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It was the day after the court ball Princess Elizabeth was in her

dressing-roo and

seductive neglige She was to-day in very good humor, very happy

and free from care, for Alexis Razumovsky had, with the most solemn

asserverations, assured her of his truth and devotion, and Elizabeth had

been soothed and reconciled by his glowing language It was for him that

she wished to appear especially attractive to-day, that Alexis, by the

sight of her, et the Countess Eleonore

Lapuschkin In these coquettish efforts of her vanity she had utterly

forgotten all the plans and projects of her friends and adherents;

she thought noempress, but she would be the queen of

beauty, and in that realn alone with an absolute sway

A servant announced Lestocq

A cloud of displeasure lowered on the brow of the princess Startled

from her sweet dreams by this name, she now for the first time

recollected the fatal conversation she had had on the previous evening

with the regent In her love and jealousy she had totally forgotten the

occurrence, but now that she was reminded of it, she felt her head throb