At four o'clock Nebogatoff came on board the Suvaroff. He greeted Rojdestvensky with a kiss. The staff were invited to drink champagne to the happy union of the fleets. At table Nebogatoff spoke of his voyage and its success. His ships steamed ideally, without breakdowns. At night his fleet steamed without lights. Every one was informed about his arrival at Penang. His passage through the straits of Malacca took him two days and a half.
They brought a mail in the cutter which brought Nebogatoff from the Nicolai I. to the Suvaroff. Though it is not customary to get up from the admiral's table, I could not sit there long, and left to examine the mail. It was already sorted in heaps.
My mail had been taken to my cabin. I ran there, and did not know which to open first—the letters or parcels. I opened the parcels. There were socks, handkerchiefs, shoulder-straps, sweets, cigarettes, soap, eau-de-Cologne, scents, brushes, etc. My eyes opened wide. My servant helped me to sort and wipe everything. It was all stuck together. How joyfully I separated all this! Indeed, I cannot say all I feel at present. I must calm myself.
The eau-de-Cologne and scents have travelled well. The jam, although it was soldered up, leaked. The cigarettes are a little spoilt, but they can be smoked. Newspapers I could not read. I only read the parts marked by you.
I am writing in broken sentences. Perhaps to-morrow I shall have to send this letter; now my head is in a whirl.
April 27th.—Perhaps the Kostroma, which has not joined the fleet yet, will bring another mail. You see how spoilt I am. My head is stupid to-day, but I am so pleased and happy at having received all you sent me.
I wanted to write to you, when two torpedo-boats collided—the Grosny and Bezuprechny. They must be quickly repaired. We are at sea, and the torpedo-boats are in harbour thirty versts away.
4 p.m.—I sat a long time in the whaler, waiting an opportunity to go to the Buistry. She took me to Port Dayot Bay, where some of the fleet are lying. I go back to the Suvaroff at dawn.
The fleet in general received few mails. Every one is complaining, but I am satisfied. I saw an officer in a torpedo-boat washing a tunic for himself. It was a strange sight.