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 as they were impossible, which at that time saturated the atmosphere of Petrograd.

As for Bolshevism, for me, I repeat, it was something that did not exist, something whose real character constantly eluded my attention. Not for one moment was I inclined seriously to accept the first decrees of the Government of the „Commissars of the People“, which were placarded along the walls of Petrograd. Further, general impressions, the aftermath of events, as well as the physiognomy of the capital, were strange and indefinable. The Bolsheviks had overthrown the Provisional CovernmentGovernment [sic] with the greatest of ease, without any real resistance, and with the „neutrality“, that is to say, with the complete indifference of the larger section of the garrison. The Provisional Government vanished like a phantom without leaving even a trace behind it. Further, it did not seem that those who had obtained so easy and so complete a victory had any substantial force behind them. In the streets, people were speaking openly of the arrival of Government troops, rallied by Kerensky, who were advancing to subdue this handful of „rioters“ and „maniacs“ seated at Smolny. In the Embassies, everyone was informed from „absolutely reliable sources“ that the Bolsheviks could hold out for not more than 8 to 10 days. Last of all there came the strike of the employees of ail the administrative and State services, the famous „sabotage“ which in itself, by putting things under the worst possible conditions should be able to finish the Bolsheviks in the space of two weeks at the most. Day after day passed by however and reports of the approach of Government troops, instead of being more