A DIPLOMATIC DEFEAT.
The empress entered the small audience-chamber adjoining her cabinet,
and ringing a bell, gave orders that Count von Gortz and Count Partin
should be admitted. Then she glided to an arm-chair, the only one in the
room, and awaited her visitors, who, conformable to the etiquette of the
Russian court, bowed three times before the all-powerful czarina.
Panin's salutation was that of a serf who is accustomed to kiss the dust
from his tyrant's feet; Von Gortz, on the contrary, had the bearing of a
man of the world, accustomed to concede homage and to exact it.
"Well, count," said the empress, graciously, "what pleasant news do you
bring from Sans-Souci? Has your accomplished sovereign recovered from
his indisposition?"
"The king has recovered, and will be overjoyed to learn that your
majesty takes so much interest in his health."
"Oh," exclaimed Catharine, "the great Frederick knows how much interest
I feel in his life--perhaps as much as he has in my death!"
Count von Gortz looked in astonishment at the smiling face of the
empress. "What! Your majesty says that my sovereign has an interest in
your majesty's death!"
"Did I say so?" said Catharine, carelessly. "It was a slip of the
tongue, my dear count. I should have said TAKES, not HAS; for many
people fancy they have what they would like to take. I should have said
then, that the king cannot TAKE more interest in my death than I do in
his life."
"The king, your majesty, is much older than you, and war has added to
his years."
"If war adds to our years," replied Catharine, laughing, "then I
certainly must be superannuated."
"I trust that the time has arrived when their majesties of Russia and
Prussia may sheathe the sword, and enjoy the unspeakable blessings of
permanent peace," said Von Gortz, with emphasis.
"Are you of the same mind, Panin?" asked Catharine, quickly.
"I know from my sovereign's noble heart that she would gladly bestow
peace upon the world, and I believe that the time has come when that is
possible," replied Panin, evasively.
"It is true, we have for the moment no pretext for war. The troubles
between the Porte and myself were settled at the last peace convention,
and he will take good care not to provoke a renewal of hostilities. We
have no reason to apprehend any breach of peace in Poland, and our
relations with the other European powers are equally friendly. England,
Holland, and France seek our good-will; Prussia is our firm ally; and
Austria, by sending her emperor himself, has given the most flattering
proof of her consideration for Russia. It would appear that we enter
upon an epoch of universal concord."
"And to give stability to this great blessing," replied Von Gortz, "it
is the duty of all sovereigns to fuse their separate interests into one
great alliance, whose watchword shall be 'Peace!' In presence of those
who are bound together by the tie of one common policy, no ambitious
enemy will venture to disturb the great international rest."
"I think we are already able to present the scarecrow of such an
alliance to covetous princes, for we have a firm ally in Prussia, have
we not?" said Catharine, smiling.
"Our treaty was but for eight years, your majesty," interposed Panin,
"and the eight years have expired."
"Have they, indeed?" exclaimed Catharine, surprised. "Well--certainly
years do fly, and before we have time to think of death, our graves open
to receive us. I feel that I am growing old, and the King of Prussia
would be wise if he were to direct his new negotiations toward my
successor, and make him the partner of his magnanimous schemes for
universal peace."
"Your majesty is pleased to jest," said Von Gortz, reverentially. "But
to show you how heartily my sovereign desires to cement his friendship
with the mighty Empress of Russia, I am empowered by him to make new
proposals for a renewal of the eight years' treaty."
"Are you acquainted with these proposals, Panin?" asked Catharine.
"No, your majesty. I only know from Count von Gortz that his proposals
are merely preliminary, and not until they obtain your majesty's
approbation, will the king present them formally."
"Very well, count, let us hear your preliminaries," said Catharine.
"My sovereign desires nothing so much as a permanent alliance with
Russia, which shall give peace to Europe, and deter over-ambitious
princes from trenching upon the possessions of other crowns. To secure
this end, my sovereign thinks that nothing would be so favorable as an
offensive and defensive alliance, with a guaranty of permanent
boundary-lines between Russia, Prussia, Poland, and Turkey. Such an
alliance, in the opinion of my sovereign, would give durable peace to
Western Europe. If the conditions be acceptable to your majesty, my
sovereign will make like propositions to Poland and Turkey, and the
treaty can be signed at once; for it has been ascertained that France
approves, and as for Austria, the very nature of the alliance and its
strength will force her to respect the rights of nations, and give up
her pretensions to territorial aggrandizement."
The czarina had listened to this harangue with growing displeasure. Her
impatience had not escaped the eyes of Panin, and he saw that the scheme
would be unsuccessful. He had promised to second the proposals of the
Prussian minister, but the stormy brow of the empress was mightier than
his promise, and he boldly determined to change his front.
When Count von Gortz ceased, a silence ensued; for the czarina was too
incensed to speak. She looked first at the Prussian ambassador, and then
at her minister of foreign affairs, who was turning over in his mind
what he should say.
