And just as Munnich was opening his mouth to prefer his request,
Ostermann suddenly uttered so loud and piteous a cry of anguish that the
compassionate and alarmed princess hastened to offer him her sympathy
and aid.
At this moment the clock upon the wall struck four. That was the hour
for which Munnich was invited to dine with the regent. It would not do
to fail of his engagement to-day--he must be punctual, to avoid exciting
suspicion. He, therefore, had no longer the time to lay his request
before the princess; consequently Count Ostermann had accomplished his
object, and secretly triumphing, he loudly groaned and complained of his
sufferings.
Count Munnich took his leave.
"I go now," he smilingly said, "to take my last dinner with the Duke of
Courland. I shall return this night at the appointed hour. We shall then
convert the duke into a Siberian convict, which, at all events, will be
a very interesting operation."
Thus he departed, with a horrible laugh upon his lips, to keep his
appointment with the regent.
Count Ostermann had again attained his end--he remained alone with the
princely pair. Had Munnich been the first who came, Ostermann was the
last to go.
"Ah," said he, rising with apparent difficulty, "I will now bear my old,
diseased body to my dwelling, to repose and perhaps to die upon my bed
of pain."
"Not to die, I hope," said Anna.
"You must live, that you may see us in our greatness," said the prince.
Ostermann feebly shook his head. "I see, I see it all," said he. "You
will liberate yourself from one tyrant, your highness, to become the
prey of another. The eyes of the dying see clear, and I tell you,
duchess, you were already on the point of giving away the power you have
attained. Know you what Munnich's demand will be?"
"Well?"
"He will demand what Biron refused him, and for which refusal Munnich
became his enemy. He will ask you to appoint him generalissimo of all
your forces by land and sea."
"Then will he demand what naturally belongs to me," said the prince,
excitedly, "and we shall of course refuse it."
"Yes, we must refuse it," repeated the princess.
"And in that you will do well," said Count Ostermann. "I may venture to
say so, as I have no longer the least ambition--death will soon relieve
me from all participation in affairs of state. I am a feeble old man,
and desire nothing more than to be allowed occasionally to impart good
counsels to my benefactors. And this is now my advice: Guard yourselves
against the ambition of Count Munnich."
"We shall bear your counsel in mind," said the prince.
"We will not appoint him generalissimo!" exclaimed the princess. "He
must never forget that he is our servant, and we his masters."