Page 272 (1/2)

"And Munnich and Ostermann?" asked Lestocq

"Mon Dieu! will, then, this annoyance never cease?" impatiently

exclaimed the empress "What are Munnich and Ostermann to me? I know

them not; they have never injured and are wholly indifferent to ues think best, I shall not trouble

e, condemn, punish them, it is all one to me--only

their lives must be spared, as I have promised that no one shall be

punished with death"

"I may, then, announce to the council that you will confirm their

sentence?"

"Yes, yes, certainly," cried Elizabeth, springing up "Scourge, banish

them, do what you please, but leave ood Lestocq is insufferable to-day; he will annoy us to death if we

reer here! Come, ill escape from him and his serious

face! Oh, we have much rand gala dinner, and we haveis in the proper order And then the ball toilet for

the evening, which is far more important I shall open the ball with a

Polonnaise You promised me, Alexis, to practice with me the new tour

which the Marquis de la Chetardie describes as the latest Parisian mode