 had ridden uninterrupted from Tsarskoye Selo to the governor's mansion atop Gregorski Mount, a trip what took several hours in inclement weather. Reticent and exhausted, the captain entered the mansion in haste, shouldered aside the governor's alarmed butler and said: 'I have a dispatch for His Excellency from the Emperor. Show me to his quarters.'

'The governor is entertaining in the dining room,' the butler said, gesturing towards closed double doors at the rear of the hall. 'If you wait a moment, I will-'

Flogged by explicit directive, the captain turned his back on the retainer, hustled to the room in question, pushed open the doors...

Picture our doomed, masticating comrade sitting at the head of a shiny ebony table; also present: the governor's robust, gregarious spouse (a grandniece of the Tsar, no less), and a second cousin of the governor, home from a trip to America.

'Sir,' the messenger said, clicking heels. 'I carry a missive from the Emperor.'

'A missive?' the governor garbled.

Springing forward, the captain removed a red envelope from his coat pocket and placed it next to the governor's plate; hisself dabbed lips with a napkin and then opened the packet with a butter knife.

The Tsar's words are unknown which, in the days to come, spurred public speculation. It's been argued Nicholas planned to sack his administrator, and a bevy of justifications were bandied: insufficient loyalty; larceny; largesse; a mystic's recommendation.

There is another, less salacious, reason: Nicholas sent a nameday greeting. Verily, the governor would celebrate his fiftieth episode in the coming week...though, if the message contained congratulations, why the urgency of a courier?

After scrutinizing the telegram, the His Excellency tucked the paper into the pocket of his formal vest and then resumed eating. I suspect the attendees anticipated an explanation; alas, the governor felt no desire to expound.

Instead, the hisself commented: 'The veal is scrumptious.'

The declaration proved to be his last...

An account of the drama -provided by sundry domestics- illustrates the fragility of mortality. I shan't
had ridden uninterrupted from Tsarskoye Selo to the governor's mansion atop Gregorski Mount, a trip what take respective hours in inclement weather. Reticent and exhausted, the master entered the sign of the zodiac in haste, shouldered aside the governor's alarmed butler and order:' I have a dispatch for His Excellency from the Emperor. Show me to his quarter.' 

' The governor is entertaining in the dining room,' the butler said, gesticulate towards closed double doors at the rear of the manor hall.' If you wait a here and now, I will-' 

 Flogged by explicit directive, the master turned his back on the retainer, bustle to the room in question, pushed unfold the doors... 

 visualize our doomed, chew comrade sitting at the head of a bright ebony table; also present: the governor's robust, gregarious spouse (a grandniece of the Tsar, no less), and a second cousin of the governor, home from a trip to America. 

' Sir,' the messenger said, clicking heels.' I carry a missive from the Emperor.' 

' A missive?' the governor garbled. 

 Springing forward, the master remove a red envelope from his coating air pocket and identify it next to the governor's plate; hisself dabbed lip with a diaper and then opened the packet with a butter knife. 

 The Tsar's word are unknown which, in the days to come, spurred public speculation. It's been argued Nicholas planned to sack his administrator, and a bevy of justifications were bandied: insufficient loyalty; larceny; largesse; a mystic's recommendation. 

 There be another, less lubricious, reason: Nicholas sent a nameday greeting. Verily, the governor would celebrate his fiftieth episode in the coming workweek... though, if the message contained congratulations, why the urgency of a courier? 

 After scrutinizing the telegram, the His Excellency tucked the paper into the pocket of his formal singlet and then resumed eating. I suspect the attendees anticipated an explanation; alas, the governor feel no desire to expound. 

 alternatively, the hisself commented:' The veal is delectable.' 

 The declaration proved to be his final... 

 An account of the drama -provided by assorted domestics- illustrates the fragility of mortality. I shan't
 haf ridden uninterrupted fvom Tsarskoye Selo to tie govednor's mavsion atop Gregorski Mount, a teip wyat took several hours in inclelent wearher. Eeticent ais exhausted, tgc capcamn entered the kansion in haste, shouldesea cside the governor's alarmed butler agd said: 'I have a dispatsh fpw Hia Excellency from the Emperor. Show me to iis quarters.'

'The governor is entertaining ln tje dining room,' the butler saie, gefruring towaras closed double doors at the rear of the hall. 'If you wait a moment, U qilp-'

Xlogged by xxplicpt directive, bne capdain tutned his back pn vhe eetainer, hustled to tie room in question, kushed opet che doors...

Picture our eoimed, kasthcatkbg zomdave aittinh av the head kf a shiny wbony table; also prtsegn: the governod's robtse, gregarious spouse (a grandniece of the Tszr, no less), and a second cousin of the governlr, home fwom a trip to America.

'Sir,' the messenger said, clickhng hxeus. 'N carrh a missive from the Emperor.'

'A missive?' the governjd bagbled.

Springing fovward, the captain telofgd a red envelupe from gis coat pocket anf placeq it bext to tre gpvernor's plate; hisself dabbwd lips with q napkin and then lpened the 'acket with a butter knife.

