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7°
7° RASPUTIN
[chap. vii.
Council of the Empire and of the Duma, foreign
diplomats, journalists, financiers, and society people of
St. Petersburg, like one sees at all receptions of this
kind. The men wore their orders and decorations, the
ladies their smartest evening-dresses; in one of the
rooms an excellent orchestra was playing, and in the
first drawing-room the host and hostess smilingly
received their guests, shaking them by the hand, and
exchanging friendly small-talk with them. In short
everything was done as it should be at such receptions.
Yet nevertheless, from the outset, one felt there was
something in the air, something which was depressing
all the brilliant assembly. Smiling faces suddenly
assumed a severe and anxious expression; some of the
guests with worried looks were whispering together in
corners ; the Ministers, in particular, seemed to be in a
very nervous state, with the exception, however, of
General Soukhomlinoff, who walked through the rooms
like a conquering hero, with his over-dressed wife on
his arm. I went up to M. Kokovtzoff, who was leaning
against a doorpost with an expression on his face like
that of a judge about to pass sentence of death. I begged
him to grant me an interview so that I could discuss
with him an important matter entrusted to me by the
King of Bulgaria (that of the loan mentioned above).
" Forgive me, my dear M. Nekludoff," interrupted
Kokovtzoff, "but at this moment I really have not the
heart for that. We have such a situation to face. . . .
Besides, how can I make an appointment with you, when
I do not even know if by to-morrow I shall still be in
office? I tell you this quite confidentially, and beg that
you will not repeat it."
After that there was nothing to be done, but to
leave the speaker to his gloomy thoughts. In the next
room I met Sazonoff who had left his post as master of
the house for a few minutes and was talking with
Krivocheine in a window; the official smile on my chiefs
face had given way to a sad and worried expression.
What does it all mean? I wondered.
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