And taking him by the arm, he conducted him before the assembled court, and, in presence of all, kissed him on the offended cheek.
"Go, now," said he, "and resume your tranquillity; the affront is washed out."
During the war of the Crimea, and especially in the first part of it, Nicholas, very restless, waited every day for news from the south. Each one tried his best to conceal the bad turn affairs had taken; but after the battle of the Alma, the truth had to be confessed. A courier, Colonel A., was despatched to him in great haste. He received orders to repair immediately to the czar.
"Well! what news?" said the emperor to him brusquely, giving him scarcely time to enter or fulfil the accustomed formalities of etiquette.
"The battle has been fought, sire."
"Finish!" said the emperor, with an emotion that caused his usually firm voice to tremble.
"Alas!—"
"You say—?"
"Fortune has failed us."