to　me。　That　concerns　my　husband　the　generalissimo！　Let　me　be　spared　the　sight　of　the　warlike　and　blood…dripping　messenger！〃

〃The　third　is　the　ambassador　of　the　wavering　and　shaking　young　Austrian　Empress　Maria　Theresa。　He　comes；　he　says；　upon　a　secret　mission；　and　pretends　to　have　discovered　a　sort　of　conspiracy　that　is　hatching　against　you。〃

〃Let　him　go　with　his　discovery　to　Golopkin；　our　minister　of　the　interior。　That　is　his　business！〃

〃Your　grace　is；　above　all　things；　regent；　and　should　remember〃

〃NothingI　will　remember　nothing！〃　exclaimed　Anna　Leopoldowna；　interrupting　her　favorite。　〃I　will　not　be　annoyed；　that　is　all。〃

〃Well；　thank　God！〃　now　cried　Julia　von　Mengden；　in　her　natural　tone　〃thank　God；　that　such　is　your　determination；　princess！　you　are；　then；　in　earnest；　and　I　am　to　send　these　three　amiable　persons　to　the　devil；　or；　what　is　just　the　same；　to　your　husband？〃

〃That　is　my　meaning。〃

〃And　this　is　beautiful　in　you；〃　continued　Julia；　cowering　down　before　her　mistress。　〃These　eternal；　tiresome　and　intolerable　state　affairs　would　make　your　face　prematurely　old　and　wrinkled；　my　dear　princess。　Ah；　there　is　nothing　more　tedious　than　governing。　I　am　heartily　sick　of　it！　At　first　I　was　amused　when　we　two　sat　together　and　settled　who　should　be　sent　to　prison　and　who　should　be　pardoned；　whom　we　should　make　counts　and　princes；　or　degrade　to　the　ranks　as　common　soldiers。　But　all　that　pleased　only　for　a　short　time；　now　it　is　annoying；　and　why　should　we　take　upon　ourselves　this　trouble？　Have　we　not　the　power　to　act　and　live　according　to　our　own　good　pleasure？　Bah！　that　is　the　least　compensation　you　should　receive　for　allowing　these　horrid　Russians　the　privilege　of　calling　you　their　regent　and　mistress！〃

〃But；　my　little　chatterer；　you　forget　the　three　envoys　who　are　waiting　without；〃　said　Anna；　with　a　smile。

〃Ah；　that　is　true！　I　must　first　send　those　wig…blocks　away！〃　said　Anna；　tenderly　looking　after　her　departing　favorite。　〃She　is；　indeed；　my　good　genius；　who　drives　away　the　cares　from　my　poor　brain。〃

〃So；　it　is　done！〃　cried　Julia；　quickly　returning　to　the　room。　〃I　have　sent　the　gentlemen　away。　To　the　Persian　envoy　I　said：　'Go　to　our　emperor；　Ivan。　He　feeds　upon　brilliants；　and；　as　he　has　had　no　breakfast　this　morning；　his　appetite　will　be　good。　Go；　therefore；　and　give　him　your　diamonds　for　breakfast。　Anna　Leopoldowna　wants　them　not；　she　is　already　satiated　with　them！'To　the　second　I　said：　'Go　and　announce　your　glorious　victory　to　our　sublime　generalissimo。　He　is　at　his　toilet；　and　as　he　every　morning　touches　his　noble　cheeks　with　rouge；　your　new　paint；　prepared　from　the　purple　blood　of　the　enemy；　will　doubtless　be　very　welcome　to　him！''And　as　to　what　concerns　your　secret　mission　and　your　discovered　conspiracy；'　said　I　to　the　Austrian　ambassador；　'I　am　sorry　that　you　cannot　here　give　birth　to　the　dear　children　of　your　inventive　head；　go　with　them　to　our　midwife；　Minister　Golopkin；　and　hasten　a　little；　for　I　see　in　your　face　that　you　are　already　in　the　pangs　of　parturition！'　〃

〃Well；〃　asked　Anna　Leopoldowna；　loudly　laughing；　〃what　said　their　worships　to　that？〃

〃What　did　they　say？　They　said　nothing！　They　were　dumb　and　looked　astonished。　They　made　exactly　such　eyes　as　I　have　seen　made　at　home；　upon　my　father's　estate　in　Liefland；　by　the　calves　when　the　butcher　knocked　them　upon　the　head。　But　now；〃　continued　Julia；　nestling　again　at　the　feet　of　her　mistress；　〃now　give　me　a　token　of　your　favor；　and　forget　for　a　while　that　you　are　regent。　Let　us　chat　a　little　like　a　couple　of　real　genuine　womenthat　is；　of　our　husbands　and　lovers。　Oh；　I　have　very　important　news　for　you！〃

