Natalie thanked them with a fascinating smile; and, graciously giving
her hand to the admiral, suffered herself to be assisted by him into the
great boat.
As soon as her foot touched it, the cannon thundered, flags were waved
on all the ships, and their crews shouted, "Viva Natalie of Russia!"
Her eyes sought Orloff, who, with a scowling brow and gloomy features,
was still standing on the shore.
"Count Alexis Orloff!" cried she, with her silvery voice, "we await
you!"
But Alexis came not at her call. He hastily sprang into an officer's
boat, without giving her even a look.
"Alexis!" she anxiously cried.
"He follows us, your highness," whispered the wife of Consul Dyke, while
taking her place near the princess. "It would be contrary to etiquette
for him to appear at the side of the empress at this moment. See, he is
close behind us, in the second gondola!"
"Shove off!" cried Admiral Gluck, he himself taking the rudder in honor
of the empress.
The boats moved from the land. First, the admiral's boat, with the
princess, the admiral, and the Englishwoman; and then, in brilliant
array, the innumerable crowd of adorned gondolas containing the officers
of the fleet.
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