Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/258

230 Crown, sceptre, globe, and a quantity of orders and ribbons were displayed upon the steps of the catafalque. The deceased Empress had still her court as in her life-time. Chamberlains, ladies and gentlemen in waiting, body-guards, respectfully surrounded her, and stood day and night, being only relieved every third hour. This was a very hard time for the courtiers, who, besides their service at the court of a living monarch, had to guard a dead Empress and the body of an Emperor who had been strangled thirty years ago.

Paul I, on the day of his accession to the throne, unable to avenge the death of his father Peter III, resolved at least to make amends for the injuries done to his memory. It was known that this Emperor, after a tragical end, was privately buried in the church of St. Alexander-Newski. Paul went thither immediately, accompanied by Bezborodko and only one of his aides-de-camp. There was but one monk who knew the place where the body had been deposited. Paul descended with him into the vault, caused the coffin