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Updated: May 21, 2025
Now the closed carriages of the condemned were seen approaching in a long, lingering train; the train halted, the doors were opened, and in the centre of the place of execution appeared Eleonore Lapuschkin, radiant with the brilliancy of the purest beauty, her noble form enveloped in a full, draping robe, which lent to her loveliness an additional charm.
"With the exception of the beautiful Countess Lapuschkin!" said Elizabeth, with a bitter smile "ah, when I am empress, I shall at least have the power to render that woman harmless, and to annihilate her! You turn pale, Alexis," she continued with more vehemence "your hand trembles in mine! You must therefore love her very much, this exalted queen of godlike beauty?
It is a great and very important conspiracy that I have detected! This Countess Eleonore Lapuschkin is guilty of high-treason; she conspires against her legitimate empress!" "Ah, she conspires!" exclaimed Elizabeth, with a fierce laugh. "For whom, then, does she conspire?" "For one whose name I dare not utter without the express permission of my empress!" "Speak, speak quickly!"
"I shall appear less beautiful to him to-day," she murmured; "he will, in thought, compare me with Eleonore Lapuschkin, and find her handsomer than I. Lestocq, Lestocq!" she then called aloud, impatiently stamping with her little foot, "I tell you that you must immediately prescribe a remedy that will restore the brilliancy of my eyes."
"For this fair countess is not alone guilty, although she is the soul of the conjuration, as it is love that animates her. Eleonore Lapuschkin conspires for her lover!" "Oh, this adored saint has, then, a lover!" exclaimed the empress. "And I believed her spotless as a lily, so pure that I felt abashed in her presence!"
She had just come to a decision, and, being content with it, expressed her satisfaction by a smile. "That bleeding feminine torso," said she, pointing to one of the pictures, "look at it, Gregory, that wonderful feminine back reminds me of the vengeance Elizabeth took for the beauty of Eleonore Lapuschkin.
"Well?" she anxiously asked, as Lestocq remained silent. "Speak on; then what further?" "Illustrious empress," said Lestocq, "I am now here to redeem my word. This Countess Eleonore Lapuschkin is a criminal!" "Ah, thank God!" cried Elizabeth, breathing more freely.
Anna Leopoldowna followed the glance of the princess, and, observing the beautiful Lapuschkin, said, without thinking of Elizabeth's very susceptible vanity: "Leonore Lapuschkin is an admirably beautiful woman, is she not? I never saw a handsomer one. To look at her is like a morning dream; her appearance diffuses light and splendor. Do you not find it so, Elizabeth?"
Elizabeth shuddered, and, clinging to her beloved, whispered: "Has not Eleonore Lapuschkin said, 'Give her a daughter, and let her, before the eyes of her mother, experience what I now suffer! Oh, Alexis, wish me therefore no daughter! I shall always tremble for her!" And God seemed to have listened to the anxious prayer of the empress.
Eleonore Lapuschkin was more beautiful than Eudoxia. An infinite magic of youth and loveliness, of purity and energy, was shed over her regular features. She had the traits of a Hebe, and the form of a Juno. When she smiled and displayed her dazzlingly white teeth, she was irresistibly charming.
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