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The Lenten fast was upon us, which hts were quiet, spent reading or doing needlework Mahts Princess Alix and her father and brother returned to Wulfgarten The Montenegrins left for Cetinje, with Prince Danilo pro to return before Easter
"It is only for a little while, my love," he said "You , and I burned all the letters he sentback on, our trip to Biarritz was, of course, postponed Maman now made plans for us to journey to Cetinje in the suro
Once a week I ith Maman to the hospital to visit with the sick and to the Oldenburg Infant Asylu to the orphans
Papa was still busy with the planning of his institute of experi with several leading scientists across Europe for their suggestions The building of the institute had already begun Papa hoped it would be co a massive medical library, which he kept in his own library at Betskoi House I&039;d heard no word from either Paris or Zurich, but it was just as well, I told myself A crown princess could not become a doctor I continued to study the e, all the sa the hospital when Dr Kruglevski received another patient with his throat ripped out The smell of the blood was horrible
Maman would have swooned and fall en to the floor if the head nurse had not caught her and settled her down onto an eht her a cup of tea
The nurses gave Ma for her forehead, and I went to see the body "Do you think it was an ani She crossed herself and prayed for the poor levski shook his head "Nothis hideous," he said There was a hole in the victiular had been shredded and led The doctor pulled me back "Don&039;t look, htmares"
"But a doctor must be objective," I said "And truly, it doesn&039;t bother me much" Not anymore, at least I realized with shock that I sounded like a coldheartedJust another ," Dr Kruglevski said
"Cold-blooded, senseless violence like this disturbs even an old man like me, Duchess" He patted me kindly on the shoulder He pulled a silver flask out of his pocket and took a long drink
The dead or ers I took a handkerchief and wiped away soers were cold and already a bluish gray
"Duchess, what are you doing?" the doctor asked
"He&039;s holding soently opened his fingers and pulled the shiny object out, holding it to the light It was a button From a military jacket
"Mon Dieu" The doctor frowned He took the button froainst the buttons on the man&039;s torn coat It was a perfectThere was some sort of crest on the button The shape of a Maltese cross
I sighed sadly Another Knight "Do you knoho the victim is?" I asked
"No, but I am sure another member of the Order can make an identification"
"Will you send for the coe to Vorontsov Palace requesting General Tcherevine&039;s presence for the identification of the body He took another long drink from his silver flask I&039;d never seen the doctor look so tired and old before It appeared as if he hadn&039;t slept in days
"Is there anything I can do for you, Doctor?" I asked "Can I get you a cup of tea? Or so to eat?"