The Daughter of an Empress, Page 2

  COUNT MUNNICH

  The Empress Anna was dead, and--an unheard-of case in Russian imperialhistory--she had even died a natural death. Again was the Russianimperial throne vacated! Who is there to mount it? whom has the empressnamed as her successor? No one dared to speak of it; the question wasread in all eyes, but no lips ventured to open for the utterance ofan answer, as every conjecture, every expression, if unfounded andunfulfilled, would be construed into the crime of high-treason as soonas another than the one thus indicated should be called to the throne!

  Who will obtain that throne? So asked each man in his heart. Thecourtiers and great men of the realm asked it with shuddering anddespair. For, to whom should they now go to pay their homage and thusrecommend themselves to favor in advance? Should they go to Biron, theDuke of Courland? Was it not possible that the dying empress had chosenhim, her warmly-beloved favorite, her darling minion, as her successorto the throne of all the Russias? But how if she had not done so? If,instead, she had chosen her niece, the wife of Prince Anton Ulrich, ofBrunswick, as her successor? Or was it not also possible that she haddeclared the Princess Elizabeth, the daughter of Czar Peter the Great,as empress? The latter, indeed, had the greatest, the most incontestableright to the imperial throne of Russia; was she not the sole lawful heirof her father? How, if one therefore went to her and congratulated heras empress? But if one should make a mistake, how then?

  The courtiers, as before said, shuddered and hesitated, and, in orderto avoid making a mistake, did nothing at all. They remained in theirpalaces, ostensibly giving themselves up to deep mourning for thedecease of the beloved czarina, whom every one of them secretly hated solong as she was yet alive.

  There were but a few who were not in uncertainty respecting theimmediate future, and conspicuous among that few was Field-Marshal CountMunnich.

  While all hesitated and wavered in anxious doubt, Munnich alone wascalm. He knew what was coming, because he had had a hand in shaping theevent.

  "Oh," said he, while walking his room with folded arms, "we have atlength attained the object of our wishes, and this bright emblem forwhich I have so long striven will now finally become mine. I shall bethe ruler of this land, and in the unrestricted exercise of royal powerI shall behold these millions of venal slaves grovelling at my feet,and whimpering for a glance or a smile. Ah, how sweet is this governingpower!

  "But," he then continued, with a darkened brow, "what is the good ofbeing the ruler if I cannot bear the name of ruler?--what is it togovern, if another is to be publicly recognized as regent and receivehomage as such? The kernel of this glory will be mine, but the shell,--Ialso languish for the shell. But no, this is not the time for suchthoughts, now, when the circumstances demand a cheerful mien and everyoutward indication of satisfaction! My time will also come, and, whenit comes, the shell as well as the kernel shall be mine! But this is thehour for waiting upon the Duke of Courland! I shall be the first to wishhim joy, and shall at the same time remind him that he has given me hisducal word that he will grant the first request I shall make to him asregent. Well, well, I will ask now, that I may hereafter command."

  The field-marshal ordered his carriage and proceeded to the palace ofthe Duke of Courland.

  A deathlike stillness prevailed in the streets through which he rode. Onevery hand were to be seen only curtained windows and closed palaces;it seemed as if this usually so brilliant and noisy quarter of St.Petersburg had suddenly become deserted and desolate. The usualequipages, with their gold and silver-laced attendants, were nowhere tobe seen.

  The count's carriage thundered through the deserted streets, butwherever he passed curious faces were seen peeping from the curtainedwindows of the palaces; all doors were hastily opened behind him, and hewas followed by the runners of the counts and princes, charged with theduty of espying his movements.

  Count Munnich saw all that, and smiled.

  "I have now given them the signal," said he, "and this servile Russiannobility will rush hither, like fawning hounds, to bow before a new idoland pay it their venal homage."

  The carriage now stopped before the palace of the Duke of Courland, andwith an humble and reverential mien Munnich ascended the stairs to thebrilliant apartments of Biron.

  He found the duke alone; absorbed in thought, he was standing at thewindow looking down into streets which were henceforth to be subjectedto his sway.

