"
Thus he departed, with a horrible laugh upon his lips, to keep his
appointment with the regent.
Count Ostermann had again attained his end--he remained alone with the
princely pair. Had Munnich been the first who came, Ostermann was the
last to go.
"Ah," said he, rising with apparent difficulty, "I will now bear my old,
diseased body to my dwelling, to repose and perhaps to die upon my bed
of pain."
"Not to die, I hope," said Anna.
"You must live, that you may see us in our greatness," said the prince.
Ostermann feebly shook his head. "I see, I see it all," said he. "You
will liberate yourself from one tyrant, your highness, to become the
prey of another. The eyes of the dying see clear, and I tell you,
duchess, you were already on the point of giving away the power you have
attained. Know you what Munnich's demand will be?"
"Well?"
"He will demand what Biron refused him, and for which refusal Munnich
became his enemy. He will ask you to appoint him generalissimo of all
your forces by land and sea."
"Then will he demand what naturally belongs to me," said the prince,
excitedly, "and we shall of course refuse it."
"Yes, we must refuse it," repeated the princess.
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