"You think, then, that he already suspects, and would murder us?"
"You, us, and also your son, the Emperor Ivan."
"Also my son!" exclaimed Leopoldowna, her eyes flashing like those of an
enraged lioness. "Ah, I should know how to defend my son. Let Biron fall
this night!"
"So be it!" unanimously exclaimed the three men.
"He has driven us to this extremity," said the princess. "Not enough
that he has banished our friends and faithful servants, surrounding us
with his miserable creatures and spies--not enough that he wounds and
humiliates us in every way--he would rend the young emperor from us, his
parents, his natural protectors. We are attacked in our holiest rights,
and must, therefore, defend ourselves."
"But what shall we do with this small Biron, when he is no longer the
great regent?" asked Ostermann.
"We will make him by a head smaller," said Munnich, laughing.
"No," vehemently exclaimed Leopoldowna--"no, no blood shall flow! Not
with blood shall our own and our son's rights be secured! Swear this
gentlemen, or I will never give my consent to the undertaking."
"I well knew that your highness would so decide," said Munnich, with a
smile, drawing a folded paper from his bosom. "In proof of which I hand
this paper to your highness."
"Ah, what is this?" said the duchess, unfolding the paper; "it is the
ground plan of a house!"
"Of the house we will have built for Biron in Siberia," said Munnich; "I
have drawn the plan myself."
"In fact, you are a skilful architect, Count Munnich," said Ostermann,
laughing, while casting an interrogating glance at the paper which Anna
was still thoughtfully examining. "How well you have arranged it all!
How delightful these snug little chambers will be! There will be just
space enough in them to turn around in. But these small chambers seem to
be a little too low. They are evidently not more than five feet high.
As Biron, however, has about your height, he will not be able to stand
upright in them."
"Bah! for that very reason!" said Munnich, with a cruel laugh. "He has
carried his head high long enough; now he may learn to bow."
"But that will be a continual torment!" exclaimed the Duke of Brunswick.
"On, has he not tormented us?" angrily responded Munnich. "We need
reprisals."
"How strange and horrible!" said Anna Leopoldowna, shuddering; "this man
is now standing here clothed with unlimited power, and we are already
holding in our hands the plan of his prison!"
"Yes, yes, and with this plan in his pocket will Count Munnich now go
to dine with Biron and enjoy his hospitality!" laughingly exclaimed
Ostermann. "Ah, that must make the dinner particularly piquant! How
agreeable it must be to press the regent's hand, and at the same time
feel the rustling in your pocket of the paper upon which you have drawn
the plan of his Siberian prison! But you are in the right. The regent
has deeply offended you. How could he dare refuse to make you his
generalissimo?"