"You ask me such a question while Paul lives, and has Orloff and Panin for his accomplices, and Frederick for his friend?"
"Oh, no, dear Gregory, your anxiety leads you into error. I know that Paul hates me, but I do not believe that Prussia is his ally; for it is clearly the interest of Prussia to conciliate me, and he is too wise to entangle himself in such conspiracies just at the expiration of our treaty."
"Oh, you noble, unsuspecting woman!" cried Potemkin, ardently, "you know nothing of the egotism of the world. You believe in the honesty of Frederick, while he speculates upon the consequences of your death!"
The empress grew pale and her eyes flashed with anger. "Prove it to me," said she, imperiously.
Potemkin drew from his bosom the letter he had that morning received from Frederick. Catharine read it, and then said, "Much flattery, and many mysterious promises. What do they mean?"
"Count von Gortz was so good as to explain. The king offered to make me Duke of Courland, to give me a German princess in marriage, and to secure me the favor of your successor."
"That is not possible!" exclaimed Catharine, "those were idle words."
"Oh, no, your majesty, I will prove to you that they are not, as soon as
Von Gortz is announced."
The empress looked at the clock, which pointed to two.
"It is exactly the hour I appointed to receive him." said she. "He must be in the anteroom."