"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."