as I could the whole affair. I found the Russian
Commander-in-Chief a sly old fox, for his first idea was to thank me
for the information and have the whole Treasury searched; if
necessary, to dig down to a depth of twenty feet or so with the help
of a regiment or two of infantry. That was his idea. In the end we
managed to convince him that this was foolish, and that there must be
places which his soldiers could not reach even by prodding down with
their bayonets and spades to great depths. Secret chambers cannot be
easily discovered even in this way, we said. That made L---- very
angry, for no reason apparently but that the affair seemed a huge
bother and trouble. He said in reply that the Japanese had taken
everything in any case, and that this was going to be a fool's quest
if he went on with it. Also, he would not listen to any arrangements
being made and put in writing regarding the proportions to be paid to
everyone if a find was actually made. Indeed, this last idea
irritated him so much that he angrily said that we were deliberately
plotting to take away the property of the Russian Government--property
which the Russian Government could not afford to lose, and did not
intend to lose, either. He even added that this was a city of robbers,
and that people would not keep to their own territory, but were always
trying to trespass. This made us laugh so much that he suddenly
changed his manner, and said that the whole question was a serious one
and would have to be referred home by telegraph. Otherwise he could
not authorise any payments. K----, who was present, replied
sarcastically that perhaps he would like to refer the question direct
to the Czar, and begged him to be cautious in such a very important
affair!

The last thing which could be got out of the Russian
Commander-in-Chief was that he would telegraph at once to Alexieff at
Port Arthur and ask his permission to arrange matters. If Alexieff
said yes, we would go to work at once; otherwise nothing could be
attempted. I knew that probably not a single word would be mentioned
to any one out of Peking, and that these were mere manoeuvres.
However....

I had almost forgotten the matter when, a few mornings after this
interview, I was suddenly awakened at daylight and told that there
were several Russian officers in my courtyard who wished to speak to
me at once. Their business was urgent. I went out and greeted the men,
and they said that L---- would be read