.

Father Savvaty blessed the boyar.

      – Here, for the remembrance of my father, Grigory Grigorievich, – and Mikhail took out the prepared purse.

      – I will pray for the defender of Rus’, – and the priest crossed himself, – and for you too…

      Father Savvaty turned and again disappeared behind the forged door, as if Mikhail Grigorievich had dreamed it all, this whole difficult day. The boyar sighed, put his hand on the hilt of his rich saber. His soul felt lighter, so it was all over, he had done the job. And at the church fence the horses were already neighing, the carts were creaking, finally, he could rest in his Moscow estate.

      New Conspiracy

      Sophia Learned a Lot

      Sophia Alekseyevna sat in her favorite Italian armchair today, rereading a useful little book. And what can I say? It was boring to sit in the little room, locked up. Although there was nothing to complain about… Peter does not skimp on food or maintenance. Still, he treats her honorably, and he did not send her to a distant monastery, he left her here, in Moscow, to live. True, in the Novodevichy Convent, but so what…

      So she sat and reread her favorite books, drank berry broth. She reached for the silver goblet again, but it was empty.

      – Palashka! – she shouted to the hay girl, – bring a full jug at once!

      – Right now, mother, it will be done! – the servant answered, without arguing, and ran to do it.

      She returned, filled the cup with berry drink, and sat down again on the low stool at the mistress’s feet, and began to hum something to herself. Sophia knew Palashka’s character and her habits. She would not pester her herself, but would wait until the princess asked: What news or rumors does Pelageya have in Moscow? Only then would she begin to broadcast. And she always tells so many funny things!

      With a sigh, the princess put down Ovid’s verses, and so softly, with her foot shod in a morocco shoe, pushed Palashka in the back.

      – Well, what rumors and talk are there in Moscow, Pelageya? Tell me without concealment!

      – So, mother, it is a secret and terrible matter! A loyal man from the Kremlin came… He swore that he wasn’t lying… But he dug in his heels, the scoundrel, saying that he would only tell you, and he asked for a big reward – ten rubles!

      – Well, well… – Sophia became keenly interested, – well… Take a cloak for him, and bring him to the guardhouse, near the secret gate. When it gets dark, I’ll listen today. Here, for your troubles… – and she gave Palashka two altyns.

      The hay girl left. The princess looked at the door, was it closed? She quickly jumped up from her chair, closed it with a heavy bolt. She herself sat down on the couch, found a secret place under the bookcase, and fished out an iron chest. Her treasury was small, but still, she had five hundred efimki. She counted out twenty large silver coins, hid them in a suede purse. Then she put the chest back in place and then quietly unlocked the door, opened it slightly and listened to the steps in the corridor. No, thank God, it was quiet…

      She had to be careful, she knew that among her servants there were those bought by the Naryshkins and Romodanovskys. True, the princess trusted Palashka.

      ***

      There were cold appetizers on a silver platter in front of Sophia, but she barely tried the pork, which she always loved. She didn’t want to eat. She kept thinking, what does the stranger want to say? Then she finally decided, again correctly, the story of Stenka Razin’s treasure. There are many such stories in Rus’, and many storytellers who shouted: “Word and deed” ended their worthless lives on the rack.

      And then, the dashing Cossack scared the Tsar-father well, he got all the way to Moscow. And if Prince Miloslavsky had not deceived the ataman during the negotiations, having captured him by deception, who knows how it all could have ended?

      Here the princess only shook her head, driving away the terrible gloom. An old, terrible thing… And now, they say, Petrushka is going to Europe… And is it ever seen, for the Tsar of All Rus’, to go to overseas spies, to lower his honor? Russian Tsars are of the most ancient lineage, even from Augustus-Caesar, this is known to all.And he in the carriage, and to Amsterdam?

      Oh well, he is the Tsar now, he knows better. And they brought her a decree that in Moscow instead of the Sovereign the Five-Membered Council will remain, and above them, of course, the irreplaceable Fyodor Yuryevich Romodanovsky, and the voivode by marriage Mikhail Grigoryevich…

      After the mass she took a book, to while away the time. Again you see Latin, and how without it? Well, and if you know this language, then you can overcome all the wisdom of books. And now learned men write their works only in Latin. Convenient – no translator is needed. And a person who does not know will not pollute with unworthy hands, and will not weigh down his unworthy and heavy mind with the blinding radiance of Providence! And she herself with difficulty comprehended so little, only began to move towards the comprehension of bright Truths.

      But then there was a knock on the door, distracting from such important thoughts. The door to the room creaked, and Palashka’s shadow appeared on the threshold:

      – Mother, a man has arrived, he’s waiting… I’ve already brought a lantern.

      – Okay, let’s go, – Sophia said in a deliberately low voice.

      They quickly walked through the passages, came out into the stone-paved courtyard. At least there was no mud… And found themselves in the gatehouse. Palashka, clever girl, locked the door and turned to the hostess, expecting praise. But she remained silent. There was only one room here with a table on which a tallow candle was burning, and there were four chairs. Seeing who had entered, the secret guest jumped up and stood by the wall. But the princess graciously waved her hand, allowing him to sit down. And she sat down opposite. Pelageya stood behind her hostess.

      The stranger took off his felt cap, turned his head towards the icons, crossed himself three times and bowed very low.

      – I have come with secret news. And I tell the truth, here is the holy cross for you, princess!

      – Well, tell me…

      ***

      – I work as a servant at the patriarchal courtyard. My pay is small, but it is a sin to complain, it is enough for bread. So, yesterday there was a lot of work – I unloaded two carts with firewood, then ten sacks of flour, two sacks of salt, three barrels of salted fish. Two barrels of pickled cucumbers. And those cucumbers are so wonderfully good, because the brethren always use currant leaves for this purpose…

      – But get to the point… – the princess interrupted such a tricky speech.

      – Well, that’s what I’m saying… I carried a lot of things into the cellar, and then, going down for a tool, I noticed a light in the stone cellar…

      And the man glanced meaningfully at the princess, smoothed his red hair, and continued:

      – It’s dark there… I walked for a long time, it’s scary there, in the darkness. I was very scared, but I walked. I crept up carefully, noticed Father Savvaty, from the Archangel Cathedral, but he wasn’t alone…

      Here Sophia herself couldn’t restrain herself, but slapped her palm on the table and muttered:

      – Don’t keep me in suspense, you scoundrel!

      – So, – he continued, – it was boyar Romodanovsky. And with him were about ten of his serfs. They were dragging a heavy sack, and a stone coffin, obviously not light. Father Savvaty let them into the cathedral’s basement. They didn’t notice me.

      Sophia put her palm under her heavy chin and stared at the messenger. He ah, moved back to the wall, scared. – This is for you, for the news, – and the princess put twenty-four thalers