Thursday, April 25th.—Shortly before three o’clock, as I was going along the passage, I met two servants sobbing. They told me that Yakovlef has come to tell the Czar that he is taking him away. What can be happening? I dare not go up without being summoned, and went back to my room. Almost immediately Tatiana Nicolaïevna knocked at my door. She was in tears, and told me Her Majesty was asking for me. I followed her. The Czarina was alone, greatly upset. She confirmed what I had heard, that Yakovlef has been sent from Moscow to take the Czar away and is to leave to-night.
“The commissary says that no harm will come to the Czar, and that if anyone wishes to accompany him there will be no objection. I can’t let the Czar go alone. They want to separate him from his family as they did before....[66]
“They’re going to try to force his hand by making him anxious about his family.... The Czar is necessary to them; they feel that he alone represents Russia.... Together we shall be in a better position to resist them, and I ought to be at his side in the time
AT THE MAIN DOOR OF THE GOVERNOR’S HOUSE DURING A WALK IN THE COURT.
The four Grand-Duchesses. The Czarevitch. The officer of the Guard. The Czar.
THE CZARINA’S ROOM.