  "Your highness is surveying your realm," said Munnich, with a smile."Wait but a little, and you will soon see all the great nobilityflocking here to pay you homage. My carriage stops before your door, andthese sharp-scenting hounds now know which way to turn with their abjectadoration."

  "Ah," sadly responded Biron, "I dread the coming hour. I have amisfortune-prophesying heart, and this night, in a dream, I saw myselfin a miserable hut, covered with beggarly rags, shivering with cold andfainting with hunger!"

  "That dream indicated prosperity and happiness, your highness,"laughingly responded Munnich, "for dreams are always interpreted bycontraries. You saw yourself as a beggar because you were to becomeour ruler--because a purple mantle will this day be placed upon yourshoulders."

  "Blood also is purple," gloomily remarked the duke, "and a sharp poniardmay also convert a beggar's blouse into a purple mantle! Oh, my friend,would that I had never become what I am! One sleeps ill when one mustconstantly watch his happiness lest it escape him. And think of it, myfortunes are dependent upon the eyes of a child, a nurseling, that withits mother's milk imbibes hatred to me, and whose first use of speechwill be, perhaps, to curse me!"

  "Then it must be your task to teach the young emperor Ivan to speak,"exclaimed Munnich--"in that case he will learn to bless you."

  "I shall not be able to snatch him from his parents," said Biron. "Butthose parents certainly hate me, and indeed very naturally, as they, itseems, were, next to me, designated as the guardians of their son Ivan.The Duchess Anna Leopoldowna of Brunswick is ambitious."

  "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 onlylook, your highness, did I not prophesy correctly? Only see the numerousequipages now stopping before your door! The street will soon be toonarrow to contain them."

  And in the street below was really to be seen the rapid arrival ofa great number of the most splendid equipages, from which alightedbeautiful and richly-dressed women, whose male companions were coveredwith orders, and who were all hastening into the palace. There was apressing and pushing which produced the greatest possible confusion.Every one wished to be the first to congratulate the new ruler, and toassure him of their unbounded devotion.

  The duke's halls were soon filled with Russian magnates, and when atlength the duke himself made his appearance among them, he everywheresaw only happy, beaming faces, and encountered only glances of love andadmiration. The warmest wishes of all these hundreds seemed to havebeen fulfilled, and Biron was precisely the man whom all had desired fortheir emperor.

  And, standing in the centre of these halls, they read to Biron thetestament 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 theempire during the minority of the emperor, who had now just reached theage of seven months. The joy of the magnates was indescribable; theysank into each other's arms with tears of joy. At this moment oldenemies were reconciled; women who had long nourished a mutual hatred,now tenderly pressed each other's hands; tears of joy were tremblingin eyes which had never before been known to weep; friendly smiles wereseen on lips which had usually been curled with anger; and every oneextolled with ecstasy the happiness of Russia, and humbly bowed beforethe new sun now rising over that blessed realm.

  With the utmost enthusiasm they all took the oath of fidelity to the newruler, and then hastened to the palace of the Prince of Brunswick, therewith the humblest subjection to kiss the delicate little hand of thechild-em
peror Ivan.

  Munnich was again alone with the duke, who, forgetting all hisill-boding dreams, now gave himself up to the proud feeling of hisgreatness and power.

  "Let them all go," said he, "these magnates, to kiss the hand of thisemperor of seven months, and wallow in the dust before the cradle of awhimpering nurseling! I shall nevertheless be the real emperor, and bothsceptre and crown will remain in my hands!"

  "But in your greatness and splendor you will not forget your faithfuland devoted friends," said Munnich; "your highness will remember that itwas I who chiefly induced the empress to name you as regent during theminority of Ivan, and that you gave me your word of honor that you wouldgrant me the first request I should make to you."

  "I know, I know," said Biron, with a sly smile, thoughtfully pacing theroom with his hands behind his back. But, suddenly stopping, he remainedstanding 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 theEmpress Anna to name me for the regency? Ah, you had a sharp eye, a sureglance, and consequently discovered that Anna had long since resolvedin her heart to name me for the regency, before you undertook to confirmher in this resolve by your sage counsels. But you said to yourself:'This good empress loves the Duke of Courland; hence she willundoubtedly desire to render him great and happy in spite of allopposition, and if I aid in this by my advice I shall bind both partiesto myself; the empress, by appearing to be devoted to her favorite,and the favorite, by aiding him in the accomplishment of his ambitiousplans. I shall therefore secure my own position, both for the presentand future!' Confess to me, field-marshal, that these were your thoughtsand calculations."

