Tuesday, April 9th.—The Bolshevik commissary, who has come with the detachment from Omsk, has insisted on being allowed to inspect the house. The soldiers of our guard have refused permission. Colonel Kobylinsky is very uneasy and fears a conflict. Precautionary measures; patrols, sentries doubled. A very disturbed night.
Wednesday, April 10th.—A “full sitting” of our guard, at which the Bolshevik commissary reveals the extent of his powers. He has the right to have anyone opposing his orders shot within twenty-four hours and without trial. The soldiers let him enter the house.
Friday, April 12th.—Alexis Nicolaïevitch confined to bed, as since yesterday he has had a violent pain in the groin caused by a strain. He has been so well this winter. It is to be hoped it is nothing serious.
A soldier of our detachment who had been sent to Moscow has returned to-day and brought Colonel Kobylinsky a memorandum from the Central Executive Committee of the Bolshevik Government, ordering him to be much stricter with us. General Tatichtchef, Prince Dolgorouky, and Countess Hendrikof are to be transferred to our house and treated as prisoners. The arrival is also announced of a commissary with extraordinary powers, accompanied by a detachment of soldiers.
Saturday, April 13th.—All who have been living in Kornilof’s house, Countess Hendrikof, Mlle. Schneider, General Tatichtchef, Prince Dolgorouky, and Mr. Gibbes[65] move to our house. Only Doctors Botkin and Derevenko are left at liberty. Alexis Nicolaïevitch’s pains have increased since yesterday.
Monday, April 15th.—Alexis Nicolaïevitch in great pain yesterday and to-day. It is one of his severe attacks of hæmophilia.
Tuesday, April 16th.—Colonel Kobylinsky, officer of the guard, and some soldiers have been to search the house. They have taken away the Czar’s dagger which he wore with his Cossack uniform.
Monday, April 22nd.—The commissary from Moscow arrived to-day with a small detachment; his name is Yakovlef. He has shown his papers to the commandant and soldiers’ committee. In the evening he took tea with Their Majesties. Every one is restless and distraught. The commissary’s arrival is felt to be an evil portent, vague but real.
Tuesday, April 23rd.—Commissary Yakovlef came at eleven o’clock. After an inspection of the whole house he went to see the Czar, who accompanied him to the room of Alexis Nicolaïevitch who is in bed. Not having been able to see the Czarina, who was not ready to receive him, he came again a little later with the regimental doctor and paid a second visit to Alexis Nicolaïevitch. (He wanted to be assured by his doctor that the boy was really ill.) As he was going away he asked the commandant whether we had much luggage. Can this mean we are to move?
Wednesday, April 24th.—We are all in a state of mental anguish. We feel we are forgotten by everyone, abandoned to our own resources and at the mercy of this man. Is it possible that no one will raise a finger to save the Imperial family? Where are those who have remained loyal to the Czar? Why do they delay?