The Daughter of an Empress

"Bah! for the present she is in love," exclaimed Munnich, with a laugh,

"and women, when in love, think of nothing but their love. But only

look, your highness, did I not prophesy correctly? Only see the numerous

equipages now stopping before your door! The street will soon be too

narrow to contain them."

And in the street below was really to be seen the rapid arrival of

a great number of the most splendid equipages, from which alighted

beautiful and richly-dressed women, whose male companions were covered

with orders, and who were all hastening into the palace. There was a

pressing and pushing which produced the greatest possible confusion.

Every one wished to be the first to congratulate the new ruler, and to

assure him of their unbounded devotion.

The duke's halls were soon filled with Russian magnates, and when at

length the duke himself made his appearance among them, he everywhere

saw only happy, beaming faces, and encountered only glances of love and

admiration. The warmest wishes of all these hundreds seemed to have

been fulfilled, and Biron was precisely the man whom all had desired for

their emperor.

And, standing in the centre of these halls, they read to Biron the

testament of the deceased Empress Anna: that testament designated Ivan,

the son of the Duchess Anna Leopoldowna and Prince Ulrich of Brunswick,

as emperor, and him, Duke Biron of Courland, as absolute regent of the

empire during the minority of the emperor, who had now just reached the

age of seven months. The joy of the magnates was indescribable; they

sank into each other's arms with tears of joy. At this moment old

enemies were reconciled; women who had long nourished a mutual hatred,

now tenderly pressed each other's hands; tears of joy were trembling

in eyes which had never before been known to weep; friendly smiles were

seen on lips which had usually been curled with anger; and every one

extolled with ecstasy the happiness of Russia, and humbly bowed before

the new sun now rising over that blessed realm.

With the utmost enthusiasm they all took the oath of fidelity to the new

ruler, and then hastened to the palace of the Prince of Brunswick, there

with the humblest subjection to kiss the delicate little hand of the

child-emperor Ivan.

Munnich was again alone with the duke, who, forgetting all his

ill-boding dreams, now gave himself up to the proud feeling of his

greatness and power.

"Let them all go," said he, "these magnates, to kiss the hand of this

emperor of seven months, and wallow in the dust before the cradle of a

whimpering nurseling! I shall nevertheless be the real emperor, and both

sceptre and crown will remain in my hands!"

"But in your greatness and splendor you will not forget your faithful

and devoted friends," said Munnich; "your highness will remember that it

was I who chiefly induced the empress to name you as regent during the

minority of Ivan, and that you gave me your word of honor that you would

grant me the first request I should make to you."