(APRIL-JULY, 1914)
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IN the spring of 1914 the Imperial family went to the Crimea, as in preceding years. We arrived at Livadia on April 13th, a bright, sunny day. In fact, we were almost dazzled by the sunshine, which bathed the high, steep cliffs, the little Tartar villages half buried in the bare sides of the mountains, and the staring white mosques1 which stood out sharply against the old cypresses2 in the cemeteries3. The contrast with the landscapes we had just left was so striking that, although this new country was familiar, it seemed quite fairylike and unreal in its wondrous4 beauty under this halo of sunshine.
These spring days in the Crimea were a delicious relief after the interminable St. Petersburg winter, and we looked forward to them months before they came.
On the excuse of settling in, we all took holiday the first few days, and used it to enjoy this marvel5 of nature to the full. Then regular lessons were resumed. My colleague, M. Petroff, accompanied us as before.
Alexis Nicola?evitch’s health had improved in recent months; he had grown a good deal, and he looked so well that we were all in high spirits.{92}
On May 8th the Czar, wishing to give his son a treat, decided6 that we should take advantage of a day which promised to be particularly sunny to pay a visit to the “Red Rock.” We left in a car, the party comprising the Czar, the Czarevitch, an officer from the Standard, and myself. The sailor Derevenko and the cossack on duty followed in another car. We gradually ascended7 the slopes of the Jaila mountains through beautiful forests of pine-trees, whose enormous trunks rose tall and majestic8 to the leafy dome9 above them. We soon reached the end of our journey—a huge rock sheer above the valley, and looking as if it had grown rusty10 in the course of ages.
The day was so fine that the Czar decided to continue the drive. We descended11 the northern slopes of the Jaila mountains. There was still plenty of snow about, and Alexis Nicola?evitch had huge fun sliding on it. He ran round us, skipping about, rolling in the snow and picking himself up, only to fall again a few seconds later. It seemed as if his lively nature and joie de vivre had never been displayed to better advantage before. The Czar watched his son’s frolics with obvious pleasure. You could see how happy he was to realise that the boy had recovered the health and strength of which he had been deprived so long. Yet he was still haunted by the fear of accidents, and every now and then he intervened to moderate his transports. Although he never so much as referred to the disease to which the Heir was a victim, it caused him perpetual anxiety and concern.
The day drew to a close, and we were quite sorry to have to start back. The Czar was in high spirits during the drive. We had an impression that this holiday devoted12 to his son had been a tremendous pleasure to him. For a few hours he had escaped from his Imperial duties and the attentions, exquisitely13
[Image unavailable.]
EXCURSION TO THE “RED ROCK” ON MAY 8TH. (THE CRIMEA, SPRING OF 1914.)
[Image unavailable.]
THE FOUR GRAND-DUCHESSES (LEFT TO RIGHT: ANASTASIE, OLGA, TATIANA, AND MARIE). STANDARD, 1914.
[Facing page 92.
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polite though they were, of those about him. Thanks to the fact that this little trip had been quite impromptu15, he had even dodged16 the vigilant17 care of the palace police, a thing he felt was always about him (though this duty was performed in the discreetest possible manner), and hated thoroughly18. For once, at any rate, he had been able to live like an ordinary mortal. He seemed rested and relieved.
In ordinary times the Czar did not see much of his children. His work and the demands of Court life prevented him from giving them as much time as he would have wished. He had handed over their bringing-up entirely19 to the Czarina, and in the short time he spent with them in family intimacy20 he liked to enjoy their company without restraint and with a mind free from all cares. At such times he wanted to be free of the immense burden of responsibility upon his shoulders. He wanted to be simply the father and forget that he was the Czar.
Nothing of any importance occurred to break the monotony of our life during the following weeks.
About the end of May there were rumours21 at Court that the Grand-Duchess Olga Nicola?evna was about to be betrothed22 to Prince Carol of Rumania.[18] She was then eighteen and a half. The parents on both sides seemed in favour of the match, which was very desirable at that moment on political grounds also. I knew that M. Sazonoff, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, was doing his utmost to bring about the betrothal23 and that the final arrangements were to be made during a visit which the Russian Imperial family were to pay to Rumania in the immediate24 future.
