Volume VII - Modernist Magazines Project

68 The Queen's PleasureThe Queen stamped her foot. " Is everybody in a conspiracy todisobey me ? " she demanded. cc I am the representative of yourKing, who is Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Are my ordersto be questioned ? "The General bowed, and backed from the room." Prince Vasiliev," the Queen said, " I have sent for you to askyou to replace M. Tsargradev as Secretary of State for the Interior,and President of the Council. You will at once enter into thedischarge of your duties, and proceed to the formation of aMinistry."Prince Vasiliev was a tall, spare, faded old man, with a pointedface ending in a white imperial. He was a great personal favouriteof the Queen's." It will be a little difficult," said he." No doubt," assented she. " But it must be done.""I hardly see how I can form a Ministry to any .purpose, withan overwhelming majority against me in the Soviete."" You are to dissolve the Soviete and order a general election."" The general election can scarcely be expected to result in achange of parties."" No ; but we shall have gained time. When the new deputiesare ready to take their seats, M. Tsargradev's case will have beendisposed of. I expect you will find among his papers at the HomeOffice evidence sufficient to convict him of all sorts of crimes. IfI can deliver Monterosso from the Tsargradev superstition, myintention will have been accomplished."cc Now let's lunch," she said to Florimond and me, at the closeof this historic session. " I'm ravenously hungry."I dare say General Michailov did what he could, but histroops