The Daughter of an Empress | Page 7

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."
"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!"
Munnich had turned very pale while the duke was thus speaking, and a
sombre 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 I
read 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, but
of 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 ducal
word 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 promise
of 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 no
longer be the ruler! Ask, therefore, for something else."
Munnich was silent. His features indicated a frightful commotion, and
his 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!" proudly
responded the duke. "Count Munnich, I confirm you in your offices and
dignities, and, to prove to you my unlimited confidence, you shall
continue to be what you were under the Empress Anna, field-marshal in
the Russian army!"
"I thank you, sir duke," calmly replied Munnich. "It is very noble in
you that you do not send me into banishment for