Majendie, according to his housekeeper, was at the theatre. Beddoes, according to the Division, was following Ivan round the pubs of Islington. Nightingale poured himself a cup of tea, and settled thankfully enough to read sheets of Runciman’s transcribed notes.

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KARUKHINS—obscure origin. Family liked to say there were Karukhins at Kiev, but first definite appearance in medieval Vladimir. Survived Tartar attacks by servility to conquerors, Muscovite dominance by cunning and astuteness. Great leaps of boldness and rapacity during Chaos preceding accession of Michael Romanov. From Peter to Catherine, followed policy of ingratiation with autocrat, resulting in immense political influence. During and after Napoleonic wars, emphasis subtly shifted to acquisition of money alone instead of power first and money as corollary. By end of nineteenth century, Karukhins owned, thanks to strategic marriage campaigns, estates in Ukraine, Crimea, Vyatka, producing immense quantities of grain, fruit and timber respectively. Also smaller estates outside Ryazan and Yaroslavl. (1861 Emancipation of serfs. Karukhins less affected than many, because biggest and most productive estates were in the south, where less land received by serfs, whom landlords found it cheaper to payoff.) Also owned emerald mine in Urals. Residences, apart from those on the estates:—villas in Caucasus, Crimea and Monte Carlo; flat in Paris; house in Moscow; palace in Petersburg.

1893 Prince Sevastyan Karukhin married Countess Vyestnitskaya. Prince S.——handsome, stupid and dissolute. Interest in politics stopped short after automatic endorsement of furthest extremes of Reaction. Ruled by two passions—first, gambling, hence much time at European casinos, Monte Carlo being the favourite. But for second passion, gipsies, might have lived always abroad. However, no gipsies so pleasing to him as those of native land, therefore a great frequenter of Tzigane restaurants, esp. Villa Rodé, and Yar when in Moscow.

Princess Olga, however, ruled palace and all in it, including Prince while he was indoors. Inflexible will to dominate. No unseemly commands or disputes, but compulsive pressure of a look from narrow black eyes. Model of strictest fidelity to husband. Too proud for intimates, but lavishly hospitable to many. Servants well rewarded and cared for, and her voice never raised. Yet all feared Olga Vassilievna.

Son and only child, Ilarion, domineered from infancy by mother, grew up vapid and nervous. Degenerate Karukhin strain swamped all traces of Vyestnitsky maternity, except for querulous obstinacy, shadow of Princess Olga’s will. Eruptions of this obstinacy ignored by the princess, even when directed against herself, since never occasioned by any but most trivial matters. She also turned a blind eye to son’s sexual dissipations—precocity inherited, like empty head and handsome face, from his father. Apart from these instances of calculated freedom, mother ruled him in everything.

1913 Prince Sevastyan died of a stroke (induced, some said, by rumour that Tsar had granted a liberal constitution) and Prince Ilarion became nominal head of the house. In reality, as everyone knew, it was Princess Olga.