The money raised in this way was used locally, so that those who paid received it back in the improvements of their locality.
I merely mention this tax as an example of Ivan's financial methods when dealing with agriculture.
Enormous sums, for Rudarlia, had been raised, of which there was no record dealing with their expenditure. Presumably, therefore, they had disappeared into the avaricious maw of Ivan.
When we examined the debit side of our accounts it was almost more appalling.
The army had been paid, not regularly, but in dribblets. As for clothing, ammunition, etc., the stores had been depleted, and nothing had been replaced. The other services had been run in the same way, without method or supervision. The fraud and thieving practised by many of the officials must have been terrific.
It is not my intention to give a long, detailed account of such matters, although they are impressed on my mind.
* * * * *
After the first outbreak of popular enthusiasm, there were recurrent bursts of joyful celebration, and devotion to my family.
As was perhaps only natural, the restoration of the direct line of the Stephanovitch dynasty caused a considerable stir throughout Europe; and the usual diplomatic correspondence took place.
In Sir George Curtiss and Monsieur Delacroit, the British and French Ministers, I found friends. These two men were ever ready to be of service to me personally, and also to Rudarlia. I fancy they understood that my feelings were very strongly in favour of the Triple Entente; and it was most probably those same feelings of mine which caused me to be slightly less friendly with the central European powers, or rather their Ministers.