There were the most beautiful gold-embroidered velvet robes, light crape and lace dresses, and hats and topknots of charming elegance.

Elizabeth examined and admired all; she clapped her hands with delight when any one of these precious presents especially pleased her, calling Alexis, Grunstein, and Woronzow to share her joy and admiration.

“Now it will be a triumph for me to appear at this ball!” said Elizabeth, exultingly; “ah, how beautiful it is of your king that he has sent me these magnificent presents to-day, and not eight days later!  I shall excite the envy of the regent and all the court ladies with these charming things, which no one besides myself will possess.”

And the princess was constantly renewing her examination of the presents, and breaking out into ecstasies over their beauty.

The Marquis de la Chetardie smilingly listened to her, told her much about Paris and its splendors, declaring that even in Paris there was no lady who could be compared to the fair Princess Elizabeth.

“Ah,” remarked Elizabeth, smilingly threatening him with her finger, “you would speak differently if the queen or some other lady of your court were standing by my side!”

“No,” seriously replied the marquis, “I would fall at the feet of my queen and say:  ’You are my queen, judge me, condemn me, my life is in your hand.  You are the Queen of France, and as such I bend before you; but Princess Elizabeth is the queen of beauty, and as such I adore her!’”

Princess Elizabeth smiled, and with harmless unconstraint chatted yet a long time with the shrewd and versatile ambassador of the French king.

“I have yet one more request to make,” said the marquis, when about to take leave.  “But it is a request that no one but yourself must hear, princess!”

Elizabeth signed to her friends to withdraw into the open anteroom.

“Well, marquis,” she then said with some curiosity, “let me now hear what else you have to ask.”

“My king and master has learned with regret that the noble Princess Elizabeth is not surrounded with that wealth and splendor which is her due as the daughter of the great emperor and the rightful heir to the Russian throne.  My king begs the favor of being allowed to make good the delinquency toward you of the present Russian regency, and that he may have the pleasure of providing you with the means necessary to enable you to establish a court suitable to your birth and position.  I am provided with sufficient funds for these purposes.  You have only to send me by your physician in ordinary, Lestocq, a quittance signed by you, and any sum you may require will be immediately paid!”

“Oh,” said the princess, with emotion, “I shall never be able sufficiently to testify my gratitude to the generous King of France.  I am a poor, insignificant woman, who can thankfully accept but never requite his kindness.”

“Who knows?” said the marquis significantly.  “You may one day become the most powerful woman in Europe, for your birth and your destiny call you to the throne.”