He left on 13 September at four in the morning, and the empress started on the 15th. Only his dead body was destined to return to the capital four months later.
[CHAPTER X]
Alexander leaves St. Petersburg—His presentiments of his death—The two stars seen at Taganrog—The emperor's illness—His last moments—How they learnt of his death in St. Petersburg—The Grand-Duke Constantine—His character and tastes—Why he renounced his right to the imperial throne—Jeannette Groudzenska
The departure of the emperor naturally meant an increase of work before he left, so that he was not able to write and bid his mother, the dowager-empress, adieu until four o'clock on the afternoon of 12 September. At four o'clock it suddenly became very dark, a great cloud overshadowing the light. The emperor called his valet.
"Fœdor," he said, "bring me lights."
The valet brought four candles; but it grew light again before the emperor had done writing, and the valet immediately entered to put them out.
"Sire," he asked, "shall I take away the lights?"