The princess slowly raised her pale face from Razumovsky’s shoulder, and looking around with timid glances, faintly said: “I suffer fearfully! This anguish will kill me! My destiny is so cruel, I am so tormented. Why must I be an empress?”
“That you may be no nun,” laconically responded Lestocq.
“And to become the greatest and loftiest woman in the world!” said Woronzow.
“To raise to your own elevation the man you love,” whispered Alexis.
With a glance of tenderness, Elizabeth nodded to him.
“Yes,” said she, “for your sake, my Alexis, I will become an empress! Come, let us go. But where is Grunstein?”
“With his faithful followers he awaits us before the casern of his regiment. We go there first.”
“Then let us go!” said Elizabeth, striding forward. But she stopped on seeing that Alexis followed with the other two.
“No,” said she, “you must not go with us, Alexis. If I am to have courage to act and speak, I must know that you are not mingled in the strife—I must not have to tremble for your life! No, no, only when I know that you are concealed and in safety, can I have courage to struggle for an imperial crown. Promise me, therefore, Alexis, that you will quietly remain here until I send a messenger for you!”
Razumovsky begged and implored in vain—in vain he knelt before her, and covered her hands with tears and kisses.