was
of all jewels and especially of diamonds, he hoped to propitiate her by
a unique gift of the kind. Catharine took the gift, but refused to
receive the giver back into her favor. Her fickle affections were
engaged by another handsome face, and Gregory Orloff spent the
remaining years of his life in aimless journeyings varied by an
occasional visit to St. Petersburg. He died mad in 1783. He used
sometimes to address the Empress, calling upon her by the pet-name of "
Katchen "; or again he would taunt her with her unkindness.
Such
was the life and death of Gregory Orloff. The diamond to which his name
was given although accepted by Catharine seems not to have been worn by
her as a personal ornament. It was mounted in the Imperial Sceptre
where it has ever since remained undisturbed. In its latter state of
tranquil splendor it differs signally from the Regent whose European
career, as we have seen, has been a singularly stormy one. As the
sceptre is used only at coronations
