The Daughter of an Empress

As, however, he opened the door of the next room, his form again took

its former shrunken, frail appearance, and his features again bore the

expression of suffering and exhaustion.

"Ah, it is you," said Prince Ulrich, advancing to meet the count, while

Munnich stood near a writing-table, in earnest conversation with Anna

Leopoldowna, to whom he seemed to be explaining something upon a sheet

of paper.

"We have waited long for you, my dear count," continued the prince,

offering his hand to the new-comer, with a smile.

"The old and the sick always have the misfortune to arrive too late,"

said Count Ostermann, "pain and suffering are such hinderances, your

grace. And, moreover, I have only come in obedience to the wishes of

your highness, well knowing that I am superfluous here. What has the

feeble old man to do in the councils of the strong?"

"To represent wisdom in council," said the prince, "and for that, you

are precisely the man, count."

"Ah, Count Ostermann," at this moment interposed Munnich, "it is well

you have come. You will be best able to tell their excellencies whether

I am right or not."

"Field-Marshall Munnich is always right," said Ostermann, with a

pleasant smile. "I unconditionally say 'yes' to whatever you may have

proposed, provided that it is not a proposition of which my judgment

cannot approve."

"That is a very conditional yes!" exclaimed the duchess, laughing.

"A 'yes,' all perforated with little back doors through which a 'no' may

conveniently enter," laughed the prince.

"The back doors are in all cases of the greatest importance," said Count

Ostermann, earnestly. "Through back doors one often attains to the rooms

of state, and had your palace here accidentally had no back door for the

admission of us, your devoted servants, who knows, your highness Anna,

whether you would on this very night become regent!"

"On this night!" suddenly exclaimed Munnich. "You see, your highness,

that Count Ostermann is wholly of my opinion. It must be done this

night!"

"That would be overhaste," cried the duchess; "we are not yet prepared!"

"Nor is the regent, Biron of Courland," thoughtfully interposed

Ostermann; "and, therefore, our overhaste would take Biron by surprise."

"Decidedly my opinion," said Munnich. "All is lost if we give the regent

time and leisure to make his arrangements. If we do not annihilate him

to-day, he may, perhaps, send us to Siberia to-morrow."

The duchess turned pale; a trembling ran through her tall, noble form.

"I so much dread the shedding of blood!" said she.

"Oh, I am not at all vain," said Ostermann. "I find it much less

unpleasant to see the blood of others flowing than my own. It may be

egotism, but I prefer keeping my blood in my veins to exposing it to the

gaping curiosity of an astonished crowd!"