It was as if all, servants, attendants, and generals, had been struck with a magic wand. They all fell upon their knees, and bowed their heads to the earth--venal slaves, one word from their ruler sufficed to set them all grovelling in the dust! With a proud smile Anna enjoyed this triumph. Near her stood the prince, the father of the emperor, with rage and shame in his heart. “Long live the emperor!” resounded from all lips, and the child Ivan, Emperor of all the Russias, screeched for joy at the noise and at the splendor of the assemblage. “Long live our noble regent, Anna Leopoldowna!” now loudly cried Julia von Mengden. Like a thundering cry of jubilation it was instantly echoed through the hall. The generals were the first to join in this enthusiastic _viva!_ A quarter of an hour later the generals were permitted to retire, and the emperor was reconveyed to his apartments. Anna Leopoldowna remained alone with her husband and the newly-married pair, who had retreated to the recess of a window and were whispering together. Anna now turned to her husband, and, with cutting coldness in her tone, said: “You must understand, my husband, that I am very generous. It was in my power to arrest you as a traitor, but I preferred to shame you, because you, unhappily, are the father of my child.” “You think, then,” asked the prince, with a scornful smile, “that I shall take the buffoonery you have just had played before us for truth?” “That, my prince, must wholly depend upon your own good pleasure. But for the present I must request you to retire to your own apartments! I feel myself much moved and exhausted, and have also to prepare some secret dispatches for Count Lynar to take with him in his journey.” “Count Lynar is, then, to leave us?” quickly asked the prince, in an evidently more friendly tone. “Yes,” said Anna, “he leaves us for some weeks to visit the estate in Liefland which I have given to Julia as a bridal present, and to make there the necessary preparations for the proper reception of his wife.” Julia clasped the hands of her mistress, and bathed them with tears of joy and gratitude. “Anna,” whispered Prince Ulrich, “I did you wrong. Pardon me.” Anna coldly responded: “I will pardon you if you will be generous enough to allow me a little repose.” The prince silently and respectfully withdrew. Anna finally, left alone with her lover and her favorite, sank exhausted upon a divan. “Close the doors, Julia, that no one may surprise us,” she faintly murmured. “I will take leave. Oh, I would be left for at least a quarter of an hour undisturbed in my unhappiness.” “Then it is quite true that you intend to drive me away?” asked Count Lynar, kneeling and clasping her hands. “You are determined to send me into banishment?” Anna gave him a glance of tenderness.