This publication is the first since 1886. The author of such widely known novels in the last century as “The Family of Princes Zatsepin”, “Princess of Vladimir”, using factual material shows the life of the court of Empress Catherine the Great with Potemkin, Counts Orlov, Golitsyn, Zubov and others. But the main plot of the novel develops on the axis of intrigue : Catherine - Count Orlov-Chesmensky - Alexander Chesmensky. Was Alexander Chesmensky the son of Count Alexei Orlov and Princess Tarakanova? Or maybe he was the son of the Empress herself? The book is designed for a wide range of readers interested in both history and adventure and detective genres. The text is printed according to the publication: “At the turn of the century” Historical novel in three parts by A. Shardin / P.P . Sukhonina. St. Petersburg. 1886