Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-14

"IIowever the result of all this was
that the nihilists relaxed their activity.
and for a time there was absolute re-
Nose in the russian cnpital This re-
pose was broken by strange and dis
lurbing rumor, which circulated, OBJ
serve, merely among the exclusive cir
clcs of the court. This rumor was to the
effect that the Winter palace had be-
come haunted.
at was stated that ghost had been
seen walking in one of the corridors at
midnight. And there were those who
asserted that the spirit in question was
that of the dead car.
"As you may imagine, such a report
could not be long in attracting the at
tention Of the secret police. The result
TVS very soon apparent. The rumor
itself had hardly been abroad n few
days when it became silently under
stood in the society of the Russian cap
ital that any allnsion to it would be in
discreet, and might in fact subject the,
person making it to an unpleasant jour
ncy across the Ural mountains.
"Never was the marvellous power OF
the police exerted with more crushing
effect. The rumor died out as swiftly
and suddenly as it had arisen. 1t never
penetrated beyond the inner circle of
society, and, above all, never reached
the ears of n single correspondent of any
journal outside the Russian empire. In
the Russian press. of course, it was I'M
possible for anything to pass the stern
scrutiny of the censorship.
ut is for this reason that the public
of Europe has never had even an inkling
of secret of which, outside the immc-
diate court circle, am perhaps the sole
possessor. That mere curiosity is not
one of my failings, you have doubtless
long ago observed. But in the interests
OF France | deemed it necessary to pen,
citrate to the bottom of this eN;raordi-
nary affair, and circumstances FORUM
ately put it in my power to do So"
"Thcn you were in st. Petersburg at
this timer" remarked, In Il tone mid
way between that of an assertion and u
question.
"Did | not say SOP" returned my
friend. 81 was not there in any po-
litical capacity. The president had re-
uucsted me to be the bearer of his per-
sonal congratulations to Nicholas, and
/ prolonged my visit at the request CT
some of those friends whom l had left
behind me after my former residence i'll
Russia"
/ apologizcd for the interruption.
! "But you are quite right to interro-
gate me-" said the ambassador, bland
ly. | should otherwise fear that my
story did not interest you. AS l was
about to tell you, | was favored in my
investigation by the accident of my
friendship with a very charming wonl-
an, Princess Nestilkoff, whose son, Prince
Boris Ncstikoif, was an imperial page,
ut that time on duty in the Winter
palace.
81 had formed the acquaintance OF
the princess during my former Official
residence at the embassy, and, though
some years had elapsed since l had
seen her, she received me with una
bated friendliness on my return. Dc
not, l beg of you, allow yourself to put
false Interpretation on the scnti
mcnts which subslsted between thi:
lady and myself. The princess, al
though left Il widow at an early age
was n woman of the most delicate pro
priety, and my attentions to her par
took of an almost paternal character.
81 CHANGED to be dining at her man
sion on the Neysky prospect, on the
day after the royal npparition was sale
to have made its appearance. We wer,
enjoying a tete-a-tete after-dinner, be
fore proceeding to a ball given tina
night at the palace, when we were III
terrupted by the arrival of the young
Boris, dressed in the imposing uniform
of his Office. He was quite a lad; in
deed, when l had formerly known min
he was mere child, and had been ac
customed to consider me in the light o
u father.
"IIe entered the room in which W
were seated, more abruptly than wa
perhaps consistent with his filial re