The Daughter of an Empress

"Catharine!" exclaimed the Princess Daschkow, turning pale, "you cannot

think--"

"I think," interposed Catharine, with an unnatural smile, "I think the

Russian emperors are not immortal, and that this good Empress Elizabeth

is very fortunate in having no emperor who presumes to stand over her

and have a will more potent than her own!"

"Ah, Elizabeth has no will at all!" laughingly responded the princess.

"But I shall have a will!" said Catharine, proudly.

The Princess Daschkow had spoken the truth. Elizabeth had no longer

any will; she let Bestuscheff govern, and was herself ruled by Alexis

Razumovsky, the field-marshal, her husband. She did whatever these two

required, willingly yielding to them in all cases demanding no personal

effort on her part. On this point only had she a will of her own, which

she carried through with an iron hand.

"I have not become empress that I might labor, but that I might amuse

myself," said she. "I have not set the crown upon my head for the

purpose of governing, but for the purpose of enjoying life. Spare me,

therefore, the labor of signing your documents. I will sign nothing

more, for my hand is not accustomed to holding the pen, and the ink

soils my fingers, which is unworthy of an empress!"

"It is only one signature that I implore of you to-day," said

Bestuscheff, handing her a letter. "Have the great kindness to make an

exception of this one single case, by signing this letter to King Louis

XV. of France."

"What have I to write to this King of France?" fretfully asked

Elizabeth. "Why should I do it? It is a long time since he has sent

me any new dresses, although he might well know that nothing is more

important for an empress than a splendid and varied wardrobe! Why, then,

should I write to this King of France?"

"You majesty, it is here question of a simple act of courtesy," said

Bestuscheff, pressingly; "an act the omission of which may be attended

with the most disagreeable consequences, perhaps indeed involve us in a

war. Think of the peace of your realm, the welfare of your people, and

sign this letter!"

"But what does it contain that is so important?" asked the empress,

with astonishment. "I now remember that for a year past you have been

importuning me about this!"

"Yes, your majesty, I have been for the last three years daily imploring

of you this signature, and you have refused it to me; and yet the letter

is so necessary! It is against all propriety not to send it! For it is

a letter of congratulation to the King of France, who in an autograph

letter announced to you the birth of his grandson. Reflect, your

majesty, that he wrote you with his own hand, and for three years you

have refused to give yourself the small trouble to sign the answer I

have prepared. This prince, for whose birth you are to congratulate the

king, is now old enough to express his own thanks for the sympathy you

manifest for him."