has a great respect for me as
Marchenko's protege, allowed me a short stay for the lady; I explained
to him that she is my old affinity--"a civil wife." Therefore, he
found it a sufficient reason, but did not like it much, and I am
afraid his trust in me may diminish.

Now things have turned out in such a manner that I cannot possibly
throw the lady out of my home: but what I want you to do is to notify
me at once whether you know something about this arrival and whether
Lucie is working for the same purposes. I don't trust her much; she
feels it, and plays a strange game with me, the part of an enamored
woman. This does not interfere with her writing (and receiving) some
correspondence. She takes the letters out when I am busy, so I cannot
trail her. I'd rather go away from here, leaving her; I would not care
much to be obliged to watch her. There are certain ethics which would
prevent me from liking to trail this particular lady.

I was greatly surprised when I heard that Mr. Kerensky was living in
the Rossia Insurance Company Apartments, Pushkarskaya 59, Flat 10. If
so, why this game of the Smolny crowd? Why not take him? The man of
whom I wrote you in my last letter states that K-y is now planning to
go to Stockholm and that a passport will be given to him by the Smolny
Institute. Please communicate that to Marchenko. Schmelin says it is
not his business. The ring was taken from K-y. Nothing new in Tobolsk.
The Empress has been sick for the last ten days.

Yours,

Alex. Syv."

29

(_Third letter to M. Goroshkin_)

"As I told you in one of my letters, the actions of some people in
Tobolsk are more or less significant.

Father A. Vassiliev has become welcome to the Emperor and has all of
his confidence. We tried to warn him of this pope, but I don't think
it worked, for they know that Vassiliev received some very important
documents from the Emperor, and also his revolver and sword for
safekeeping.

At present there is an organization in Tobolsk helping the family with
money and food; the Ordovsky-Tanaevskys, the Prince Khovansky's family
and the Budischevs. The latter house is on Rojestvensky Street about
four blocks from the Mansion. Bishop Hermogen comes often, as well as
Bishop Irinarch and some others. None are really good. The Empress
is sick--the same old nervousness. The Heir is all right, barring a
little accident--he fell down stairs and got a bad bump on his head.
They say that the Bis