"... The Métropole performer is a Baroness sure enough.... She knows a Syvorotka but declines to give his rank or whereabouts.... She tells me that this place was founded by Count Tatischshev in 1721 ... when Catherine was a baby.... The Monastery of 'Our Lady of Tikhvin' looming up before me is a very graceful compliment to the Mosque of St. Sophia it resembles in so many ways.... fine place to radio from to friends at Odessa ... especially if the NUN has been obeying orders.... Lvov is out of the way, over in the city prison, _cooking_, where he can't betray the prisoners at Ipatiev's.... When I was alone with my Imperial prisoner I tore the patch off from my shirt sleeve and handed it to him.... '_Sa lettre!_' he exclaimed in an undertone.... His manner was exceedingly polite.... '_Ouvrez, lisez_,' I advised.... '_Oui, oui, je sais! je sais!_' he said softly, '_mais malheureusement cela est impossible!_'... 'Soak it in water', I replied.... '_Et vous, monsieur_, _êtes-vous américain ou français_?' he came back.... '_Je suis né a Paris, mais je suis américain_, and if the prisoner has no objection I'd rather speak in English.'... 'That will be delightful,' he said; 'I shall do as you say.'... He ran back to the bathroom. In a moment he returned holding the patch up before him.... 'Ah!' he continued aloud, 'this merely says that the Heir Apparent will make a cruise of the world in a man-of-war; what does that signify?'... 'If you recognize the writing,' I replied, 'you will, doubtless, remember the methods of its author when extending an invitation.'... 'Yes, yes, I see; how clever of you! Had you been a subject of mine I should have made you an ambassador!'... 'That would imply infinite wisdom on my part, _Sire!_ I bowed very humbly.... It made a hit with my prisoner." This entry follows: