n sovereign, who in like manner abolished the Secret Court of
Police and proclaimed pardon to thousands of political fugitives. The
Birons were recalled from Siberia, and the old Duke of Kurland and his
wife came back like shades from another world, after twenty years of
exile.

But this pleasant prelude was very brief. The nobles soon found that
their golden idol would have to be made instead of very coarse clay.
Nothing could exceed the grossness and the unbalanced folly of Peter's
course. He reversed the whole attitude of the state toward Germany.
So abject was his devotion to Frederick the Great that he restored to
him the Russian conquests, and reached the limit which could be borne
when he shouted at one of his orgies: "Let us drink to the health of
our King and master Frederick. You may be assured if he should order
it, I would make war on hell with all my empire." He was also planning
to rid himself of Catherine and to disinherit her child Paul in favor
of Ivan VI.; and with this in view that unfortunate youth, who after
his twenty years' imprisonment was a mental wreck, was brought to St.
Petersburg.

Catherine's plans were carefully laid and then swiftly executed. The
Emperor was arrested and his abdication demanded. He submitted as
quietly as a child. Catherine writes: "I then sent the deposed Emperor
in the care of Alexis Orlof and some gentle and reasonable men to a
palace fifteen miles from Peterhof, a secluded spot, but very pleasant."

In four days it was announced that the late Emperor had "suddenly died
of a colic to which he was subject." It is known that he was visited
by Alexis Orlof and another of Catherine's agents in his "pleasant"
retreat, who saw him privately; that a violent struggle was heard in
his room; and that he was found lying dead with the black and blue mark
of a colossal hand on his throat. That the hand was Orlof's is not
doubted; but whether acting under orders from Catherine or not will
never be known.

This is what is known as the "Revolution of 1762," which placed
Catherine II. upon the throne of Russia. Her son Paul was only six
years old; and in less than two years Ivan VI., the only claimant to
the throne who could become the center of a conspiracy against her
authority, was most opportunely removed. It was said that his guards
killed him to prevent an attempted rescue. No one knows or ever will
know whether or not Catherine was implicated in his "taking off.