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PROLOGUE

The Foreign Minister is advising Princess Charlotte.

Foreign Minister

The Emperor understands your religious scruples, Princess Charlotte. You are a Lutheran and the Russian Crown Prince is an Orthodox. Yet, we believe Tsar Peter’s conception of Orthodoxy takes the form of the Lutheran faith. The Tsar has abolished the Patriarchate and, following the example of the Protestant Princes, he has declared himself Chief Bishop. Now that the Russians are reasonably taught and educated in schools, all of the superstitious beliefs, must, of themselves, disappear. In these schools the teachings are quite Lutheran. The monasteries are reduced in number. Miracles and relics no longer command reverence. Thus you may be at ease.

(Princess Charlotte bows her head.)

As to conditions there, it is true they are primitive. The Muscovites do everything because they are compelled to. Russia is a country where everything is begun and nothing is finished. Should the Tsar die, farewell to all progress. The Tsarevitch, who is to be your husband, is not as complete a partisan of the old ways as he is reputed to be. He favors progress, but does not believe in beating it into the people by force as does his father.

(The Princess bows again.)

As to his dissipated ways, it is true, he is a man of not strong character. But he is stubborn beyond belief. Since his father will not let him have his own way and live his own life, he protests silently by drinking Vodka, thereby deliberately unfitting himself for the role his father tries to force on him. He also gains popularity in this way. Our ambassador believes that once the Tsarevitch attains the throne, he will reform himself and cease these deliberate dissipations.

(Smiling) The Emperor hopes that this report will satisfy your scruples and expects that you will marry the Tsarevitch, thus uniting the two greatest empires on the face of the earth.

(Princess Charlotte bows in acquiescence.)

(The Foreign Minister bows solemnly and withdraws.)