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Hanbury's masterpiece, surely; a glorious triumph in the circumstances, and a difficult, thinks Hanbury. Had Hanbury seen the inside of the cards, as readers have, he would not have thought it so triumphant. For years past, especially since that "Fundamental maxim, May 14th-15th, 1753," which we heard of, the Czarina's longings had been fixed.
The song awakened bitter memories. Potemkin had written it in former years, and she had shed tears of emotion when she heard it tears which at that time were as precious to him as were his finest diamonds to-day. The music ceased, and two tears which had gathered in the czarina's eyes stole down her cheeks.
Slight as were the jealousies of the Imperial Court, they had not escaped the Machiavelian eyes of Zebek and the Lama. And under their guidance, Oubacha, bending to the circumstances of the moment, and meeting the jealousy of the Russian Court with a policy corresponding to their own, strove by unusual zeal to efface the Czarina's unfavorable impressions.
Hanbury had not read the Weingarten-Menzel Documents; what double double of toil and trouble might Hanbury have saved himself and others, could he have read them! Hanbury could not, still less could the Majesty's Ministry, surmise the Czarina's secret at all, now or for a good while coming. And in fact, poor Hanbury, busy as a Diplomatic bee, never did more good in Russia, or out of it.
"And you say that this same Princess Zichy, one of the victims of this double murder, endeavored to rob you of of that cigar-case." "And the Czarina's diamonds," answered the Queen's Messenger, imperturbably. "It's not much of a story, but it gives you an idea of the woman's character. The robbery took place between Paris and Marseilles." The Baronet interrupted him with an abrupt movement.
But their faces gave evidence of no other emotion than that of ordinary interest. "Yes, the Czarina's diamonds," repeated the man with the black tie. "It was a necklace of diamonds. I was told to take them to the Russian Ambassador in Paris who was to deliver them at Moscow. I am a Queen's Messenger," he added. "Oh, I see," exclaimed Sir Andrew in a tone of relief.
The Czarina's yoke these wild nations bore with submissive patience, but not the hands by which it had been imposed; and, accordingly, catching with eagerness at the present occasion offered to their vengeance, they sent an assurance to the Czarina of their perfect obedience to her commands, and at the same time a message significantly declaring in what spirit they meant to execute them, viz., 'That they would not trouble her Majesty with prisoners.
I opened it and stuck in my fingers, but, instead of a cigar, they touched on a thin leather envelope. My heart stood perfectly still. I did not dare to look, but I dug my finger-nails into the leather, and I felt layers of thin paper, then a layer of cotton, and then they scratched on the facets of the Czarina's diamonds!
I, too, had obtained some roses, intended especially for Princess Marie von Leuchtenberg, of whom the Czarina's physician, Dr. Karel, whose acquaintance we made at the Burckhardts, had told so many charming anecdotes that we could not help admiring her.
By direction of the Majesty's Ministry, Hanbury still tried industriously, cash in both hands; tried various things: "Assuage the Czarina's mind; reconcile her to King Friedrich;" all in vain. "Unite Austria, Russia and England, can't you, then? in a Treaty against the Designs of France:" how very vain!
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