And with seals unbroken he sent back the documents.
The Grand Duke Michael's mission met with similar success. The letter of Constantine was addressed to Czar Nicholas. He would not receive it. Constantine had already been elected; the army had sworn allegiance to him; the people had signed an address; important state papers were being prepared in his name. It was unalterable.
Michael had to return once more to Warsaw and endeavor to move Constantine. This time he met the returning deputation at Dorpat, taking back the bull with seals unbroken.
Thus Russia had no Czar. The republicans said: "All right. If they can't settle with one, let them try two."
Suddenly came news in St. Petersburg that a seditious rising had been detected in the Southern Army.
Now neither party could hesitate any longer. Pestel and ten leaders of battalions were arrested; but this, far from suppressing the insurrection, only hurried it on.
Late in the evening of the 25th of December Nicholas decided to accept the crown. This brought things to a crisis.
The manifesto of his accession was drawn up at two o'clock in the morning, thus could not be made public then and there. On the following morning the regiments were to swear the oath to the new Czar, without knowing what had happened to the one to whom they pledged allegiance but a fortnight before. The conspirators passed the night deliberating what should be done.
"All is ready for the war of freedom," said enthusiastic Ryleieff.
"But one thing is wanting," answered Zeneida Ilmarinen; "and that is that the people do not know what freedom is."