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THE YOUNG TSAR
THE young Tsar had just ascended the throne。
For five weeks he had worked without ceasing； in
the way that Tsars are accustomed to work。 He
had been attending to reports； signing papers； re…
ceiving ambassadors and high officials who came
to be presented to him； and reviewing troops。 He
was tired； and as a traveller exhausted by heat
and thirst longs for a draught of water and for
rest； so he longed for a respite of just one day
at least from receptions； from speeches； from
paradesa few free hours to spend like an ordi…
nary human being with his young； clever； and
beautiful wife； to whom he had been married only
a month before。
It was Christmas Eve。 The young Tsar had
arranged to have a complete rest that evening。
The night before he had worked till very late at
documents which his ministers of state had left
for him to examine。 In the morning he was
present at the Te Deum； and then at a military
service。 In the afternoon he received official
visitors； and later he had been obliged to listen
to the reports of three ministers of state； and had
given his assent to many important matters。 In
his conference with the Minister of Finance he
had agreed to an increase of duties on imported
goods； which should in the future add many mil…
lions to the State revenues。 Then he sanctioned
the sale of brandy by the Crown in various parts
of the country； and signed a decree permitting the
sale of alcohol in villages having markets。 This
was also calculated to increase the principal
revenue to the State； which was derived from the
sale of spirits。 He had also approved of the
issuing of a new gold loan required for a financial
negotiation。 The Minister of justice having re…
ported on the complicated case of the succession
of the Baron Snyders； the young Tsar confirmed
the decision by his signature； and also approved
the new rules relating to the application of Arti…
cle 1830 of the penal code； providing for the pun…
ishment of tramps。 In his conference with the
Minister of the Interior he ratified the order con…
cerning the collection of taxes in arrears； signed
the order settling what measures should be taken
in regard to the persecution of religious dissenters；
and also one providing for the continuance of
martial law in those provinces where it had al…
ready been established。 With the Minister of
War he arranged for the nomination of a new
Corps Commander for the raising of recruits； and
for punishment of breach of discipline。 These
things kept him occupied till dinner…time； and even
then his freedom was not complete。 A number
of high officials had been invited to dinner； and
he was obliged to talk to them： not in the way he
felt disposed to do； but according to what he was
expected to say。 At last the tiresome dinner was
over； and the guests departed。
The young Tsar heaved a sigh of relief；
stretched himself and retired to his apartments
to take off his uniform with the decorations on it；
and to don the jacket he used to wear before his
accession to the throne。 His young wife had also
retired to take off her dinner…dress； remarking
that she would join him presently。
When he had passed the row of footmen who
were standing erect before him； and reached his
room； when he had thrown off his heavy uniform
and put on his jacket； the young Tsar felt glad to
be free from work； and his heart was filled with a
tender emotion which sprang from the conscious…
ness of his freedom； of his joyous； robust young
life； and of his love。 He threw himself on the
sofa； stretched out his legs upon it； leaned his head
on his hand； fixed his gaze on the dull glass shade
of the lamp； and then a sensation which he had not
experienced since his childhood；the pleasure of
going to sleep； and a drowsiness that was irresist…
iblesuddenly came over him。
〃My wife will be here presently and will find
me asleep。 No； I must not go to sleep；〃 he
thought。 He let his elbow drop down； laid his
cheek in the palm of his hand； made himself com…
fortable； and was so utterly happy that he only
felt a desire not to be aroused from this delight…
ful state。
And then what happens to all of us every day
happened to himhe fell asleep without know…
ing himself when or how。 He passed from one
state into another without his will having any
share in it； without even desiring it； and without
regretting the state out of which he had passed。
He fell into a heavy sleep which was like death。
How long he had slept he did not know； but
he was suddenly aroused by the soft touch of a
