ceremony was hastily performed in the
presence of all the nobles and dignitaries of the
crown without any attempt at opposition.

There were two nobles whose apparent
insignificance of character had deceived the
proud favourite, who riot only allowed them
to remain at court, but accepted their zealous
assistance in all his designs—with scorn and
insolence, it is true, but in full reliance on
their sincerity. These were Prince Olgoruki
and Count Osterman. All now seemed
propitious to his plans, and he no longer doubted
that success was certain to attend his most
unbounded wishes, when he was seized with
illness. His life was in such imminent danger
that his enemies began to rejoice, and Prince
Olgoruki, to whom Mentchikoff had confided
the charge of the Czar, permitted the young
monarch, who had been kept almost a prisoner,
to enjoy greater liberty; allowing him to see
and be continually with his aunt Elizabeth
Petrowna, and to find an agreeable
companion in his own son, who was of about the
same age as the Czar.

Peter the Second, hitherto a stranger to
the happiness of social intercourse, was
awakened to new life in this delightful
society, and formed so strong an attachment to
the son of Olgoruki, that he only breathed in
his presence. But the shortlived pleasure
was soon to be ended. Mentchikoff recovered,
and immediately a change took place; his
aunt was no longer permitted to visit him,
and the pastimes which had made the
unfortunate boy so happy were to be discontinued
under the pretext of their disturbing his
necessary studies. The old gloom returned, and
the young Czar, too timid to resist, was once
more in his tyrant's power. Mentchikoff,
however, thought it politic to allow him some
recreation, and in consequence the court
removed to Peterhoff, the summer palace
of the Czars, where hunting parties were
allowed, in which the delighted boy found
consolation, particularly as he was not
separated from young Olgoruki, who, as well as
his father, so thoroughly deceived the Grand
Vicar, that he blamed both merely for silly
over-indulgence, without imagining that any
design was hidden beneath the guise of
simplicity which they assumed. But while he
was thus off his guard, a deep plot was being
prepared by his worst enemy, Osterman, who
in his absence from St. Petersburg, had
opportunities of ascertaining the general feeling
of the nobles, and found all agreeing in
one desire, which was, to rid themselves of
a dangerous usurper of the Czar's power.
The elder Olgoruki was active in fomenting
the conspiracy, excited the more by the
prospect of his daughter taking the place of
Peter's present betrothed bride. The object
of most importance now was to get the young
Czar out of the hands of Mentchikoff, and
this task was confided to young Olgoruki.
As he always slept in the Czar's chamber, he
had every opportunity of advising him, and
gaining him over to the plans of the Senate.
It was agreed that all the ministers should be
ready at a certain spot not far from Peterhoff,
to receive the Czar, and his escape was
left to his young companion. Accordingly,
one night, when all the attendants had
withdrawn, leaving, as they supposed, their master
and his favourite asleep, the latter rose, and
softly approaching Peter's bed, whispered
to him that the moment of his deliverance
from slavery was come, and that he had only
to rise and follow him, to be free from the
tyranny of Mentchikoff. No persuasion was
necessary; Peter, who apparently was
already prepared for the attempt, lost no time
in imitating the example of his bold favourite,
and so noiselessly did they contrive to get
out of the window of the chamber, and drop
into the gardens beneath, that the guard at
the door heard not a movement. The two
fugitives traversed the palace gardens with
breathless haste, and fortunately reached
the appointed spot, where the conspirators
against the Grand Vicar were in attendance;
the Czar placed himself entirely in their
hands, and without delay, the whole party
hastened to St. Petersburg, entering in
triumph with their prize.

The Grand Vicar, when he was awakened
next morning and told of the escape of the
precious charge on whose safe keeping all his
fortunes depended, hastened instantly to St.
Petersburg. But it was too late. He found
the guards changed everywhere, and his own
palace surrounded by troops. He had lost
the day. Then followed the triumph of the
opposite party, and his arrest by order of
the Czar.

To a last application which he made to be
allowed to see the Czar, the only answer
was an order that he should instantly quit
the capital, and take up his abode at Rennebourg,
one of his numerous country seats.
He was at liberty to remove with him all
that he possessed in St. Petersburg, and
whatever attendants he pleased. Meutchikoff
gathered together all his valuables,
summoned all his retainers, and at mid-day left
his gorgeous palace—his carriages and retinue
forming such a procession as had never been
equalled for regal magnificence. He took the
longest route in quitting the city, in order
to exhibit to the whole of its inhabitants the
spectacle of his reverse of favour, hoping
not only to enlist the people in his cause,
but to excite the remorse of the Czar when
he contemplated so great a change. In
fact, it is probable that he succeeded, at least
in part, in inspiring sympathy, for his
enemies became startled, and a crime was
made of the manner in which he had
ostentatiously submitted to his degradation. The
brilliant cortege had not proceeded more
than two leagues when it was overtaken
by a party sent to demand from the ex-Grand
Vicar the surrender of all his orders.
These he immediately delivered. After