st. It was from the
Princess Galitzin, written in the polyglot of French, English and
Russian which she affected.
"CHERE PIERRE," it ran,--in the English, somewhat
as follows: "You will no doubt be surprised at hearing from
me in far-off America and amazed at the phenomenon of your
discovered address at the outlandish place you've chosen for
your domicile. It's very simple. In America you have been
watched by agents of the so-called government of our
wretched country. We know this here in London, because one
of _our_ agents is also a part of their secret organization.
He came upon the report of your doings and knowing that
father was interested, detailed the information to us.
"So far as I can learn at the present writing you are in no
immediate danger of death, but we do not know here in London
how soon the word may be sent forth to 'remove' persons of
your importance in the cosmic scheme. It seems that your
desire to remain completely in hiding is looked upon with
suspicion in Russia as evidence of a possible intention on
your part to come to light at the beginnings of a Bourbon
movement and proclaim yourself as the leader of a Royalist
party. Your uncles and cousins have chosen the line of least
resistance in yielding to the inevitable, living in
Switzerland, and other spots where their identities are well
known.
"I pray, my well remembered and _bel ami_, that the cause of
Holy Russia is still and ever present in your heart of
hearts and that the thing these devils incarnate fear may
one day come to pass. But I pray you to be discreet and
watchful, if necessary changing your place of abode to one
in which you will enjoy greater security from your enemies.
There is at last one heart in London that ever beats fondly
in memory of the dear dead days at Galitzin and Zukovo.
"_Helas!_ London is dead sea fruit. People are very kind to
us. We have everything that the law allows us, but life
seems to have lost its charm. I have never quite forgiven
you, _mon Pierre_, for your desertion of us at
Constantinople, though doubtless your reasons for preserving
your incognito were of the best. But it has saddened me to
think that you did not deem me worthy of a closer
confidence. You are doubtless
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