In the evening Catherine II. died and Paul arrived. Lisette hardly dared leave the Princess Dolgorouki’s, to go home, as every one was saying there would be a revolution against Paul. The streets were filled with people, but there was no disorder. The crowds reassembled next day before the palace of Catherine, calling her their mother, with cries and tears.
For six weeks she lay in state in a great room in the palace, which was illuminated day and night. The Emperor had his father, Peter III., brought from the convent where he was buried to be taken at the same time as Catherine to the fortress where all the Russian monarchs are interred. He obliged the assassins of his father to carry the corners of the funeral pall, and himself, bareheaded, with the Empress and all the ladies of the court, with long trains and veils, walked through the snow and fearful cold in the procession from the palace to the fortress.
FOOTNOTES:
[42] So spelt in the “Mémoires de Mme. Le Brun.”
[43] It has been, however, confidently asserted that Peter was not and could not have been the son of the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, but of a Swedish Colonel named Bruhmer, with whom by the advice of her mother (Catherine I.), the Duchess carried on an intrigue.—“Catherine II.” (Castera).
[44] Son of Alexis the Tsarevitch, who was put to death by his father, Peter the Great.
[45] Catherine II. was adored by the army and knew how to appreciate the prowess of her soldiers. After a great victory of General Souvaroff she sent him a courrier with simply an empty envelope on which was written “Au Maréchal Souvaroff.”
[46] “Catherine II.” (J. Castera).
[47] “La Grande Catherine” (Capefigue).
[48] Since it is in your honour, why should anything surprise you?