The Daughter of an Empress

"And Munnich and Ostermann?" asked Lestocq.

"Mon Dieu! will, then, this annoyance never cease?" impatiently

exclaimed the empress. "What are Munnich and Ostermann to me? I know

them not; they have never injured and are wholly indifferent to me. Do

with them as you and your colleagues think best, I shall not trouble

myself about it. Judge, condemn, punish them, it is all one to me--only

their lives must be spared, as I have promised that no one shall be

punished with death."

"I may, then, announce to the council that you will confirm their

sentence?"

"Yes, yes, certainly," cried Elizabeth, springing up. "Scourge, banish

them, do what you please, but leave me in peace! Come, my Alexis, this

good Lestocq is insufferable to-day; he will annoy us to death if we

remain any longer here! Come, we will escape from him and his serious

face! Oh, we have much more serious subjects of conversation. To-morrow

is my grand gala dinner, and we have my toilet to examine, to be certain

that every thing is in the proper order. And then the ball toilet for

the evening, which is far more important. I shall open the ball with a

Polonnaise. You promised me, Alexis, to practice with me the new tour

which the Marquis de la Chetardie describes as the latest Parisian mode.

Come, let us essay this tour. For a new empress, at her first court

ball, there is nothing more important than that she should perform her

duty as leader of the dance with propriety and grace. Quick, therefore,

to the work! Give me your hand--and now, Alexis, let us commence. Sing a

melody to it, and then it will go better."

Alexis began to sing a Polonnaise, and, taking the hand of the

empress, they commenced the practice of the new Polonnaise tour.

"So, that is right," said he, interrupting his singing, "that is very

fine. Now let go my hand and turn proudly and majestically around.

Beautifully done! Now a half turn sideward. One, two, three--la, la, la,

tra la!"

"Yet one more question," interposed Lestocq; "may the council of state

sit in judgment upon Lowenwald and de Mengden, and will you confirm

their decision?"

"One, two, three--tra, la, la!" sang Alexis, and the empress whirled and

made her graceful turn, as he had taught her.

Lestocq repeated his question to the empress.

Elizabeth was precisely in the most difficult tour.

"Yes, yes," she breathlessly cried, "I deliver them all over to you;

scourge them, punish them, send them to Siberia--whatever you think

best! Halt, Alexis, we must try this tour over again. But, indeed, I

think I shall acquit myself very well in it."

"Heavenly!" cried Alexis. "Once more, then! One, two, three--la, la, la,

tra la!"