One day at the beginning of June when I was alone with Olga Nicola?evna she suddenly asked me a question with that{94} confident and disingenuous25 frankness which was all her own and the legacy26 of the relations which had been established between us when she was quite a little girl:
“Tell me the truth, monsieur: do you know why we are going to Rumania?”
In some confusion I replied:
“I believe it’s a courtesy visit. The Czar is going to return the visit the King of Rumania paid him some time back.”
“Oh, that’s the official reason ... but what’s the real reason? I know you are not supposed to know, but I’m sure everyone is talking about it and that you know it....”
“All right! But if I don’t wish it, it won’t happen. Papa has promised not to make me ... and I don’t want to leave Russia.”
“But you could come back as often as you like.”
“I should still be a foreigner in my own country. I’m a Russian, and mean to remain a Russian!”
On June 13th we embarked28 on the Imperial yacht Standard at Yalta, and the next morning we arrived at Constanza, the great Rumanian port on the Black Sea where the celebrations were to take place. On the quay29 a company of infantry30 with its colours and band received us with military honours, while a battery of artillery31 posted on the hill above the fort gave us the prescribed salute32. All the ships in the harbour had their flags out.
Their Majesties33 were received by the old King Carol, Queen Elizabeth (“Carmen Sylva”), and the princes and princesses of the royal family. After the customary presentations we went to the Cathedral, where a Te Deum was celebrated34 by the Bishop35 of the Lower Danube. At one o’clock the members of{95} the two families took luncheon36 together privately37, while the suite38 were the guests of the President of the Council of Ministers. The royal luncheon was served in the pavilion which “Carmen Sylva” had had built at the pierhead. It was one of her favourite residences, and she spent a considerable part of every year there. She was fond of sitting for hours, “listening to the sea,” on the terrace which seemed suspended between the sky and the waves, where the great sea-birds only could break in on her solitude39.
In the afternoon Their Majesties gave an At Home on board the Standard and then attended a great review.
At eight o’clock in the evening we all assembled for the gala banquet, which was served in a beautiful room built for the purpose. It was certainly charmingly decorated, with its ceiling and walls of white stucco sown with little electric lamps most tastefully disposed and its palms and plants and profusion40 of well-arranged flowers. The whole thing was a blend of colour and line which was highly pleasing to the eye.
The Czar, with Queen Elizabeth on one side and Princess Marie[19] on the other, was in the centre of a long table at which eighty-four guests were seated. The Czarina sat opposite him, between King Carol and Prince Ferdinand.[20] Olga Nicola?evna was next to Prince Carol, and replied with her usual natural charm to his questions. The three other Grand-Duchesses, who found it none too easy to conceal41 their boredom42 on such occasions, lost no chances of leaning to wards43 me and indicating their sister with a sly wink44.
Towards the end of the meal, which proceeded with the usual ceremonial, the King rose to give the Czar a toast of{96} welcome. He spoke45 in French, but with a strong German accent. The Czar replied, also in French. He spoke pleasantly, in a musical, well-modulated voice. When dinner was over we went into another room, where Their Majesties went round talking to the guests, and those to whom this favour was not accorded lost no time in collecting in groups as affinity46 or mere47 chance dictated48. But the evening was cut short, as the Standard had to leave Constanza the same day. An hour later the yacht put to sea and set sail for Odessa.
The next day I heard that the scheme for the marriage had been abandoned, or at any rate indefinitely postponed49. Olga Nicola?evna had won.[21]
On the morning of June 15th we arrived at Odessa. The Czar reviewed the troops of the garrison50, who were presented to him by General Ivanoff, commanding this military area.
