When the play was over I went out by the service door and found myself in the corridor opposite Alexis Nicolaïevitch’s room, from which a moaning sound came distinctly to my ears. I suddenly noticed the Czarina running up, holding her long and awkward train in her two hands. I shrank back against the wall, and she passed me without observing my presence. There was a distracted and terror-stricken look in her face. I returned to the dining-room. The scene was of the most animated description. Footmen in livery were handing round refreshments on salvers. Everyone was laughing and exchanging jokes. The evening was at its height.
A few minutes later the Czarina came back. She had resumed the mask and forced herself to smile pleasantly at the guests who crowded round her. But I had noticed that the Czar, even while engaged in conversation, had taken up a position from which he could watch the door, and I caught the despairing glance which the Czarina threw him as she came in. An hour later I returned to my room, still thoroughly upset at the scene which had suddenly brought home to me the tragedy of this double life.
Yet, although the invalid’s condition was still worse, life had apparently undergone no change. All that happened was that we saw less and less of the Czarina. The Czar controlled his anxiety and continued his shooting-parties, while the usual crowd of guests appeared at dinner every evening.
On October 17th Professor Fiodrof arrived from St. Petersburg at last, I caught sight of him for a moment in the evening. He looked very worried. The next day was Alexis Nicolaïevitch’s birthday. Apart from a religious service, there was nothing to mark the occasion. Everyone followed Their Majesties’ example and endeavoured to conceal his or her apprehensions.
On October 19th the fever was worse, reaching 102·5° in the morning and 103·3° in the evening. During dinner the Czarina had Professor Fiodrof fetched. On Sunday, October 20th, the patient’s condition was still worse. There were, however, a few guests at luncheon. The next day, as the Czarevitch’s temperature went up to 105° and the heart was very feeble, Count Fredericks asked the Czar’s permission to publish bulletins. The first was sent to St. Petersburg the same evening.
Thus the intervention of the highest official at Court had been necessary before the decision to admit the gravity of the Czarevitch’s condition was taken.
Why did the Czar and Czarina subject themselves to this
THE GRAND-DUCHESSES MARIE AND ANASTASIE DRESSED UP FOR A SCENE FROM THE “BOURGEOIS GENTILHOMME.” SPALA, AUTUMN OF 1912.