  "The regent, Sir Duke of Courland, has a great knowledge of humannature, and hence I dare not contradict him," said Munnich, with aconstrained laugh. "Your highness therefore recognizes the servicethat I, from whatever motive, have rendered you, and hence you will notrefuse 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, splendidlyornamented with brilliants, and suspended from his neck by a heavy goldchain.

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

  "Of all the troops?" asked Biron. "Including those on the water, or onlythose 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 youat the head of all affairs!" Then, suddenly rising from his recliningposition, and striding directly to Munnich, the duke threateningly said:"In my first observation I forgot to interpret a few of your thoughtsand plans. I will now tell you why you wished for my appointment asregent. You desired it for the advancement of your own ambitious plans.You knew Biron as an effeminate, yielding, pleasure-seeking favorite ofthe empress--you saw him devoted only to amusement and enjoyment, andyou said to yourself: 'That is the man I need. As I cannot myself bemade regent, let it be him! I will govern through him; and while thisvoluptuous devotee of pleasure gives himself up to the intoxication ofenjoyments, I will rule in his stead.' Well, Mr. Field-Marshal, were notthose your thoughts!"

  Munnich had turned very pale while the duke was thus speaking, and asombre inquietude was depicted on his features.

  "I know not," he stammered, with embarrassment.

  "But _I_ know!" thundered the duke, "and in your terror-struck face Iread the confirmation of what I have said. Look in the glass, sir count,and you will make no further attempt at denial."

  "But the question here is not about what I might have once thought, butof what you promised me. Your highness, I have made my first request!It is for you to grant it. I implore your on the strength of your ducalword to name me as the generalissimo of your troops!"

  "No, never!" exclaimed the duke.

  "You gave me your word!"

  "I gave it as Duke of Courland! The regent is not bound by the promiseof the duke."

  "I made you regent!"

  "And I do _not_ make you generalissimo!"

  "You forfeit your word of honor?"

  "No, ask something else, and I will grant it. But this is not feasible.I must myself be the generalissimo of my own troops, or I should nolonger be the ruler! Ask, therefore, for something else."

  Munnich was silent. His features indicated a frightful commotion, andhis bosom heaved violently.

  "I have nothing further to ask," said he, after a pause.

  "But, I will confer upon you a favor without your asking it!" proudlyresponded the duke. "Count Munnich, I confirm you in your offices anddignities, and, to prove to you my unlimited confidence, you shallcontinue to be what you were under the Empress Anna, field-marshal inthe Russian army!"

  "I thank you, sir duke," calmly replied Munnich. "It is very noble inyou that you do not send me into banishment for my presumptuous demand."

  Clasping the offered hand of the duke, he respectfully pressed it to hislips.

  "And now go, to kiss the hand of the young emperor, that you may not beaccused of disrespect," smilingly added Biron; "one must always preserveappearances."

  Munnich silently bowed, while walking backward toward the door.

  "We part as friends?" asked the duke, nodding an adieu.

  "As friends for life and death!" said Munnich, with a smile.

  But no sooner had the door closed behind him than the smile vanishedfrom his features, and was replaced by an expression of furious rage.He threateningly shook his fist toward the door which separated him fromthe duke, and with convulsively compressed lips and grating teeth hesaid: "Yes, we now part as friends, but we shall yet meet as enemies! Ishall remember this hour, sir duke, and shall do my best to prevent yourforgetting it. Ah, you have not sent me to Siberia, but I will send youthere! And now to the Emperor Ivan. I shall there meet his parents, theshamefully-slighted Ulrich of Brunswick, and his wife Anna Leopoldowna.I think they will welcome me."

  With a firm step, rage and vengeance in his heart, but outwardly smilingand submissive, Field-Marshal Count Munnich betook himself to the palaceof the Duke of Brunswick to kiss the hand of the cradled Emperor Ivan.