The next day we stopped for several hours at Kishineff in Bessarabia in order to be present at the unveiling of a monument to the memory of Alexander I., and on the 18th we returned to Tsarsko?e-Selo. Two days later the Czar was visited by the King of Saxony, who came to thank him for his appointment as honorary colonel of one of the regiments51 of his Guard. During the visit the troops paraded before the palace. It was the only ceremony which marked the King’s short stay. On June 23rd he bade farewell to the Imperial family.[22]
Shortly afterwards we left for Peterhof, where we embarked on July 14th for a short cruise in the fjords of Finland. The{97} Alexandria[23] took us from Peterhof to Cronstadt, where the Standard was waiting for us. As we were going on board the Czarevitch jumped at the wrong moment, and his ankle caught the bottom of the ladder leading to the deck. At first I thought this accident would have no ill effects, but towards evening the boy began to be in pain and his sufferings rapidly increased. Everything pointed52 to a serious crisis.
When I woke next morning we were in the heart of a Finnish fjord. It was an exquisite14 spot. The sea was deep emerald green, flaked53 with white by the waves, and dotted with small islands of red granite54 crowned with pines whose trunks flashed in the sunshine. In the middle distance was the shore, with its long fringe of yellow sand and its dark green forests which stretched away to the horizon.
I went down to Alexis Nicola?evitch’s room. He had had a very bad night. The Czarina and Dr. Botkin were with him, but quite powerless to alleviate55 his terrible sufferings.[24]
The day passed sullenly56 and slowly. Since the previous evening I had noticed that the suite were a prey57 to unwonted excitement. I asked Colonel D—— what the cause was, and learned that there had been an attack on Rasputin and that his life was in danger. He had gone to Siberia a fortnight before, and on his arrival at his own village, Pokrovsko?e, had been stabbed in the stomach by a young woman. The wound might be fatal. There was great excitement on board, whisperings and mysterious confabulations which suddenly stopped whenever anyone suspected of being an adherent58 of Rasputin came near. Everyone else was inspired by a lively hope of{98} being at last delivered from that baneful59 influence, but no one dare reveal his joy too openly. The villainous moujik seemed to have nine lives, and he might recover.[25]
On the 19th we returned to Peterhof, where the President of the French Republic was expected. Our cruise was only interrupted, and we were to resume our voyage after he left. Alexis Nicola?evitch had taken a turn for the better in the last two days, but he was still unable to walk, and he had to be carried off the yacht.
In the afternoon of the next day the cruiser La France arrived in Cronstadt harbour with the French President on board. The Czar was there to receive him. They returned to Peterhof together, and M. Poincaré was taken to the apartments prepared for him in the palace. In the evening a gala banquet was given in his honour, and the Czarina and the ladies-in-waiting were present.
For four days the President of the French Republic was the guest of Nicholas II., and many ceremonies marked his short visit. He made an excellent impression upon the Czar, a fact which I was able to prove to my own satisfaction under the following circumstances.
M. Poincaré had been invited to the Imperial luncheon-table, where he was the sole guest. He was received without the slightest formality into the family circle at the little Alexandria Cottage.
When the meal was over the Czarevitch came and showed me, not without considerable pride, the ribbon of the Legion of{99} Honour which the President of the Republic had just given him. We then went out into the park, and in a few minutes we were joined by the Czar.
“Do you know, I’ve just been talking to M. Poincaré about you?” he said in his usual affable manner. “He had spoken to Alexis and asked me who had taught him French. He is a remarkable60 man, with a splendid intellect, and a brilliant talker. That’s always useful; but what I like most is that there is nothing of the diplomat61 about him.[26] He is not reticent62, but plain-spoken and frank, and wins one’s confidence at once. If only we could do without diplomacy63 humanity would make immense strides.”
On July 23rd the President left Cronstadt for Stockholm, immediately after a dinner given in Their Majesties’ honour on the La France.
The next day, to our utter amazement64, we learned that Austria had presented an ultimatum65 to Serbia on the previous evening.[27] I met the Czar in the park in the afternoon. He was preoccupied66, but did not seem anxious.
On the 25th an Extraordinary Council was held at Krasno?e-Selo in the Czar’s presence. It was decided to pursue a policy of dignified67 but firm conciliation68. The Press was extremely angry at the step taken by Austria.
The next few days the tone of the Press became increasingly violent. Austria was accused of desiring to annihilate69 Serbia. Russia could not let the little Slav state be overwhelmed.{100} She could not tolerate an Austro-Hungarian supremacy70 in the Balkans. The national honour was at stake.
