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224 MY TRANSFER TO STOCKHOLM [ch. xiv.
in Crimea, where my wife and daughter, who had left
Sofia in the meantime, were visiting my father-in-law.
The Court as usual was spending the autumn at Livadia,
and I meant to profit by my stay at Yalta to request an
audience of the Emperor.
On my arrival I asked my wife if she had called on
the Empress Alexandra.
"There has been no formal calling," was the answer.
"The Empress is not receiving officially at Livadia;
but I was invited to a dinner party followed by a
reception. We dined at small tables presided over by the
married Grand-Duchesses who are staying in the Crimea
just now. After dinner the young people danced. The
young Grand-Duchesses and the young ladies of Yalta
danced gaily and without any formality with the
young men, mainly officers from the Imperial yacht."
" Was the Empress amiable ? "
" Her Majesty did not say a word to any of the
ladies present; she remained seated all the time with a
sullen, almost tragic expression, and her face only lit up
a little when one of the young Grand-Duchesses came to
talk to her; as to those delightful young girls, they were
thoroughly enjoying themselves ! "
" But what does all this mean ? "
"Oh! it is a long story, alas ! By the way, here is
an invitation for us both to dine next Saturday, but I
have just heard that the dinner will not take place."
Indeed, next day a messenger from the Palace
brought a note cancelling the invitation on account of
the indisposition of Her Majesty the Empress.
I was gradually initiated into all the gossip of Yalta
and Livadia, and this is what I learnt:
That year the Emperor and his family were
delighting in their stay in the Crimea. All were enjoying
good health. There was a great deal of lawn-tennis and
riding, and on Saturdays the young people danced.
For a brief period only was this gay life saddened by
the almost sudden death of Dedulin, the " General du
jour" to His Majesty the Emperor. He was a worthy,
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