hand upon his shoulder。
〃It is my darling； it is she；〃 he thought。
〃What a shame to have dozed off！〃
But it was not she。 Before his eyes； which
were wide open and blinking at the light； she；
that charming and beautiful creature whom he was
expecting； did not stand； but HE stood。 Who HE
was the young Tsar did not know； but somehow
it did not strike him that he was a stranger whom
he had never seen before。 It seemed as if he had
known him for a long time and was fond of
him； and as if he trusted him as he would trust
himself。 He had expected his beloved wife； but
in her stead that man whom he had never seen
before had come。 Yet to the young Tsar； who
was far from feeling regret or astonishment； it
seemed not only a most natural； but also a neces…
sary thing to happen。
〃Come！〃 said the stranger。
〃Yes； let us go；〃 said the young Tsar； not
knowing where he was to go； but quite aware
that he could not help submitting to the com…
mand of the stranger。 〃But how shall we go？〃
he asked。
〃In this way。〃
The stranger laid his hand on the Tsar's head；
and the Tsar for a moment lost consciousness。
He could not tell whether he had been uncon…
scious a long or a short time； but when he re…
covered his senses he found himself in a strange
place。 The first thing he was aware of was a
strong and stifling smell of sewage。 The place
in which he stood was a broad passage lit by the
red glow of two dim lamps。 Running along one
side of the passage was a thick wall with windows
protected by iron gratings。 On the other side
were doors secured with locks。 In the passage
stood a soldier； leaning up against the wall； asleep。
Through the doors the young Tsar heard the
muffled sound of living human beings： not of
one alone； but of many。 HE was standing at the
side of the young Tsar； and pressing his shoulder
slightly with his soft hand； pushed him to the
first door； unmindful of the sentry。 The young
Tsar felt he could not do otherwise than yield；
and approached the door。 To his amazement
the sentry looked straight at him； evidently with…
out seeing him； as he neither straightened himself
up nor saluted； but yawned loudly and； lifting
his hand； scratched the back of his neck。 The
door had a small hole； and in obedience to the
pressure of the hand that pushed him； the young
Tsar approached a step nearer and put his eye to
the small opening。 Close to the door； the foul
smell that stifled him was stronger； and the young
Tsar hesitated to go nearer； but the hand pushed
him on。 He leaned forward； put his eye close
to the opening； and suddenly ceased to perceive
the odour。 The sight he saw deadened his sense
of smell。 In a large room； about ten yards long
and six yards wide； there walked unceasingly from
one end to the other； six men in long grey
coats； some in felt boots； some barefoot。 There
were over twenty men in all in the room； but
in that first moment the young Tsar only saw
those who were walking with quick； even； silent
steps。 It was a horrid sight to watch the con…
tinual； quick； aimless movements of the men who
passed and overtook each other； turning sharply
when they reached the wall； never looking at one
another； and evidently concentrated each on his
own thoughts。 The young Tsar had observed a
similar sight one day when he was watching a tiger
in a menagerie pacing rapidly with noiseless tread
from one end of his cage to the other； waving its
tail； silently turning when it reached the bars； and
looking at nobody。 Of these men one； appar…
ently a young peasant； with curly hair； would
have been handsome were it not for the unnatural
pallor of his face； and the concentrated； wicked；
scarcely human； look in his eyes。 Another was
a Jew； hairy and gloomy。 The third was a lean
old man； bald； with a beard that had been shaven
and had since grown like bristles。 The fourth was
extraordinarily heavily built； with well…developed
muscles； a low receding forehead and a flat nose。
The fifth was hardly more than a boy； long；
thin； obviously consumptive。 The sixth was
small and dark； with nervous； convulsive move…
ments。 He walked as if he were skipping； and
muttered continuously to himself。 They were
all walking rapidly backwards and forwards past
the hole through which the young Tsar was look…
ing。 He watched their faces and their gait with
keen interest。 Having examined them closely； he
presently became aware of a number of other men
at the back of the room； standing round； or lying
on the shelf that served as a bed。 Standing close
to the door he also saw the pail wh