"But the Synod has granted me a separation, and she has already renounced the name of Anna Feodorovna and resumed that of Juliana of Saxe-Coburg; moreover, my fresh marriage was entered upon with the sanction of the Czar." "But it was only a left-handed marriage." "Then we will convert it into a right-handed one." "That is impossible. In the State Archives is a ukase of Czar Alexander to the effect that _only women descending from reigning families may be raised to the imperial throne_, and the descendants of those who are not of royal birth may not inherit the throne." "Then when I--which Heaven forbid--come to the throne I will promulgate another ukase annulling that one." "But there is a further obstacle, which not even the Czar's ukase can overcome. Your Highness is aware that _a woman may not ascend the imperial throne unless she be of the Orthodox faith_. Does your Highness believe that Johanna Grudzinska would abjure the Roman Catholic faith for a crown?" "Not for all the crowns in Europe! The heart of that woman is so stanch that she would scarce change a horse grown old in her service for a young one! Still less would she change her religion. I would not advise any one to try it on her." "And there is yet another still greater obstacle than even that of religion--society. Is St. Petersburg society to be exiled from the Czar's palace? Johanna Grudzinska may be a very angel of light, but she would by no means make a Czarina whom the Ghedimins, Narishkins, Trubetzuois, Muravieffs, and whatever all their names may be, would be willing to acknowledge to stand on a par with themselves, still less to whom they may pay allegiance." "Then let them keep it." "What does your Highness mean by that?" "A very simple meaning. Let them keep their crown. I keep my wife!" "Your Highness does not mean that in earnest?"