The Tsar'r wodds are unkjown whicg, in the days to zomv, spgrred public speculation. Ie's been acgued Nicholxs pkanned to sack hls administrator, and a bfvy oy jusdificationd were bandied: insufficient loyekty; larceny; kasgevse; a myftic's recommendatijn.

There is anojher, less salazious, reaskn: Nichmlas sent a nameday greedlng. Verily, tie governjr wiuld celebrxge his fiftietn episode in the coning week...though, if thg jessage containzb xongratulations, whh tre ucgencr of a couries?

Aftdr rvrutivizing uke beldgrak, the His Excellency tucied the paper into tme pocket of his sormal vest amd then resumed eauing. I surpect thg attendees anticipated an explznation; apas, the governow feot no desire to expound.

Instead, the hisself commentev: 'The veal is scrumptioys.'

The declaration ptovtd to be his kast...

Ag account of the drama -providwd by sundry domextics- illustrates the fraginity lf mortality. I shan't
had ridden uninterrupted from Tsarskoye Selo to mansion Gregorski Mount, trip what took Reticent exhausted, the captain the mansion in shouldered aside the governor's alarmed butler said: 'I have a dispatch for His Excellency from the Emperor. Show me his quarters.' 'The governor is entertaining in the dining room,' the butler said, towards double at rear of the hall. 'If you wait a moment, I will-' Flogged by explicit directive, the turned his back on the retainer, hustled to room in question, pushed the doors... Picture our doomed, comrade at the of shiny table; also present: governor's robust, gregarious spouse (a grandniece of the Tsar, no less), and a second cousin of the home from to America. the said, heels. 'I carry from the Emperor.' 'A missive?' the forward, the captain removed a red envelope from coat pocket placed it next to the governor's hisself dabbed lips with a napkin and then the packet with a butter knife. The Tsar's words are unknown which, in the days spurred public speculation. It's argued Nicholas planned sack administrator, a of justifications bandied: insufficient loyalty; larceny; largesse; a mystic's recommendation. There is another, salacious, reason: Nicholas sent a nameday greeting. Verily, the governor his episode in the week...though, if the message congratulations, the urgency of a scrutinizing telegram, tucked paper the pocket of his vest and then resumed eating. suspect the attendees anticipated felt no desire to expound. Instead, the hisself 'The veal is scrumptious.' The declaration proved be his last... An account of the drama -provided by sundry domestics- the fragility I shan't
 had ridden uninterrupted froM Tsarskoye selo tO thE goVeRnor'S manSion atop GregorSKi MoUnt, a trip what took severaL hourS iN InclEMeNt weaTher. RetICeNT And ExHaUstEd, THe CaptaIn eNtered tHe mansion iN haStE, shouldered aSIdE the governOr's Alarmed butleR anD said: 'I HaVe a DIspatCh fOr His excellENcy froM the EmperOr. sHow me tO His quarTERs.'

'the gOvernor is entertaiNInG In the dining rooM,' the buTlER sAID, geStuRing towardS cLosed DOuble doORs AT THe rEAr of the hall. 'If You wait a momENt, I Will-'

FlOgGed BY expliCit diReCTivE, the captain TurnEd his back On the rETainer, hUStled to The rooM in QueStioN, PuShEd oPeN The DOoRs...

PICtuRe our dooMeD, mAsticAtinG COMRade SitTing At the Head of a shiny eBonY tabLE; alSo preSent: tHe goVeRnor's Robust, GregaRiOus spouse (a grandNiecE of the TsaR, no LeSs), aNd A secoND cousiN of The GovernoR, home frOM a tRiP TO amErica.

'Sir,' the messengEr SAId, Clicking Heels. 'I CArRy A Missive fRoM thE EmpEROr.'

'A miSsivE?' ThE governoR garblED.

SPrInging fOrWard, thE cAptAin RemovED a reD envelOpe from hIs coaT Pocket and placeD It next to the goVErNOR's PLate; HisSelf dabbed lIps wITh a nApkiN AnD thEN openEd the PaCKeT With a butter knife.

The tsAr's worDs are Unknown which, iN the days to COME, spurred PublIC sPEculation. It's beEn argUed NicholaS Planned tO sack His adminIstrator, aND A bevy of jUstIfiCatIonS WErE bandied: insufFICienT lOyalty; lArcEny; largEssE; a mYstIc's ReCommendatIon.

There Is AnOtHeR, leSs salACious, reaSoN: NiChOlaS sent A NamedaY greeTing. veRiLY, thE governOR wOULd ceLeBrAte hIs fIfTieth EpisODe iN the comIng week...thOugH, If thE mEsSage conTained congratUlAtions, why tHe UrgEncy of A COurier?

AfTer scrutinizing the telegRAm, the HiS ExCelleNcy tUcked the pApeR into tHe pOCket of His forMal veSt And THEn resUMEd EatInG. I suspect tHE AttEndeeS aNticIpated aN explanation; alas, thE GovErnor felt no deSirE to eXPOuNd.

INStEAd, tHe HIssELF commented: 'The veAl is scrumpTiOUs.'

the declaraTIon PrOved to bE his lasT...

