At four o’clock we went up to see Their Majesties and found them just leaving Alexis Nicolaïevitch’s room. The Czar and Czarina and Marie Nicolaïevna took leave of us. The Czarina and the Grand-Duchesses were in tears. The Czar seemed calm and had a word of encouragement for each of us; he embraced us. The Czarina, when saying good-bye, begged me to stay upstairs with Alexis Nicolaïevitch. I went to the boy’s room and found him in bed, crying.
A few minutes later we heard the rumbling of wheels. The Grand-Duchesses passed their brother’s door on their way to their rooms, and I could hear them sobbing....
_Saturday, April 27th._--The man who drove the Czarina for the first stage has brought a note from Marie Nicolaïevna; the roads are founderous, travelling conditions terrible. How will the Czarina be able to stand the journey? How heartrending it all is!
_Sunday, April 28th._--Colonel Kobylinsky has received a telegram saying that the whole party arrived safely at Tioumen at half-past nine on Saturday evening.
The “field chapel” has been moved to the large hall, where the priest will be able to celebrate Mass, as there is a consecrated altar.
In the evening a second telegram arrived, sent after leaving Tioumen: “Travelling in comfort. How is the boy? God be with you.”
_Monday, April 29th._--The children have received a letter from the Czarina from Tioumen. The journey has been very trying. Horses up to their chests in water crossing the rivers. Wheels broken several times.
_Wednesday, May 1st._--Alexis Nicolaïevitch is up. Nagorny carried him to his wheeled chair; he was wheeled about in the sun.
_Thursday, May 2nd._--Still no news since they left Tioumen. Where are they? They could have reached Moscow by Tuesday!
_Friday, May 3rd._--Colonel Kobylinsky has received a telegram saying that the travellers have been detained at Ekaterinburg. What has happened?
_Saturday, May 4th._--A sad Easter eve. We are in low spirits.
_Sunday, May 5th._--Easter Day. Still no news.
_Tuesday, May 7th._--At last the children have had a letter from Ekaterinburg saying that all are well but not explaining why they are held up. What agony can be read between the lines!
_Wednesday, May 8th._--The officers and men of our guard who accompanied Their Majesties have returned from Ekaterinburg. They say that on arrival at Ekaterinburg the Czar’s train was surrounded by Red Guards and that the Czar, Czarina, and Marie Nicolaïevna have been incarcerated in Ipatief’s house.[69] Prince Dolgorouky is in prison, and they themselves were only released after two days’ detention.