"Decision taken to send only the Em. and Empress and the Heir. Daughters will stay here." Dr. Botkin did not stop. Then, as guard, I did not let him in, and as if I were examining him (that was my right) I said, "Please warn the ladies, and tell the Emperor that the Commissary did not act badly; I guess there is no danger in his going away. I fear for the ladies only." "You don't mean it! They double-crossed us! They assured us all would go. The scoundrels! Now please let me go,--and thank you, you strange man." I let him go. Pashinsky appeared and looked at me. "Are you getting tired of this muzzle, too? Isn't he a ...?" "Yes," I said, "I must watch him closer now. I think we had better watch him. You stay on the other side, and I'll be here near the windows. "All right," he said. "Then we can meet here. I'm going to walk from the garden to the fence, and you stay right here. What is your suspicion?" "Nothing in particular," I answered.... "Just the ordinary one; I don't like him. That's all." So we walked the way he proposed. Every time he would be near the garden, he would cough in such a noisy and sardonic way that the Heir, who was sitting with Derevenko on the bench would turn his long, pensive face, and his old sailor guardian would look with hatred on the rascal. When Pashinsky was away, the window behind me opened very cautiously and a lady's voice said to me, "Don't turn. Is it true they are to take Father away? Now, I know you are a gentleman. What would you advise us to do? I think we are all lost." Pashinsky started to come back; then a Lett passed, so the voice stopped. Pashinsky came near me and said, "The Heir never cries when I tease him. Believe me, he is a hard kid. What do you think if I scare him more?" "Yes," I said, "a stubborn child." "I must try again," and he walked away. The window again gave way. "Please," the same voice said, "can't you give any advice to us? We are so frightened! Father is praying; Mother's very ill; we are all alone." "I'll write you," I said, (without moving my lips), "what I think and bring it back." "Thank you." I went to Pashinsky, whose teasing was becoming hideous and rough. He said to the Heir that they had decided to shoot the whole family. Tears were on the child's face but he kept on bravely; he could not go away--Pashinsky was at the gate. I wished: "Just a day or two,--and I will be able to do something. Oh, God! Send something to stop it right now." I guess that my prayer was heard. The tutor's face,--one of those broad Russian faces,--gradually grew purple and then grey. Slowly, and hypnotising Pashinsky, he approached the scamp, took him by the collar and pulled him towards the fence. Then, losing his breath, Derevenko said, "Leave the boy alone, you scoundrel! You,--you call yourself a Russian sailor? You? Have this...." and the slap on Pashinsky's face sounded to me like Chopin's First Nocturne. What divine music!