Page 482 (1/2)

"Catharine!" exclai pale, "you cannot

think--"

"I think," interposed Catharine, with an unnatural smile, "I think the

Russian eood E no emperor who presumes to stand over her

and have a will more potent than her own!"

"Ah, Elizabeth has no will at all!" laughingly responded the princess

"But I shall have a will!" said Catharine, proudly

The Princess Daschkow had spoken the truth Elizabeth had no longer

any will; she let Bestuscheff govern, and was herself ruled by Alexis

Razumovsky, the field-marshal, her husband She did whatever these two

required, willingly yielding to the no personal

effort on her part On this point only had she a will of her ohich

she carried through with an iron hand

"I have not becoht amuse

myself," said she "I have not set the crown upon , but for the purpose of enjoying life Spareyour docu

the pen, and the ink

soils ers, which is unworthy of an enature that I i her a letter "Have the great kindness tothis letter to King Louis

XV of France"