Nicholas and Alexandra

35 “A group of white-clad figures,” Anna Vyrubova and Lili Dehn leave Tsarskoe Selo for the last time: Vyrubova, 226; Dehn, 215.

36 Inhuman to separate a mother from her sick children: Benckendorff, 66.

37 Kerensky’s interview with Alexandra: ibid., 75–6. “Your wife does not lie”: ibid., 76.

38 Kerensky’s interview with Nicholas: ibid., 77.

39 “Kerensky’s attitude toward the Tsar is no longer what it was”: Gilliard, 227. “The confidence which the Emperor felt in Kerensky increased”: Benckendorff, 77. “He is a man who loves Russia”: Pares in the Introduction to Kerensky, Murder, 15.

40 Bayonet in the bicycle spokes: Buxhoeveden, 299. “Not for anything in the world”: Kobylinsky, 177. “What have you got against me?”: Benckendorff, 71.

41 The crowds whistle and jeer: Kerensky, Murder, 114; Bulygin, 192.

42 Alexandra talks to the soldier: Buxhoeveden, 300, Benckendorff, 80.

43 Colonel Kobylinsky: Kobylinsky, 167–8; Benckendorff, 91; Bulygin, 180–90. “My last friend”: Bulygin, 190.

44 The toy-gun episode: Benckendorff, 83; Gilliard, 230–1; Kobylinsky, 177.

45 The kitchen garden and cutting firewood: Benckendorff, 79–80; Gilliard, 220–31.

46 Red and green lights: Benckendorff, 87; Gilliard, 232; Kerensky, Murder, 114– 15.

47 “Our Captivity at Tsarskoe Selo”: Gilliard, 217–18.

CHAPTER 31 “HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INSIST”

 1 “Simply human beings”: Kerensky, Murder, 112.

 2 “It’s a mistake”: Buchanan, II, 73.

 3 “I will not be the Marat of the Russian Revolution”: Kerensky, Crucifixion, 161.

 4 “He should lose no time in getting away”: Paleologue, III, 253.

 5 “It’s the last chance”: ibid., III, 258.

 6 Lloyd George’s speech: quoted by Pares, 260; by Paleologue, II, 43.

 7 Lloyd George’s telegram: Lloyd George, 507. The decision to invite the Russian Imperial family: Nicolson, 300.

 8 Buchanan’s conversations with Miliukov: Buchanan, II, 104–6.

 9 “The Republic must be safeguarded”: Bykov, 33. One scornful Bolshevik writer, ibid., 35.

10 Provisional Government pledges to the Soviet that the sovereigns will remain in Russia: Paleologue, III, 268. Miliukov cannot deliver

11 King George V’s telegram: Buchanan II, 103; Paleologue, III, 278. Text of the telegram: Nicolson, 299.

12 The King and Queen … were asking for news of their Russian relatives: Gilliard, 222.

13 “Nothing has yet been decided”: Lloyd George, 512.

14 “His Majesty’s Government does not insist”: Kerensky, Murder, 117.

15 “An excuse for rousing public opinion against us”: Buchanan’s message quoted by Lloyd George, 512.

16 Bertie’s letter: quoted by Lloyd George, 514.

17 The plan suspended until early summer: Kerensky, Murder, 116–17.

18 “The British Government’s final refusal”: ibid., 118.

19 “Not masters in their own house”: Buchanan, II, 106. Meriel Buchanan’s account of the episode: Meriel Buchanan, 195–7. Lloyd George “probably would have given such advice”: quoted by Meriel Buchanan, viii a.

20 “An unseaworthy Ark”: Lloyd George, 480. “A crown without a head”: ibid., 483. “This country cannot be … held responsible”: ibid., 516.

21 “His Majesty cannot help doubting”: Nicolson, 301. The King suggests that Britain withdraw its offer: ibid., 301.

22 The Duke of Windsor’s recollection: Windsor, 131.

23 “We older ones …”: Payne, 252.

24 “Our tactics”: Fischer, 108. “Ilyich did not sleep”: ibid., 108.

25 “A plague bacillus”: Churchill, World Crisis: The Aftermath, 71.

26 Lenin’s return: Trotsky, I, 295–8; Moorehead, 184–7.

27 Lenin’s initial failure: Trotsky, I, 300–11; Florinsky, 1401–3; Fischer, 128. “Why, that is raving”: Trotsky, I, 310. “Lenin was a hopeless failure”: Paleologue, III, 302.

28 Trotsky in America: Kennan, 31–2. The Root Mission, ibid., 10–23.

29 The Kerensky offensive: Florinsky, 1400–10. Nicholas’s happiness: Benckendorff, 94. The “July Uprising”: Florinsky, 1431. “More than a demonstration but less than a revolution”: ibid., 1432.

30 “The Bolsheviks are after me”: Pares in Introduction to Kerensky, Murder; Benckendorff, 98.

31 Kerensky’s search for a haven: Kerensky, Murder, 119. “I chose Tobolsk”: ibid., 120.

32 “I have no fear”: ibid., 121.

33 The suite: Benckendorff, 99.

34 “The ceremony was poignant”: ibid., 103.

35 The family’s departure a secret: Kerensky, Murder, 128.

36 “No hitting a man when he is down”: Kobylinsky, 183; Bykov, 40; Kerensky, Murder, 128.

37 “Colonel Kobylinsky’s orders”: Bulygin, 194. The soldiers refuse to work: Benckendorff, 105–6.

38 Grand Duke Michael: Benckendorff, 107. “How is Alix? How is Mother?”: Kerensky, Murder, 129.

39 “Is that Uncle Misha?”: Kobylinsky, 184.

40 “Weeping like any ordinary woman”: Kerensky, Murder, 130.

41 The soldiers cursed and grumbled: Benckendorff, 108. The officers would not sit with Nicholas Romanov: ibid., 110.

42 Nicholas could freely return: ibid., 107.

43 Departure from Tsarskoe Selo: ibid., 111–12; Gilliard, 234–5.

CHAPTER 32 SIBERIA

 1 The train to Siberia. Stocked with wines: Benckendorff, 121. Gems worth a million roubles: Wilton, 74. Suite and servants: Bykov, 40, and Kobylinsky, who lists them by name, 187–8.

 2 Train routine: Kerensky, Murder, 131. Walks by the track: Benckendorff, 121.

 3 Heat, shades drawn: N’s Diary, quoted by Kerensky, Murder, 134.

 4 Stopped at Perm: Kobylinsky, 185.

 5 The boat trip: Kerensky, Murder, 135. Pokrovskoe and Rasputin’s house: Gilliard, 230–40; Yussoupov, Rasputin, 28–9.

 6 Arrival in Tobolsk: Kerensky, Murder, 132–3; Gilliard, 240; Benckendorff, 121; Botkina, 37.

 7 Tobolsk and the governor’s house: Botkin, 156; Botkina, 39; Gilliard, 240.

 8 Kornilov house: Benckendorff, 122; Bulygin, 194.

 9 Enclosed yard: Gilliard, 240. Suite has free access: Gibbs, in Wilton, 244.

10 Attitude toward the Imperial family. Townspeople: Gilliard, 242. Soldiers: Bykov, 60.

11 Pankratov and Nikolsky: Kobylinsky, 190–1; Bulygin, 196; Botkina, 42.

12 “Not wishing to infringe the rules of politeness”: Pankratov, With the Tsar in Tobolsk, quoted by Bykov, 43–4.