The czarina, having been apprized that Radzivill had been duped, henceforth acted with more boldness. At that time Prince Gregory OrlofF was her principal and acknowledged favourite; and it was said that his own brother, Count Alexy Orloff, who had gained some naval victories over the Turks, and who had come to Petersburg, to share with other Russian generals the honours and substantial rewards awaiting them at court, aspired also secretly to supplant his brother in her imperial majesty's heart. Catherine had a keen eye; she soon suspected his concealed aim, and listening to the warm protestations of gratitude of Alexy OrloiF to her imperial person for the favours lavished on him, gave him hints that they would soon be put to the test; and that the sacrifice of his passion for a young and beautiful lady, dangerous to the well-being of the empress herself, might probably be required from him, as a condition for the future continuance of her imperial majesty's kindness. In reality, however, thd czarina wished to turn to her own advantage the growing attachment of Orloff to her person, to prolong his stay abroad, and to induce him to commit a crime, the disgrace of which (if committed) would fall heavier on him than on her. She was anxious, probably, also to be at liberty to gratify some new fancy, without the envious gaze of a too jealous and troublesome rival. Instructions were given to Orloff respecting Princess Tai'akanof; he promised to fulfil them, and was true to his word; a part far more difficult than the promise itself.
Orloff soon left Petersburg, and after stopping some days at Vienna, repaired to Leghorn, where the Russian squadron was already expecting him. He was also commissioned to find an artist to paint some pictures, representing the burning of the Turkish fleet by the Russians. Orloff soon found a painter of the name of Halkert, to whom he made liberal propositions to this effect; but the artist told him he never saw the burning of a ship. Orloff immediately ordered one of his large ships to be blown up, for the purpose of satisfying completely the painter's curiosity, and to enable him to finish his pictures with greater precision, though at the hazard of the ships lying in the port.
As soon as Count Orloff had acquired from his agents all the necessary information about the young Russian lady, he sent to Rome Carlo Ribas, a convicted felon, a Neapolitan of foreign extraction, a young man of good address, whose dashing appearance, smoothness of tongue, and insinuating manners, coupled with a peculiar fitness for intrigue, concealed a black and treacherous heart, and rendered him a worthy associate of his infamous projects. After discovering, as if by accident, the lodging of the young princess, Eibas (who had received every necessary instruction from Orlofi",) introduced himself to her in a splendid uniform, under the name of an officer. He told her that he had ventured to call on her from the sole desire of paying due homage to a princess, whose fate and misfortunes, accomplishments and virtues, were highly interesting to all her countrymen. He seemed very much affected and distressed at the state of destitution in which he found a young lady of her rank. He afforded her some pecuniary assistance; beseeching her on his knees to accept it, as he would consider her so doing as a great honour paid to him; and as he was well assured that she would not forget him as soon as she should be restored to her country, and to the lofty station in society to which her rank and birth entitled her. As his manner and behaviour were extremely respectful, and at the same time subdued and distant, and as the tone of his voice was sorrowful and tender, she requested him to rise, accepted his money with a slight blush, evidently grateful and flattered at his conduct: and the wily traitor soon appeared to his artless and unsuspecting victim in the light of a messenger whom heaven had sent for her deliverance.
Henceforward, Ribas was occasionally admitted to the society of the princess; and when he thought he had sufficiently gained her confidence, he declared that he was commissioned from a far higher personage than himself, to apprise her of an intended visit connected with her private affairs. And when she became eager to know the name and particulars of the intended visitor, after tantalizing for some time her curiosity, he apparently yielded to her entreaties, and told her respectfully, in a whisper, that Count Alexy OrlofF wished to offer to the daughter of Elizabeth, the throne that was lately filled by her mother. He said that the Russians were discontented with Catherine; that Orloff especially could never forgive her ingratitude and tyranny; and that if the young princess would accept the proposals and services of that general, and reward them with the grant of her hand, an outbreak would soon take place, which was already ripe for action and success.