young officer, Talesin by
name, learning of the crime that had been perpetrated, felt such grief
at his deception that he went home with a raging fever, which nearly
put an end to him. I believe, in fact, that he did not long survive
the blow, all innocent that he was. But what I am sure of is that
Alexander I. went to see him every day during his illness, and
interdicted some firing exercises too near the patient's house.

Although the various impediments I have mentioned might have
interfered with Paul's killing, it must be concluded that the
contrivers of the scheme never doubted its issue. For all St.
Petersburg knew that on the night of the event a handsome young man in
the plot named S----ky drew out his watch at midnight among a passably
large company, saying: "It must all be over by this time." Paul was
dead, indeed; his body was forthwith embalmed, and for six weeks he
lay on a bed of state, his face uncovered and showing scarcely a trace
of decay, owing to the fact that it was plastered with rouge. The
Empress Maria, his widow, went to kneel in prayer every day at the
bed. She took her two youngest sons, Nicholas and Michael, such small
children that Nicholas one day asked her, "Why is papa always asleep?"

The trick employed to make Alexander I. consent to his father's
deposal--for he took no other view of the case--was a fact vouched for
to me by Count Strogonoff, one of the wisest and most upright men I
have ever known, and the best informed of all as to happenings at the
Russian court. He doubted the less how easy it had been to induce Paul
to sign the order for his wife's and children's imprisonment, as he
was aware by what fearful suspicions the mind of that poor Prince was
haunted. The very evening before the assassination there was a grand
court concert, at which the whole royal family was present. During a
moment's private conversation with Count Strogonoff, the Emperor said
to him: "No doubt you think me the happiest of men, my friend. At last
I am living in this palace of St. Michael, which I have had built and
finely fitted out according to my own tastes. I have my family about
me here for the first time. My wife is still good looking, my eldest
son is handsome, too, and my daughters are charming. There they are,
all of them, opposite me; but when I look at them I see my murderers
in them all." Count Strogonoff exclaimed, recoiling, horror-struck:
"Some one is lying to Your Majesty! This is an inf