Entry 28 - Second Letter to M. Goroshkin

28


(Second letter to M. Goroshkin)

"I must bring to your attention the fact that a certain lady, whom I
knew in Petrograd in other days, came here quite unexpectedly, under
the name of Lucie de Clive. She was in the plot in June, and at that
time was very strongly protected by A.F. K-y, who released her from
jail. She is an Englishwoman, but knows Russia well, as in fact,
she knows all European countries. She came here the day the L's were
killed and Pasha taken away. She made me understand that she is in a
new plot to save the Emperor's family. Her task will be to stay here
for a while "and make some preparations" and then go farther on.

I must tell you that her arrival here is of great inconvenience to
me: in a city like Tumen it became known to the G-ns, and, though
the Princess thinks I am nothing much and her morals are not for my
class of people, she is a little hypocrite and pulls a long face at
me.

I tried my best to avoid having this lady in my house; but the
president of the local soviet, who has a great respect for me as
Marchenko's protege, allowed me a short stay for the lady; I explained
to him that she is my old affinity--"a civil wife." Therefore, he
found it a sufficient reason, but did not like it much, and I am
afraid his trust in me may diminish.

Now things have turned out in such a manner that I cannot possibly
throw the lady out of my home: but what I want you to do is to notify
me at once whether you know something about this arrival and whether
Lucie is working for the same purposes. I don't trust her much; she
feels it, and plays a strange game with me, the part of an enamored
woman. This does not interfere with her writing (and receiving) some
correspondence. She takes the letters out when I am busy, so I cannot
trail her. I'd rather go away from here, leaving her; I would not care
much to be obliged to watch her. There are certain ethics which would
prevent me from liking to trail this particular lady.

I was greatly surprised when I heard that Mr. Kerensky was living in
the Rossia Insurance Company Apartments, Pushkarskaya 59, Flat 10. If
so, why this game of the Smolny crowd? Why not take him? The man of
whom I wrote you in my last letter states that K-y is now planning to
go to Stockholm and that a passport will be given to him by the
Smolny Institute. Please communicate that to Marchenko. Schmelin says it is
not his business. The ring was taken from K-y. Nothing new in Tobolsk.
The Empress has been sick for the last ten days.

Yours,

Alex. Syv."