ally made her feel that she owed him nothing
as his wife. Among the nobles there were men whose force of character
and of mind attracted her inevitably. Chastity was a thing of which the
average Russian had no conception; and therefore it is not strange that
Catharine, with her intense and sensitive nature, should have turned to
some of these for the love which she had sought in vain from the half
imbecile to whom she had been married.

Much has been written of this side of her earlier and later life; yet,
though it is impossible to deny that she had favorites, one should
judge very gently the conduct of a girl so young and thrust into a life
whence all the virtues seemed to be excluded. She bore several children
before her thirtieth year, and it is very certain that a grave doubt
exists as to their paternity. Among the nobles of the court were two
whose courage and virility specially attracted her. The one with whom
her name has been most often coupled was Gregory Orloff. He and his
brother, Alexis Orloff, were Russians of the older type--powerful in
frame, suave in manner except when roused, yet with a tigerish ferocity
slumbering underneath. Their power fascinated Catharine, and it was
currently declared that Gregory Orloff was her lover.

When she was in her thirty-second year her husband was proclaimed Czar,
after the death of the Empress Elizabeth. At first in some ways his
elevation seemed to sober him; but this period of sanity, like those
which had come to him before, lasted only a few weeks. Historians have
given him much credit for two great reforms that are connected with his
name; and yet the manner in which they were actually brought about is
rather ludicrous. He had shut himself up with his favorite revelers,
and had remained for several days drinking and carousing until he
scarcely knew enough to speak. At this moment a young officer named
Gudovitch, who was really loyal to the newly created Czar, burst into
the banquet-hall, booted and spurred and his eyes aflame with
indignation. Standing before Peter, his voice rang out with the tone of
a battle trumpet, so that the sounds of revelry were hushed.

"Peter Feodorovitch," he cried, "do you prefer these swine to those who
really wish to serve you? Is it in this way that you imitate the
glories of your ancestor, that illustrious Peter whom you have sworn to
take as your model? It will not be long before your people's love will
be changed to hatred. Rise