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222 MY TRANSFER TO STOCKHOLM [ch. xiv.
Grand-Duchess, familiar from her earliest youth with
the sight and the principles of the free and unrestrained
life of all the members of the Russian Imperial Family,
found her existence too narrow in the rigid environment
of the Royal Family of Sweden. The life seemed to her
petty, boring, and finally unbearable. Her husband,
who had a very youthful mind, did not possess the
necessary ascendancy over his wife, and for some time
the young couple had been contemplating the possibility
of a separation; they had remained "good comrades,"
and discussed their future divorce together.
Nevertheless, when the Grand-Duchess actually left her
husband, he was much vexed, and to a certain extent
sincerely grieved. The Royal Family and society at
the Court of Stockholm were also somewhat hurt in
their pride. Savinsky, who during the eighteen months
that he stayed in Sweden had gained the complete
confidence of the young Grand-Duchess, and become
what the old comedies call " the confidant"—but
absolutely nothing more—and who was aware of the
project of the divorce long before it took place, could
not decently remain at the Swedish Court. So it was
considered a good moment to send him to Sofia to King
Ferdinand, who had always liked him and paid him
marked attention. There were people in our country
who were convinced that Savinsky would be able to
accomplish what I had not been able to do, that is to
acquire the confidence and the sympathies of Ferdinand,
and to lead him, and naturally all his people with him,
back into the path of obedience and devotion to Russia.
A truly childish notion, but it was upheld by certain
influential persons in M. Sazonoff’s set!
It was agreed between the Minister and me that I
should not take up my new post till the Royal divorce
had actually been pronounced, otherwise my position
would be disagreeable and difficult from the outset.
Never before had Paris impressed me so strongly as
the town of pleasure and thoughtless luxury as she did
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