Part 29 (2/2)
”What are you thinking of, your Highness?”
”Of my father--and of my people. I should be a pretty fellow for the St.
Petersburgers! Last year, when my ill.u.s.trious brother the Czar, thinking himself in a bad way, was graciously pleased to command my presence, and I repaired to the capital, Hui! there was a panic! They began to take steps to appoint me his successor. As soon as I showed my face in the streets they were cleared in a trice. People took refuge in doorways rather than salute me. Ah! how they flocked into the churches! The sacristan had never had so many kopecs in his alms-bag as while I was in St. Petersburg. The priests almost dragged the angels by the feet out from heaven in their fervent supplications for the Czar's recovery. They sketched a caricature of my profile, with my huge nose, at every street corner, with all manner of slanders beneath it! And when it pleased Providence to restore my imperial brother so far that he could drive out again, there were rejoicings. The people thronged round his carriage, hardly allowing the horses room to plant their feet, and almost buried him under flowers. And all this to show their hatred to me. Not that they loved him, but because they dreaded me. You just now said that even he is surrounded on all sides by a.s.sa.s.sins; but the difference is that they would despatch him to heaven, me to h.e.l.l. They believe they would find in me the son of my father--a man with iron hand for their iron necks, as was my sainted father.”
”And that is what they need! The Russian's iron neck only bends to the hand of iron.”
”Well, let them have it; but Heaven preserve me from them, and them from me!”
”But every true man sets his hopes upon your Highness!”
”Eh! Time enough for that. But why are we talking such folly? Why should I survive him? I am but eighteen months his junior. Fill your gla.s.s.
Long life to my brother his Majesty, the Czar! And what else brings you hither? We will speak no more of that.”
”I came with a commission from his Imperial Majesty. It is his pleasure that the succession be now settled. The Czar has no heir.”
”Well, no more have I! But one may be on the way--as you see I have recently married.”
”So I see; but only left-handed. A morganatic marriage.”
”So far. But as soon as my wife bears me a child I will make her my legitimate wife.”
”That is not possible to your Highness.”
”Why not?”
”Because your Highness's first wife, Anna Feodorovna, is still living.”
”But the Synod has granted me a separation, and she has already renounced the name of Anna Feodorovna and resumed that of Juliana of Saxe-Coburg; moreover, my fresh marriage was entered upon with the sanction of the Czar.”
”But it was only a left-handed marriage.”
”Then we will convert it into a right-handed one.”
”That is impossible. In the State Archives is a ukase of Czar Alexander to the effect that _only women descending from reigning families may be raised to the imperial throne_, and the descendants of those who are not of royal birth may not inherit the throne.”
”Then when I--which Heaven forbid--come to the throne I will promulgate another ukase annulling that one.”
”But there is a further obstacle, which not even the Czar's ukase can overcome. Your Highness is aware that _a woman may not ascend the imperial throne unless she be of the Orthodox faith_. Does your Highness believe that Johanna Grudzinska would abjure the Roman Catholic faith for a crown?”
”Not for all the crowns in Europe! The heart of that woman is so stanch that she would scarce change a horse grown old in her service for a young one! Still less would she change her religion. I would not advise any one to try it on her.”
”And there is yet another still greater obstacle than even that of religion--society. Is St. Petersburg society to be exiled from the Czar's palace? Johanna Grudzinska may be a very angel of light, but she would by no means make a Czarina whom the Ghedimins, Narishkins, Trubetzuois, Muravieffs, and whatever all their names may be, would be willing to acknowledge to stand on a par with themselves, still less to whom they may pay allegiance.”
”Then let them keep it.”
”What does your Highness mean by that?”
”A very simple meaning. Let them keep their crown. I keep my wife!”
<script>