The Daughter of an Empress

"I know, I know," said Biron, with a sly smile, thoughtfully pacing the

room with his hands behind his back. But, suddenly stopping, he remained

standing before Munnich, and, looking him sharply in the eye, said:

"Shall I for once interpret your thoughts, Field-Marshal Count Munnich?

Shall I for once tell you why you used all your influence to decide the

Empress Anna to name me for the regency? Ah, you had a sharp eye, a sure

glance, and consequently discovered that Anna had long since resolved

in her heart to name me for the regency, before you undertook to confirm

her in this resolve by your sage counsels. But you said to yourself:

'This good empress loves the Duke of Courland; hence she will

undoubtedly desire to render him great and happy in spite of all

opposition, and if I aid in this by my advice I shall bind both parties

to myself; the empress, by appearing to be devoted to her favorite,

and the favorite, by aiding him in the accomplishment of his ambitious

plans. I shall therefore secure my own position, both for the present

and future!' Confess to me, field-marshal, that these were your thoughts

and calculations."

"The regent, Sir Duke of Courland, has a great knowledge of human

nature, and hence I dare not contradict him," said Munnich, with a

constrained laugh. "Your highness therefore recognizes the service

that I, from whatever motive, have rendered you, and hence you will not

refuse to grant my request."

"Let me hear it," said the duke, stretching himself out on a divan,

and negligently playing with a portrait of the Empress Anna, splendidly

ornamented with brilliants, and suspended from his neck by a heavy gold

chain.

"Name me generalissimo of all the troops," said Munnich, with solemnity.

"Of all the troops?" asked Biron. "Including those on the water, or only

those on land?"

"The troops on the water as well as those on land."

"Ah, that means, I am to give you unlimited power, and thus place you

at the head of all affairs!" Then, suddenly rising from his reclining

position, and striding directly to Munnich, the duke threateningly said:

"In my first observation I forgot to interpret a few of your thoughts

and plans. I will now tell you why you wished for my appointment as

regent. You desired it for the advancement of your own ambitious plans.

You knew Biron as an effeminate, yielding, pleasure-seeking favorite of

the empress--you saw him devoted only to amusement and enjoyment, and

you said to yourself: 'That is the man I need. As I cannot myself be

made regent, let it be him! I will govern through him; and while this

voluptuous devotee of pleasure gives himself up to the intoxication of

enjoyments, I will rule in his stead.' Well, Mr. Field-Marshal, were not

those your thoughts!"