THE WARNING

The 4th of December, the day of the court-ball, to which Elizabeth had looked forward with a longing heart because of her anxiety to display at court her new Parisian dresses, at length had come.  A most active movement prevailed in the palace of the regent.  The lord-marshal and the chamberlains on service passed up and down through the rooms, overlooking with sharp eyes the various ornaments, festoons, garlands, and draperies, to make sure that all was splendid, and tasteful, and magnificent.

Anna Leopoldowna troubled herself very little about these busy movements in her palace.  She was in her boudoir, delightedly reading a letter from her distant lover, which had just been received under Julia’s address.  She had already read this letter several times, but ever recommenced it, and ever found some new word, some new phrase that proved to her the glowing love of her absent friend.

“Ah, he still loves me,” murmured she, pressing the letter to her lips; “he really loves me, and this short separation will not estrange his heart, but cause it to glow with warmer passion!  Oh, what a happiness will it be when he again returns!  And he will return!  Yes, he will be with me again on the 18th of December, and, animated by his glances, I shall for the first time appear in all the splendor of an imperial crown.  Ah, they have no presentiment, my councillors and ministers, that I have selected the 18th of December for the ceremony precisely because it is the birthday of my beloved!  He will know it, he will understand why his Anna has chosen this particular day, and he will thank me with one of those proud and glowing glances which always made my heart tremulous with overpowering happiness.  Oh, my Lynar, what a blessed moment will be that when I see you again!”

A slight knock at the door interrupted the imaginings of the princess.  It was Julia von Mengden, who came to announce the old Count Ostermann.

“And is it for him that you disturb my delightful solitude?” asked the princess, somewhat reproachfully.  “Is this Count Ostermann, is this whole miserable realm of so much importance to me as the sweet contemplation of a letter from my friend?  When I am reading his letter it seems to me that my beloved himself is at my side, and therefore you must clearly see that I cannot receive Count Ostermann, as Lynar is with me!”

“Put your letter and your lover in your bosom,” said Julia, with a laugh; “he will be very happy there, and then you can receive the old count without betraying your lover’s presence!  The count has so pressingly begged for an audience that I finally promised to intercede with you for him.”

“Ah, this eternal business!” angrily exclaimed the princess.  “They will never let me have any peace; they harass me the whole day.  Even now, when it is time to be making my toilet for the ball—­even now I must be tormented with affairs of state.”