The Daughter of an Empress

But suddenly something like a panic-terror, like an unnatural awe, flew

through all these splendid halls; the smiles were arrested on all faces,

the harmless jests on all lips; the pallor of beautiful women became

visible through their paint, and generals staggered to and fro as if a

thunderbolt had fallen. As if touched by a magic wand, every one stood

motionless like statues modelled in clay, no one daring to speak to his

neighbor or make a sign to a friend. They would not see, they would not

hear, they only wished to seem to be indifferent and unobserving.

As we said, a panic-terror pervaded the halls, and like an

evil-announcing night-spectre passed over the heads of the stiffened,

lifeless crowd the dismal rumor--"The regent and the princess are at

variance; the regent is speaking to her with vehemence, and the princess

weeps!"

This certainly was a terrible announcement. But if the regent was angry,

it must be because she knew of the intrigues and machinations of the

princess, and knowing them she could counteract and nullify them;

consequently the plans of the princess were upset, Anna Leopoldowna

would remain ruler, and her son Ivan the Czar of all the Russias.

Now the touch, the vicinity of Elizabeth's friends became an

evil-breathing pest, a death-bringing terror; they anxiously avoided

the vicinity of Lestocq, they crowded back from Woronzow and Razumovsky,

whom they had before sought with every demonstration of friendliness;

they even avoided looking at the French ambassador; for, if the regent

knew all, she must know of the intimate relations of Lestocq with the

Marquis de la Chetardie, and he was therefore doomed like the other

three.

And moreover, this pernicious rumor had not lied; the two princesses

were at this moment no longer so tender and friendly disposed as shortly

before.

They had long wandered through the halls, confidingly chatting and

smiling, and Anna, leaning upon Elizabeth's arm--Anna who this day

saw every thing couleur de rose--felt a sort of disquiet that people

should suspect her who was walking by her side with such innocent candor

and unconstraint, seeming not to have the least presentiment of the dark

cloud gathering over her head.

"She is inconsiderate," thought the regent; "she allows herself to be

carried away by her temperament, and behind her inclination and her

weakness for handsome grenadiers and soldiers, her enemies seek to

discover an insidious and well-considered conspiracy; this is cruel and

unjust! This good Elizabeth must be warned, that she may become more

cautious, and give her numerous enemies no occasion for suspecting her.

Poor innocent child, so gay and ingenuous, she plays with roses under

which serpents lie concealed! It is my duty to warn her, and I will."

Wholly penetrated with this noble and generous resolution, the regent

drew her cousin Elizabeth into the little boudoir which lay at the end

of the hall, offering a convenient resting-place for a confidential

conversation.