Page:Ossendowski - The Shadow of the Gloomy East.djvu/183

Rh shall be glad to undertake the mission if, at my age, I have enough strength to carry it through," said Witte with joy.

He listened while the Tsar spoke again.

Then Witte replied once more.

"I beg to ihank your Majesty humbly, but I am obliged to make one condition. In my actions I want to be guided by your Majesty's instructions alone, and I want to be entirely independent of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister."

In the interval Witte listened attentively, while his hand, holding the receiver, was visibly trembling.

"Yes, such is my unbending determination, Sire! The Emperor, on whose behalf I spoke at Portsmouth and where I obtained good results, could persuade himself that the happiness of the Fatherland is my first care. Since my dismissal, your Majesty, my views in this matter have not changed."

A long silence followed, during which I could hear the whistling rattle of the membrane in the microphone which repeated the Tsar's words.

"I am very sorry, but I cannot withdraw this condition. I am your Majesty's humble servant!"

The conversation was finished. Witte put the receiver down and paced his study nervously. At last he halted in front of the bronze statue of Alexander III, whom he adored, embraced the Tsar's knees, and exclaimed with a voice hoarse and strangled with emotion: