ected it for these seven
months, and yet have heard nothing of you concerning it. You have had
time enough for consideration, and, therefore, as soon as you shall
receive my letter, resolve on one side or on the other.

"If you determine to apply yourself to your duties, and qualify
yourself for the succession, I wish you to leave Petersburg and to come
to me here within a week, so as to be here in time to be present at the
opening of the campaign; but if, on the other hand, you resolve upon
the monastic life, let me know when, where, and on what day you will
execute your resolution, so that my mind may be at rest, and that I may
know what to expect of you. Send me back your final answer by the same
courier that shall bring you my letter.

"Be particular to let me know the day when you will set out from
Petersburg, if you conclude to come to me, and, if not, precisely when
you will perform your vow. I again tell you that I absolutely insist
that you shall determine upon something, otherwise I shall conclude
that you are only seeking to gain time in order that you may spend it
in your customary laziness.--PETER."

When we consider that Alexis was at this time a man nearly thirty years
of age, and himself the father of a family, we can easily imagine that
language like this was more adapted to exasperate him and make him
worse than to win him to his duty. He was, in fact, driven to a
species of desperation by it, and he so far aroused himself from his
usual indolence and stupidity as to form a plan, in connection with
some of his evil advisers, to make his escape from his father's control
entirely by secretly absconding from the country, and seeking a retreat
under the protection of some foreign power. The manner in which he
executed this scheme, and the consequences which finally resulted from
it, will be related in the next chapter.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE FLIGHT OF ALEXIS.

1717

Alexis resolves to escape--Alexis makes arrangements for
flight--Secrecy--Alexis deceives Afrosinia--How Alexis obtained the
money--Alexander Kikin--Alexis sets out on his journey--Meets
Kikin--Arrangements--Plans matured--Kikin's cunning contrivances--False
letters--Kikin and Alexis concert their plans--Possibility of being
intercepted--More prevarications--Arrival at Vienna--The Czar sends for
Alexis--Interview with the envoys--Threats of Alexis--He returns to
Naples--St. Elmo--Long negotiations--Alexis resolves at last to