"To satisfy the mob I had to perform a very unpleasant _duty_.... I
use the word duty advisedly, remembering the instructions I committed
to memory in the underground office of the Wilhelmstrasse .... Knowing
that I am continually WATCHED and spied upon, not only by that nurse
in the window over there, but by a number of crazed lunatics
in uniform, I was compelled to treat a very pretty Princess
_shamefully_.... News was spread yesterday that Japan had loaned
Siberia $250,000,000, and the mob was clamoring for the jewels of
the prisoners. This unoffending Princess--this girl, hardly more
than seventeen--was holding a conversation in French with her brother
Alexis, a little lad of fourteen, in the courtyard. The boy was pale
and emaciated from abuse, solitude and confinement. The Princess, a
radiant beauty under this hot July sun, was trying to cheer Alexis up.
Her gown was badly soiled and of a simple soft material that seemed
to accentuate her modest resignation and glorify her courageous
cheerfulness in gloom. Her three older sisters, in gowns that spoke
of yesterdays, were walking moodily down the path, when a crowd of
ruffians burst by the sentries, tore through the doors, and dashed
into the yard in the direction of the startled girls.... Taking in the
situation quickly, I raised my voice and began swearing like a demon,
and prancing around like a _skberny_ madman.... Then rushing up to
Tatiana I TORE FROM HER EARS the jewels that had descended from her
early ancestors and howled: 'Aha! you'll wear those cursed things,
will you, when your betters are starving in the gutters! Get back, all
of you, into your Ipatiev SEPULCHRE and get me ALL the jewelry in the
place or _I'll turn these men loose upon you_ in three quarters of an
hour!... Soldiers,--_attention!!'_ ... The mob crawled into line....
'The next time any of you men come into this yard without any orders,'
I said, I'll have you SHOT WITH THESE PEOPLE IN THE MANSION!...
Column right!... March!'... I heard them mumbling as they passed
the first sentry that the cursed interloping _tovarestch_ intended to
_keep all the loot!'_.... Following Alexis and his sisters into the
ex-Emperor's study I laid down the earrings upon the flat-topped desk
and apologized for my apparent act of cowardice and cruelty....
"There was pathos in that father's soft and courteous voice as he
looked at me and said: 'I _understand_,--yes, yes, I know. You are
right--quite right. My darlings, you must not blame this man.'"