The Daughter of an Empress

"The first prize," said Elizabeth, "is the position of privy councillor!

Now take the dice, gentlemen!"

They began to throw the dice, with laughter and shouting when they had

thrown a high number--with lamentations and stamping of the feet when it

was a low one.

In the meanwhile Elizabeth listlessly stretched herself upon a divan,

and laughingly said to Alexis, who sat by her side: "Oh, it is very

pleasant to be an empress. Only see how happy they all are, and it is I

alone who make them so; for out of these common soldiers I have

created respectable officers, and have converted serfs into barons and

gentlemen! I thank you, Alexis, for impelling me to become an empress.

It is a noble pleasure, and I should now be unwilling to return to that

still and uneventful life that formerly pleased me so well! I will so

manage that the Empress Elizabeth shall be as little troubled with labor

and business as the princess, and the empress can doubtlessly procure

for herself more pleasures than could the princess! Yes, certainly, I

will now remain what I am, am empress by the grace of God!"

A thundering shout and loud laughter here interrupted Elizabeth.

The dice had decided! The cook of the empress had won, and become a

councillor of state.

Elizabeth laughed. "These dice are very witty," said she, "for certainly

the cook must be a privy councillor! I establish you in your dignity,

Feodor, your title is recognized! Now for a new trial. Two thousand

rubles is the prize, which I think of more value than a title!"

There was a zealous pressing and shoving, a pushing and puffing; every

one desired to be the first to get hold of the dice and struggle for the

rich prize. There were many ungentle encounters, many a thrust in the

ribs, many invectives, many a gross, unseemly word; the empress saw all,

heard all, laughed at all, and said to Alexis: "These gentlemen are very

practical! Two thousand rubles are estimated by them at a higher rate

than the proudest title! I comprehend that a title is a nonsensical

thing, of which no real use can be made, but what beautiful dresses can

be bought with two thousand rubles! And that reminds me that you have

not yet told me how you like this dress of mine! You take so little

notice of my toilet, dearest, and yet it is only for you that I change

my dress seven or eight times a day; I would, every hour, please you

better and better."

"Oh, no dressing is necessary for that," tenderly responded Alexis; and

stooping, he whispered some words in her ear which pleased her well, and

made her laugh heartily.

Meanwhile the dicing continued. Blind luck scattered her gifts in the

strangest manner; under-officers of the palace attained to high titles,

and high officers with laughing faces won pipes of brandy; barons of the

body-guard made of men who but a few days before had been serfs, were

seen approaching the mirrors with vain coxcombry to see the effect of

orders just won by a cast of the dice, or with greedy avidity pocketing

the rubles which fortune had thrown to them!