"And Munnich and Ostermann?" asked Lestocq.
"Mon Dieu! will, then, this annoyance never cease?" impatiently
exclaimed the empress. "What are Munnich and Ostermann to me? I know
them not; they have never injured and are wholly indifferent to me. Do
with them as you and your colleagues think best, I shall not trouble
myself about it. Judge, condemn, punish them, it is all one to me--only
their lives must be spared, as I have promised that no one shall be
punished with death."
"I may, then, announce to the council that you will confirm their
sentence?"
"Yes, yes, certainly," cried Elizabeth, springing up. "Scourge, banish
them, do what you please, but leave me in peace! Come, my Alexis, this
good Lestocq is insufferable to-day; he will annoy us to death if we
remain any longer here! Come, we will escape from him and his serious
face! Oh, we have much more serious subjects of conversation. To-morrow
is my grand gala dinner, and we have my toilet to examine, to be certain
that every thing is in the proper order. And then the ball toilet for
the evening, which is far more important. I shall open the ball with a
Polonnaise. You promised me, Alexis, to practice with me the new tour
which the Marquis de la Chetardie describes as the latest Parisian mode.
Come, let us essay this tour. For a new empress, at her first court
ball, there is nothing more important than that she should perform her
duty as leader of the dance with propriety and grace. Quick, therefore,
to the work! Give me your hand--and now, Alexis, let us commence. Sing a
melody to it, and then it will go better."
Alexis began to sing a Polonnaise, and, taking the hand of the
empress, they commenced the practice of the new Polonnaise tour.
"So, that is right," said he, interrupting his singing, "that is very
fine. Now let go my hand and turn proudly and majestically around.
Beautifully done! Now a half turn sideward. One, two, three--la, la, la,
tra la!"
"Yet one more question," interposed Lestocq; "may the council of state
sit in judgment upon Lowenwald and de Mengden, and will you confirm
their decision?"
"One, two, three--tra, la, la!" sang Alexis, and the empress whirled and
made her graceful turn, as he had taught her.
Lestocq repeated his question to the empress.
Elizabeth was precisely in the most difficult tour.
"Yes, yes," she breathlessly cried, "I deliver them all over to you;
scourge them, punish them, send them to Siberia--whatever you think
best! Halt, Alexis, we must try this tour over again. But, indeed, I
think I shall acquit myself very well in it."
"Heavenly!" cried Alexis. "Once more, then! One, two, three--la, la, la,
tra la!"