〃Well；　speak　quickly；〃　said　Anna；　with　eagerness。　〃What　have　you　to　tell　me？〃

Julia　assumed　a　very　serious　and　important　countenance。　〃The　first　and　most　important　piece　of　news　is；　that　your　husband；　Prince　Ulrich　of　Brunswick；　is　very　jealous　of　me；　and　yet　of　one　other！〃

〃Bah！〃　said　Anna；　contemptuously；　〃let　him　be　jealous。　I　do　not　trouble　myself　about　it；　and　shall　always　do　as　I　please。〃

〃No；　no；　that　will　not　do；〃　seriously　responded　Julia。　〃It　is　so　tiresome　to　always　hear　the　wrangling　and　growling　of　a　jealous　husband！　I　tell　your　grace　that　I　must　have　quiet　in　his　presence；　I　can　no　longer　bear　his　grim　looks　and　his　constant　anger　and　abuse。　You　must　soothe　him；　Princess　Anna；　or　I　will　run　away　from　this　horrible　court；　where　a　poor　maiden　is　not　allowed　to　have　her　friend　and　mistress；　the　charming　Princess　Anna　Leopoldowna；　with　all　her　heart　and　soul！〃

The　regent's　eyes　filled　with　tears。　〃My　Julia；〃　she　tremulously　said；　〃can　you　seriously　think　of　leaving　me？　See　you　not　that　I　should　be　thereby　rendered　very　solitary　and　miserable？〃

And；　raising　up　her　favorite　into　her　arms；　she　kissed　her。

Julia's　bright　eyes　also　filled　with　tears。　〃Think　you；　then；　princess；　that　I　could　ever　leave；　ever　be　separated　from　you？〃　she　tenderly　asked。　〃No；　my　Princess　Anna　has　such　entire　possession　of　my　heart；　that　it　has　no　room　for　any　other　feeling　than　the　most　unbounded　love　and　devotion　to　my　dear；　my　adored　princess。　But　for　the　very　reason　that　I　love　you；　I　cannot　bear　to　have　your　husband　fill　the　palace　with　his　jealous　complaints；　and　thus　publishing　to　St。　Petersburg　and　all　the　world　your　unfaithfulness　and　criminal　intrigues。　Oh；　I　tell　you　I　see　through　this　generalissimo；　I　know　all　his　plans　and　secret　designs。　He　would　gladly　be　able　to　convict　you　of　infidelity　to　himthen；　with　the　help　of　the　army　he　commands；　declare　his　criminal　wife　unfit　for　the　regency；　and　then　make　himself　regent！　He　has　a　cunningly　devised　plan；　but　which　my　superior　cunning　shall　bring　to　naught！　I　will　play　him　a　trick！But　no；　I　will　tell　you　no　more　now！　At　the　right　time　you　shall　know　all。　Now；　Princess　Anna；　now　answer　me　one　question。　Do　you；　then；　so　very　much　love　this　Count　Lynar？〃

The　princess　looked　up　with　a　dreamy　smile。　〃Do　I　love　him！〃　she　then　murmured　low。　〃Oh；　my　God；　Thou　knowest　how　truly；　how　glowingly　my　heart　clings　to　him。　Thou　knowest　that　of　all　the　world　I　have　never　loved　any　other　man　than　him　alone！　And　you；　Julia；　you　who　know　every　emotion　and　palpitation　of　my　heart；　you　yet　ask　me　if　I　love　him　when　he　stood　before　me　in　all　his　proud　manly　beauty；　with　his　conquering　glance；　his　heart…winning　smile？　Ah；　my　whole　heart　already　then　flew　to　meet　him。　I　revelled　in　the　sight　of　him；　I　thought　only　of　him；　I　spoke　to　him　in　my　thoughts；　and　my　prayers；　I　loved　only　when　I　saw　him；　and　that　happy；　that　never…to…be…forgotten　day　when　he　confessed　his　love；　when　he　lay　at　my　feet　and　swore　eternal　truth　to　meah；　why　could　I　not　have　died　on　that　day？　I　was　then　/so/　happy！〃

〃Poor　Princess　Anna；〃　said　Julia；　sympath