And the terror of the Imperial family, I ventured to add.
Thank you for your compliment. Uncle Colin, she laughed. I know father endorses your sentiments. I see it in his face.
Oh, do try and be serious, Tattie, he urged. See all those people! Salute them, and dont laugh so vulgarly. And he raised his white-gloved hand to his shining helmet in recognition of the shouts of welcome rising from those assembled along our route.
Whereat she bowed gracefully again with that slight and rather frigid smile which she had been taught to assume on public occasions.
If I put up my sunshade they wont see me, and it will avoid such a lot of trouble, she exclaimed suddenly, and she put up her pretty parasol, which matched her gown and softened the light upon her pretty face.
Oh, no, Uncle Colin! she exclaimed suddenly, as we turned the corner into the Yosnesenskaya, a long, straight street where the throng, becoming greater, was kept back by lines of police in their grey coats, peaked caps and revolvers. I know what you are thinking. But it isnt so. Im not in the least afraid of spoiling my complexion.
Then perhaps it is a pity you are not, I replied. Complexions, like all shining things, tarnish quickly.
Just like reputations, I suppose, she remarked, whereupon her father could not restrain another laugh.
Then again, at word in an undertone from the Grand Duke, both he and his daughter saluted the crowd, our horses galloping, as they always do in Russia, and our Cossack-escort clattering behind.
There were a good many people just at this point, for it was believed that the Emperor would pass on his way to perform the opening ceremony, and his loyal subjects were waiting to cheer him.
On every hand, the people, recognising the popular Grand Duke and his daughter, set up hurrahs, and while His Imperial Highness saluted, his pretty daughter, the most admired girl in Russia, bowed, and I, in accordance with etiquette, made no sign of acknowledgment.
As we came to the narrow bridge which spans the canal, the road was flanked on the left by the Alexander Market, and here was another huge crowd.
Loud shouts of welcome in Russian broke forth from those assembled, for the Grand Duke and his daughter were everywhere greeted most warmly.
But as we passed the market, the police keeping back the crowd, I saw a thin, middle-aged man in dark clothes lift his hand high above his head. Something came in our direction, yet before I had time to realise his action a blood-red flash blinded me, my ears were deafened by a terrific report, a hot, scorching breath swept across my face, and I felt myself hurled far into space amid the mass of falling débris.
It all occurred in a single instant, and I knew no more. I had a distinct feeling that some terrific explosion had knocked the breath clean out of my body. I recollect seeing the carriage rent into a thousand fragments just at the same instant that black unconsciousness fell upon me.
Chapter Seven.
Tells Tragic Truths
When, with extreme difficulty, I slowly struggled back to a knowledge of things about me, I found myself, to my great surprise, in a narrow hospital-bed, with a holy ikon upon the whitewashed wall before me, and a Red Cross sister bending tenderly over me.
Beside her stood two Russian doctors regarding me very gravely, and at their side was Saunderson, our Councillor of Embassy.
Well, how are you feeling now, Colin, old man? the latter whispered cheerfully.
I I dont know. Where am I? I asked. Whats happened?
My dear fellow, you can thank your lucky stirs that youve escaped from the bomb, he said.
The bomb! I gasped, and then in a flash all the horrors of that sudden explosion crowded upon me. What happened? I inquired, trying to raise myself, and finding my head entirely enveloped in surgical bandages. What happened to the others?
The Grand Duke was, alas! killed, but his daughter fortunately escaped only with a scratch on her arm, was his reply. The carriage was blown to atoms, the two horses and their driver and footman were killed, while three Cossacks of the escort were also killed and two injured.
Then then she she is alive! I managed to gasp, dazed at the tragic truth he had related to me.
Yes it was a desperate attempt. Fifteen arrests have been made up to the present.
And while he was speaking, Captain Stoyanovitch advanced to my bedside, and leaning over, asked in a low voice:
How are you, Trewinnard? The Emperor has sent me to inquire.
Tell His Majesty that I I thank him. Im getting round I I hope Ill soon be well. I I
Thats right. Take great care of yourself, mon cher, he urged.
And then the doctors ordered my visitors away, and I sank among my pillows into a state of semi-consciousness.
How long I lay thus I do not know. I remember seeing soldiers come and go, and at length discovered that I was in the hospital attached to the artillery barracks on the road to Warsaw Station. Beside me always sat a grave-eyed nursing sister, silent and watchful, while ever and anon one or other of the doctors would approach, bend over me, and inquire of her my condition.
Saunderson came again some hours later. It was then night. And from him, now that I was completely conscious, I learnt how, after the explosion, the police had in the confusion shot down two men, afterwards proved to be innocent spectators, and made wholesale indiscriminate arrests. It was believed, however, that the man I had seen, the perpetrator of the dastardly act, had escaped scot-free.
Dozens of windows in the market-hall opposite where the outrage was committed had been smashed, and many people besides the killed and injured had been thrown down by the terrific force of the explosion.
The poor Grand Duke Nicholas has, alas! been shattered out of recognition, he told me. His body was taken at once to his palace, where it now lies, while you were brought here together with the Grand Duchess Natalia. But her wound being quite a slight one, was dressed, and she was driven at once to the Winter Palace, at the order of the Emperor. Poor child! I hear that she is utterly prostrated by the fearful sight which her father presented to her eyes.
I drew a long breath.
I suppose I was struck on the head by some of the débris and knocked insensible eh? I asked.
Yes, probably, he replied. But the doctors say the wound is only a superficial one, and in a weeks time youll be quite right again. So cheer up, old chap. Youll get the long leave which you put in for the other day, and a bit more added to it, no doubt.
But this state of things is terrible, I declared, shifting myself upon my side so that I could better look into his face. Surely the revolutionists could have had no antagonism towards the Grand Duke Nicholas! He was most popular everywhere.
My dear fellow, who can gauge the state of the Russian mind at this moment? Plots seem to be of daily occurrence.
If you believe the reports of the Secret Police. But I, for one, dont, I declared frankly.
No, no, he said reprovingly. Dont excite yourself. Be thankful that youve escaped. You might have shared the same fate as those poor Cossacks.
I know, I said. I thank God that I was spared. But it will be in the London papers, no doubt. Reuters man will send it; therefore, will you wire to my mother at once. You know her address Hayford Manor, near Newquay, Cornwall. Wire in my name, and tell her that the affair is greatly exaggerated, and that Im all right, will you?