He declared in public that his eldest son, the Czarevitch Paul, was really fathered by Catharine's lovers.
Czar (sinks into his chair with his eyes fixed on the Czarevitch).
Take it off, I shall have no man wear a sword in my presence (looking at Czarevitch), least of all my son.
Czarevitch gives up sword; Prince Paul places it on the table.
Alexis steps forward, removes his mask, and proclaims himself to be the Czarevitch!
