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AUDIENCE OF THE EMPEROR
399
economic and national life of Russia ; Prince
Sviato-polk-Mirsky, for a short time Home Secretary, an
enlightened man and a firm Liberal; M. Kulomzin, true
type of the superior official of solid learning and broad
views, who had grown white in the service of the State,
after having spent his scholastic career at Cambridge ;
and a great, great many others. Most of these men
belonged by birth to the best society of Russia, they had
all worked either with the Emperor Nicolas II.
himself or with his father. But the unfortunate Emperor
had never once thought of summoning them to the
Palace to ask their advice even in the most critical
moments. He saw them on official occasions, his
manner was kindness itself, he spoke a few pleasant
but unimportant words to them and dismissed them
with a charming smile. However, swindlers like
Sturmer, acknowledged lunatics like Protopopoff,
absolute nonentities like Galitzyn, and a host of others,
were called to power. And meantime individuals of
the lowest category (Rasputin was only the most
prominent and disreputable one) penetrated into the Palace
through the back-door; every one talked with them
and allowed themselves to be influenced by the wildest
creations of the brains of these creatures. Quem deus
vult perdcre! . . .
I was received by the Emperor the very day that he
was returning to Mohilev. The Emperor gave me a
welcome which touched me deeply. In his kindest tones
he thanked me for my services in Sweden. I made a low
bow, and having expressed my heartfelt gratitude for
the gracious words of the Sovereign, 1 ventured to
remark that my services amounted to very little in
comparison with those of the innumerable Russians
who hid given their blood and their life for their country
and their Tsar.
" Yes, Nekludoff, but you also have truly upheld the
flag of your country." The Emperor passed on to the
question of Swedish activism and the Aland Islands;
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