A cloud passed over the brow of the princess. "Yes, you are right," said

she, "we must avoid that at all events, and if there are no other means,

very well, I shall know what to decide upon--I shall venture an attempt

to dethrone the regent and make myself empress! But, my friends, let

that now suffice. I need rest. Call my women to undress me, Woronzow.

Good-night, good-night, my high and lofty vassals, your great and

powerful empress allows you to kiss her hand!"

With a pleasing graciousness she extended her fair hands to her friends,

who respectfully pressed them to their lips and then departed.

"Alexis!" called the princess, as Razumovsky was about to withdraw

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with the others--"Alexis, you will remain awhile. While my women

are undressing me, you shall sing me to sleep with that charming

slumber-song you sing so splendidly!"

Alexis smiled and remained.

A quarter of an hour later deep silence prevailed in the dark palace

of Elizabeth, and through the stillness of the night was heard only

the sweetly-melodious voice of the handsome Alexis, who was singing his

slumber-song to the princess.

From this day forward her four trusted friends left the princess no

peace. They so stormed her with prayers and supplications, Alexis

so well knew how to represent his despair at her approaching and

unavoidable marriage, that the amiable princess, to satisfy her friends

and be left herself at peace, declared herself ready to sanction the

plans of her confidants and enter into a conspiracy against the regent.

Soon a small party was formed for the cause of the princess.

Grunstein--who, as the princess had said, from a bankrupt merchant had

attained the position of subordinate officer--Grunstein had succeeded

in winning for the cause of the princess some fifty grenadiers of

the Preobrajensky regiment, to which he belonged; and these people,

drunkards and dissolute fellows, were the principal props upon which

Elizabeth's throne was to be established! They were neither particular

about the means resorted to for the accomplishment of the proposed

revolution, nor careful to envelop their movements in secrecy.

Elizabeth soon began to find pleasure and distraction in exciting the

enthusiasm of the soldiers. She often repaired to the caserns of the

guards, and her mildness and affability won for her the hearts of the

rough soldiers accustomed to slavish subjection. When she rode through

the streets, it was not an unusual occurrence to see common soldiers

approach her sledge and converse familiarly with her. Wherever she

showed herself, there the soldiers received her with shouts, and the

palace of the princess was always open to them. In this way Elizabeth

made herself popular, and the Regent Anna, who was informed of it,

smiled at it with indifference.

Just as incautiously did Elizabeth's fanatical political manager,

Lestocq, set about his work. He made no secret of his intercourse with

the French ambassador, and in the public coffee-houses he was often

heard in a loud voice to prophesy an approaching political change.




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