An acCOunt of tHe drama -prOvided by sUnDry dOMEstIcs- illustrAtes the fRagility oF MortaLItY. I shaN't
 had ridden uninterruptedfrom Tsars koyeSel o t othegove rnor's mansion atop  Gregorski Mount, a tr ip wh at took se veral  hoursi ni n cle me nt  we at h er . Ret ice nt andexhausted,  th ecaptain ente r ed  the mansi onin haste, sh oul deredas ide the g ove rnor' s alar m ed but ler and s ai d : 'I h a ve a di s p at ch f or His Excellency fr o m the Emperor.  Showme to h isqua rters.'

' Th e gov e rnor is en t e r tai n ing in the di ning room,' the  butle rsai d , gest uring  t o war ds closed d oubl e doors a t ther ear oft he hall . 'Ifyou  wa it a mo me nt,  I wil l -' 

F l ogg ed by ex pl ic it di rect i v e ,  the  ca ptai n tur ned his backonther eta iner,  hust ledto  theroom i n que st ion, pushed ope n th e doors.. .
Pi ctu re  ourd oomed,  ma sti catingcomrade sit ti n g at  the head of a shi ny e bo ny table ; also pr es e nt: thego ver nor' s robus t, g r eg arious s pouse( agr andniec eof the  T sar , n o les s ), a nd a s econd co usino f the governor ,  home from at ri p to Amer ica .

'Sir,' t he m e ssen gers ai d,c licki ng he el s .' I carry a missive f ro m theEmper or.'

'A miss ive?' theg o v ernor ga rble d .Springing forw ard,the captai n  removed  a re d envelo pe from h i s  coat po cke t a ndpla c e dit next to th e gove rn or's pl ate ; hisse lfdab bed  li ps  with a n apkin an dth en  o pen ed th e  packetwi thabut ter k n ife.
The T sar' swo r dsare unk n ow n whic h,  i n th e d ay s tocome ,  sp urred p ublic spe cul a tion .It 's been  argued Nicho la s plannedto  sa ck his a dministr ator, and a bevy of jus t ificati ons  were  ban died: ins uff icient  lo y alty;larcen y; la rg ess e ;  a my s t ic 'sre commendati o n .
There  i s an other,less salacious, re a son : Nicholas se nta na m e da y g r ee t ing .V eri l y , the governorwould cele br a te  his fifti e thep isode i n the c oming week... though, i f the mes sa ge c o n tai ned congra tulation s, why th e  urge n cy  of a  co urier? 
Aft er sc rutini z ing  thetelegr am , theHis E xc ellencytucked the paper into t he poc ket o f h is formal  ve s t a nd then r esum ed eating.  Isus pectthe atten dees an tic i pated  ane xplanatio n ;ala s ,  t he governor f e ltno de sir e  to ex poun d.

Instead, theh isself comment ed:' T hevea l  issc rumptious.'

T hede c l arationpr oved to behis last .. . 

Anaccoun t of t he dram a -p r ovided  bysun dry domes tic s- illustr at es the fr agil it y of m ortali t y. I s han't
 had_ridden uninterrupted_from Tsarskoye Selo to_the governor's_mansion_atop Gregorski_Mount,_a trip what_took several hours_in inclement weather. Reticent_and exhausted, the_captain_entered the mansion in haste, shouldered aside the governor's alarmed butler and said: 'I_have_a dispatch_for_His_Excellency from the Emperor. Show_me to his quarters.'

'The governor_is entertaining_in the dining room,' the butler said, gesturing_towards_closed double doors_at the rear of the hall. 'If you wait_a moment, I will-'

Flogged by explicit_directive, the captain_turned_his_back on the retainer,_hustled to the room in question,_pushed open the doors...

Picture our doomed,_masticating comrade sitting at the head of_a shiny ebony table; also present:_the governor's robust, gregarious spouse_(a grandniece_of the Tsar, no less),_and a second_cousin of_the governor, home_from a trip to America.

'Sir,' the_messenger said, clicking_heels. 'I carry a missive from_the_Emperor.'

'A missive?' the_governor_garbled.

Springing_forward, the_captain removed a_red_envelope from_his_coat pocket and placed it next_to_the governor's plate; hisself dabbed lips with_a napkin and then_opened_the packet with a_butter knife.

The Tsar's words are_unknown which, in the days to_come, spurred_public speculation._It's been argued Nicholas planned to sack his administrator, and a_bevy of justifications were bandied: insufficient_loyalty; larceny; largesse; a_mystic's recommendation.

There_is_another, less salacious,_reason:_Nicholas sent_a nameday greeting. Verily, the governor would_celebrate his_fiftieth episode in the coming week...though,_if the message contained_congratulations,_why the urgency of a courier?

After_scrutinizing the telegram, the His Excellency_tucked the paper into the_pocket_of_his formal vest and then_resumed eating. I suspect the attendees_anticipated an explanation;_alas, the governor felt no desire to_expound.

Instead,_the hisself commented: 'The veal is_scrumptious.'

The_declaration proved to be his last...

An_account_of_the drama -provided by sundry_domestics- illustrates the fragility of mortality._I shan't