Yet while tempers were rising and the diplomats71 were setting the machinery72 of all the chancellories in motion, heartrending telegrams left Alexandria Cottage for distant Siberia, where Rasputin was slowly recovering from his wound in the hospital at Tioumen.[28] They were nearly all of the same tenor73: “We are horrified74 at the prospect75 of war. Do you think it is possible? Pray for us. Help us with your counsel.”
Rasputin would reply that war must be avoided at any cost if the worst calamities76 were not to overtake the dynasty and the Empire.
This advice was consonant77 with the dearest wish of the Czar, whose pacific intentions could not be doubted for a moment. We had only to see him during that terrible last week of July to realise what mental and moral torture he had passed through. But the moment had come when the ambition and perfidy78 of Germany were to steel him against his own last hesitation79 and sweep everything with them into the whirlpool.
In spite of all the offers of mediation80 and the fact that the Russian Government had suggested closing the incident by direct negotiations81 between St. Petersburg and Vienna, we learned on July 29th that general mobilisation had been ordered in Austria. The next day we heard of the bombardment of Belgrade, and on the following day Russia replied with the mobilisation of her whole army. In the evening of that day Count Pourtalès, the German Ambassador at St. Petersburg, called to inform M. Sazonoff that his Government would give{101} Russia twelve hours in which to stop her mobilisation, failing which Germany would mobilise in turn.[29]
The twelve hours granted to Russia in the ultimatum expired at noon on Saturday, August 1st. Count Pourtalès, however, did not appear at the Ministry82 for Foreign Affairs until the evening. He was shown in to Sazonoff, and then formally handed him Germany’s declaration of war on Russia. It was ten minutes past seven. The irreparable step had been taken.
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1
mosques
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| 清真寺； 伊斯兰教寺院，清真寺； 清真寺，伊斯兰教寺院( mosque的名词复数 ) | |
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2
cypresses
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| n.柏属植物，柏树( cypress的名词复数 ) | |
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cemeteries
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| n.（非教堂的）墓地，公墓( cemetery的名词复数 ) | |
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4
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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6
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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7
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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10
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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11
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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12
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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13
exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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14
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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15
impromptu
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| adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地) | |
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16
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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17
vigilant
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| adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的 | |
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18
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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19
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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20
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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21
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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22
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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23
betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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24
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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25
disingenuous
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| adj.不诚恳的，虚伪的 | |
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26
legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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27
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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28
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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quay
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| n.码头，靠岸处 | |
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infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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31
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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32
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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33
majesties
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| n.雄伟( majesty的名词复数 )；庄严；陛下；王权 | |
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34
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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36
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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37
privately
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| adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地 | |
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38
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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39
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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40
profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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41
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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42
boredom
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| n.厌烦，厌倦，乏味，无聊 | |
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43
wards
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| 区( ward的名词复数 )； 病房； 受监护的未成年者； 被人照顾或控制的状态 | |
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44
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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45
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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46
affinity
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| n.亲和力，密切关系 | |
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47
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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48
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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49
postponed
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| vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发） | |
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50
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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51
regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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52
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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53
flaked
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| 精疲力竭的，失去知觉的，睡去的 | |
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54
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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55
alleviate
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| v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等) | |
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56
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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57
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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58
adherent
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| n.信徒，追随者，拥护者 | |
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59
baneful
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| adj.有害的 | |
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60
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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61
diplomat
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| n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人 | |
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62
reticent
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| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
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63
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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64
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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65
ultimatum
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| n.最后通牒 | |
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66
preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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conciliation
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| n.调解，调停 | |
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annihilate
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| v.使无效；毁灭；取消 | |
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supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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diplomats
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| n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人 | |
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machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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tenor
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| n.男高音（歌手），次中音（乐器），要旨，大意 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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calamities
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| n.灾祸，灾难( calamity的名词复数 )；不幸之事 | |
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consonant
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| n.辅音；adj.[音]符合的 | |
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perfidy
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| n.背信弃义，不忠贞 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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mediation
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| n.调解 | |
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negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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