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232 MY TRANSFER TO STOCKHOLM [ch. xiv.
"Not at all,you have done your best; it is their own
fault!"
"Yes, sir, but perhaps some one else would even so
have been able to influence them and to prevent all that
has occurred. . . ."
"No, no," broke in the Emperor again, "you have
done all that was in your power to do, but against
fate"—he immediately corrected himself: "against the
decrees of Providence, one cannot struggle. I wish to
express my sincere gratitude to you for all your services
in Bulgaria." I made a low bow. "And now go to the
Swedes," he added with a merry smile as he rose from
his chair. For a few minutes still the Emperor talked
about Sweden, King Gustaf, and the Royal Family,
and he approved highly of what Sazonoff and I had
arranged about postponing my departure for Sweden
until the Grand-Duchess Marie’s divorce had been
definitely pronounced. I noticed that His Majesty spoke of
Sweden and of the Royal Court with much sympathy.
His last and fairly recent visit to Stockholm had evidently
left a good impression on him. I was very graciously
dismissed after an audience which had lasted an hour.
A few days later I left the Crimea and went, vid
Odessa and Vienna, to Sofia in order to make the final
arrangements for my removal and to hand my letters of
recall to King Ferdinand, who had left in September
before my appointment to Stockholm was settled,
so that I had not been able to take leave of him, as
is customary on such occasions. I spent about ten
days in Sofia. But I was not invited to go to the
King till two days before my departure. Ferdinand
received me in his study; he was in the undress
uniform of his Russian regiment (I had been told
to wear morning dress); I found Prince Boris with
the King. Having invited me to sit down, the King,
after a few trifling words, stared at me and said,
" Monsieur, you have probably read the pamphlet
written against me by your compatriot, the news-
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