Basil Shuiski would have shared their fate had he not bought his
life at the price of betrayal. Publicly he declared to the
Muscovites that the boy whose body he had seen at Uglich was not
that of Demetrius, but of a peasant's son, who had been murdered
in his stead.

That statement cleared the last obstacle from the pretender's
path, and he advanced now to take possession of his throne. Yet
before he occupied it, he showed the real principles that
actuated him, proved how true had been Boris's conclusion. He
ordered the arrest and degradation of the Patriarch who had
denounced and excommunicated him, and in his place appointed
Ignatius, Bishop of Riazan, a man suspected of belonging to the
Roman communion.

On the 30th of June of that year 1605, Demetrius made his
triumphal entry into Moscow. He went to prostrate himself before
the tomb of Ivan the Terrible, and then to visit the Tsarina
Maria, who, after a brief communion with him in private, came
forth publicly to acknowledge him as her son.

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,