"And these are the proposals of the King of Prussia?" cried she, when
she found breath to vent her indignation. "Instead of a simple renewal
of our mutual obligations, you wish to entangle us into alliances with
Turkey! Count Panin, you are my minister. I therefore leave it to you to
answer the Prussian ambassador as beseems the dignity and interest of my
crown."
She leaned back in her arm-chair, and bent a piercing glance upon the
face of her minister. But he bore the test without change of feature,
and turning with perfect composure to his ex-confederate, he said:
"As my sovereign has commanded me to deliver her reply, I must express
my surprise at the extraordinary preliminaries presented by your
excellency. His majesty of Prussia proposes an alliance of Russia with
Turkey. The thing is so preposterous that I cannot conceive how so wise
a prince as your sovereign could ever have entertained the idea!"
[Footnote: Panin's own words. "Dohm's Memoirs," vol. i. pp. 400, 401]
"Good, Panin!" said Catharine, nodding her head.
Panin, encouraged by the applause, went on: "Peace between Russia and
Turkey can never be any thing but an armistice; an alliance with the
Porte, therefore, is incompatible either with our policy or with the
sentiments of my revered sovereign." [Footnote: Panin's own words.
"Dohm's Memoirs." vol. i.. pp. 400, 401]
"In this case," replied Von Gortz, bowing, "my sovereign withdraws the
proposal which was merely thrown out as an idea upon which he was
desirous of hearing the opinion of his august ally, the empress."
"Then you know my opinion upon this 'idea.'" cried Catharine, rising
from her seat, and darting fiery glances at the ambassador. "Count Panin
has expressed it distinctly, and I desire you to repeat his words to the
King of Prussia. And that the great Frederick may see that I make no
secret of my policy, he shall hear it. Know, then, that my last treaty
of peace with Turkey was but a hollow truce, whereby I hoped to gain
time and strength to carry out the plans which I shall never abandon
while I live. The king has guessed them, and therefore he has sent me
these unworthy proposals. Russia has not reached the limit of her
boundaries; her ambition is co-extensive with the world, and she means
to grow and prosper, nor yet be content when Poland bows her neck to the
yoke, and the crescent has given place to the Greek cross!"
So saying, the czarina bowed her bead, and haughtily left the room. When
she raised the portiere, there sat Potemkin in the fulness of his
satisfaction, ready to greet her with his most beaming smiles. Catharine
motioned him to follow, and they returned to the cabinet. Once there,
the czarina threw herself upon the divan and sighed:
"Shut the door, Potemkin, close the portiere, for in good sooth I know
not whether I am about to laugh or cry. I feel as if I had been hearing
a fable in which all my schemes were transformed into card houses, and
were blown away by the wind! But indeed I must laugh! The good King of
Prussia! Only think, Gregory, an offensive and defensive alliance with
Turkey. Is it not enough to make you laugh until you cry?"
"I cannot laugh at such a disregard for the sacred rights of man,"
replied Potemkin, "This proposal of Prussia is an outrage to the faith
of the whole Russian nation, and a challenge to you, my noble sovereign,
whose bold hand is destined to tear down the symbol of the Moslem, and
replace it with that of the Christian!"
"And believe me, dearest friend, I am ever mindful of that destiny,"
replied Catharine.
"And the treaty between Russia and Prussia--"
"Will not be renewed."
"Check to the king, then," cried Potemkin, "and checkmate will soon
follow."
"Yes, the king is old, and would gladly end his days in a myrtle-grove;
while I long to continue my flight, higher and higher, till I reach the
sun. But who will go with me to these dizzy heights of power--"
"His majesty, the Emperor of Austria," said the loud voice of a
gentleman in waiting, who knocked at the door of the cabinet.
"The emperor!" exclaimed Catharine. "You know I granted his request to
come to me unannounced; but I have given orders to the sentries to send
the word forward, nevertheless, so that I always know when he is about
to appear."
"Farewell, Catharine," said Potemkin. "The crow must give place to the
imperial falcon. Why am I not an emperor, to offer you my hand, and be
your only protector?"
"Could I love you more if you were an emperor, Gregory? But, hush! He
comes, and as soon as his visit is ended, return to me, for I must see
you."
Potemkin kissed her hand again and again, and vanished through the
tapestry by a secret door, which led to a small corridor connected with
the czarina's private apartments. But instead of crossing this corridor,
he turned into a little boudoir, through which the emperor would have to
pass and there awaited his appearance. He came, and seeing Potemkin,
looked surprised, but bowed with a gracious smile.
Potemkin laid his finger upon his lip, and pointed to the cabinet.
"Sire," said he in a whisper, "I have anticipated you. Prussia has
received an important check, and the treaty will not be renewed. It
rests with your majesty now, to improve the opportunity and supplant the
King of Prussia. Be sympathetic and genial with the czarina--ABOVE ALL
THINGS flatter her ambition, and the game is yours. Depend upon my
hearty co-operation."
"A thousand thanks," whispered Joseph in return. Potemkin made a deep
and respectful salutation, and left the room. As he closed the door
noiselessly behind him, the emperor crossed the threshold of the
imperial cabinet.