The Daughter of an Empress

"My lofty empress is always the fairest of women," tenderly responded

Alexis.

"Call me not empress," said she, drawing him closer to her. "That

brings again to mind all the hardships and wearinesses I have this day

encountered."

"Only yet a moment, your majesty; let me remind you that you are now

empress, and, as such, have duties to perform!" pressingly exclaimed

Lestocq. "You have this day exercised the pleasantest right of your

imperial power--the right of rewarding and making happy. But there

remains another and not less important duty; your majesty must now think

of punishing. The regent, and her husband and son, are prisoners; as,

also are Munnich, Ostermann, Count Lowenwald, and Julia von Mengden. You

must think of judging and punishing them."

Elizabeth had paid no attention to him. She was whispering and laughing

with Alexis, who had let down her long dark hair, and was now playfully

twining it around her white neck.

"Ah, you have not listened to me, your majesty," impatiently cried

Lestocq. "You must, however, for a few moments remember your dignity,

and direct what is to be done with the imprisoned traitors."

"Only see, Alexis, how this new lord privy counsellor teases me," sighed

the princess, and, turning to Lestocq, she continued: "I think you

should understand the laws better than I, and should know how traitors

are punished."

"In all countries high-treason is punished with death," said Lestocq,

gloomily.

"Well, let these traitors fare according to the common usage, and kill

them," responded Elizabeth, comfortably extending herself upon the

divan.

"But your majesty has this day abolished the punishment of death."

"Have I so? Ah, yes, I now remember. Well, as I have said it, I must

keep my word."

"And the regent, Prince Ulrich, the so-called Emperor Ivan, Counts

Ostermann, Munnich, Lowenwald, as well as Julia von Mengden, and the

other prisoners, are all to remain unpunished?"

"Can they be punished in no other way than by death?" impatiently asked

Elizabeth. "Have we not prisons and the knout? Have we not Siberia and

the rack? Punish these traitors, then, as you think best. I give you

full powers, and, if it must be so, will even take the trouble to affix

my signature to your sentence."

"But we cannot scourge the regent or her son?"

"No," said Elizabeth, with vehemence, "these you must permit to go free

and without hindrance to Germany; your judicial powers will not extend

to them. It shall not be said that Elizabeth has delivered up her aunt

and cousin to torture for the purpose of securing her own advantage.

Let them go hence free and unobstructed! I tell you this is my express,

imperial will!"

And Elizabeth, exhausted by so great an effort, leaned her head upon the

shoulder of Alexis, mechanically playing with his locks.