_Sunday, August 9th._--The Czar has had another long talk with me to-day. As before, he expressed himself with a confidence and frankness which can only be explained by the exceptional circumstances through which we are passing. Neither he nor the Czarina ever used to discuss political or personal questions with me. But the amazing events of the last few days, and the fact that I have been so intimately associated with their troubles and anxieties, have drawn me closer to them, and for the time being the conventional barriers of etiquette and Court usage have fallen.
The Czar first spoke to me about the solemn session of the Duma on the previous day. He told me how
[Illustration: THE CZAR AND THE CZAREVITCH EXAMINING THE FIRST MACHINE-GUN CAPTURED FROM THE GERMANS. PETERHOF, AUGUST, 1914.]
[Illustration: THE CZAR AND THE CZAREVITCH BEFORE THE BARBED WIRE. WHITE RUSSIA, AUTUMN, 1915.
tremendously pleased he had been with its resolute and dignified attitude and its fervent patriotism.
“The Duma was in every way worthy of the occasion. It expressed the real will of the nation, for the whole of Russia smarts under the insults heaped upon it by Germany. I have the greatest confidence in the future now.... Speaking personally, I have done everything in my power to avert this war, and I am ready to make any concessions consistent with our dignity and national honour. You cannot imagine how glad I am that all the uncertainty is over, for I have never been through so terrible a time as the days preceding the outbreak of war. I am sure that there will now be a national uprising in Russia like that of the great war of 1812.”
_Wednesday, August 12th._--It is Alexis Nicolaïevitch’s birthday. He is ten to-day.
_Friday, August 14th._--The Grand-Duke Nicholas Nicolaïevitch,[33] Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Armies, has left for the front. Before leaving Peterhof he came to Alexandria to give the Czar the first trophy of the war, a machine-gun captured from the Germans in one of the skirmishes which have marked the commencement of operations on the East Prussian frontier.
_Saturday, August 15th._--I was told last night that my return to Switzerland has been officially excused. I am told this is the result of the action M. Sazonoff has taken at Berne at Her Majesty’s suggestion. In any case, it is more and more doubtful whether the Swiss will be able to get away.