“Ah, this good marquis,” said the princess, laughing, “had never yet experienced the rigor of a Russian winter, and he would not believe that our Neva with its rushing streams and rapid current would in winter be changed into a very commodious highway.  I wagered that I would convince him of the fact, and be the first to cross it on the ice; he would not believe me, and declared that I should lack the courage.  Well, of course I did it, and won my wager!”

The regent had not turned her eyes from the princess while she was thus speaking.  This serene calmness, this unembarrassed childishness, completely disarmed her.  The dark suspicion vanished from her mind; Anna breathed freer, and laid her hand upon her heart as if she would restrain its violent beating.  The letter of Lynar slightly rustled under her hand.

A ray of sunshine became visible in Anna’s face; she thought of her beloved; she felt his presence, and immediately all the vapors of mistrust were scattered—­Anna feared no more, she suspected no more, she again became cheerful and happy—­for she thought of her distant lover, his affectionate words rested upon her bosom—­how, therefore, could she feel anger?

She only now recollected that she had intended to warn Elizabeth.  She therefore threw her arms around the neck of the princess, and, sitting with her upon the divan, said:  “Do you know, Elizabeth, that you have many enemies at my court, and that they would excite my suspicions against you?”

“Ah, I may well believe they would be glad to do so, but they cannot,” said Elizabeth, laughing; “I am a foolish, trifling woman, who, unfortunately for them, do nothing to my enemies that can render me suspected, as, in reality, I do nothing at all.  I am indolent, Anna, very indolent; you ought to have raised me better, my dear lady regent!”

And with an amiable roguishness Elizabeth kissed the tips of Anna’s fingers.

“No, no, be serious for once,” said Anna; “laugh not, Elizabeth, but listen to me!”

And she related to the listening princess how people came from all sides to warn her; that she was told of secret meetings which Lestocq, in Elizabeth’s name, held with the French ambassador, and that the object of these meetings was the removal of the regent and her son, and the elevation of Elizabeth to the imperial throne.

Elizabeth remained perfectly cheerful, perfectly unembarrassed, and even laughingly exclaimed—­“What a silly story!”

“I believe nothing of it,” said Anna, “but at last my ministers will compel me to imprison Lestocq and bring him to trial, in order to get the truth out of him.”