As for Nagorny, Alexis Nicolaïevitch’s sailor, and the footman, Ivan Sednief, they were put to death in the neighbourhood of Ekaterinburg in the beginning of June, 1918. Their bodies were found two months later at the place of execution. All, from General to seaman, did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives and go bravely to meet death. This seaman, however, a humble peasant from the Ukraine, had only to say one word to be saved. He had only to deny his Czar. This word remained unspoken. For a long time, with simple and sincere faith, they had devoted their lives to those they loved, who had been able to inspire those who surrounded them with so much affection, courage, and self-sacrifice. EPILOGUE The summer of 1919 was marked by the great reverses which were to bring, a few months later, the downfall of Admiral Koltchak’s government. The Bolshevik troops had retaken Perm and were threatening Ekaterinburg. The work undertaken in the clearing at Koptiaki had to be abandoned before its completion. On July 12th, N. Sokolof, heart-broken, decided to leave for Omsk. There he spent the month of August, and then, seeing that the situation was growing still worse, he went on to Tchita, whilst I remained at Omsk. A few weeks after his departure, two Russian officers came to the French Military Mission and asked to speak to me. They told me that General D---- had an important communication to make to me, and begged me to be so kind as to go and see him. We got into the car which was waiting, and a few moments later I found myself in his presence. General D---- informed me that he wanted to show me a boy who claimed to be the Czarevitch. I knew in fact that a rumour was spreading in Omsk that the Czarevitch was still alive. He was announced to be in a small town of Altaï. I had been told that the inhabitants had greeted him with enthusiasm, the schoolchildren had made a collection on his behalf, and the governor of the station had offered him, on his knees, bread and salt. In addition, Admiral Koltchak had received a telegram asking him to come to the assistance of the pretended Czarevitch. I had paid no attention to these stories. Fearing that these circumstances might give rise to difficulties, the Admiral had had the “Pretender” brought to Omsk; and General D---- had called for me, thinking that my evidence would settle the difficulty and put a stop to the legend that was beginning to grow up. The door of the next room was opened a little, and I was able to observe, unknown to him, a boy, taller and stronger than the Czarevitch, who seemed to me fifteen or sixteen years old. His sailor’s costume, the colour of his hair, and the way it was arranged were vaguely reminiscent of Alexis Nicolaïevitch. There the resemblance ended.