Just as Shuiski had purchased his life by a falsehood, so did she
purchase her enlargement from that convent where so long she had
been a prisoner, and restoration to the rank that was her proper
due. After all, she had cause for gratitude to Demetrius, who, in
addition to restoring her these things, had avenged her upon the
hated Boris Godunov.
His coronation followed in due season, and at last this amazing
adventurer found himself firmly seated upon the throne of Russia,
with Basmanov at his right hand to help and guide him. And at
first all went well, and the young Tsar earned a certain measure
of popularity. If his swarthy face was coarse-featured, yet his
bearing was so courtly and gracious that he won his way quickly
to the hearts of his people. For the rest he was of a tall,
graceful figure, a fine horseman, and of a knightly address at
arms.
But he soon found himself in the impossible position of having to
serve two masters. On the one hand there was Russia, and the
orthodox Russians whose tsar he was, and on the other there were
the Poles, who had made him so at a price, and who now demanded
payment. Because he saw that this payment would be difficult and
fraught with peril to himself he would--after the common wont of
princes who have attained their objects--have repudiated the
debt.
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