THE GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS 29 



am afraid that the free expression of my confidence not only 

 to have the animal mounted within the given period, but also 

 to teach it to carry its rider quietly in any direction required, 

 and to give it a lesson in jumping, disquieted rather than 

 calmed the mind of my kind companion. On arrival, we 

 found a large number of cavalry generals and colonels in 

 splendid uniforms waiting for the Grand Duke. Glancing 

 round the brilliant assembly, I could not help remarking 

 sotto voce to the colonel, that it would be a hard job to 

 please all those beaux sabreurs. " Never mind them," he 

 said encouragingly, "the Grand Duke is the only one you 

 have got to please, and if you are fortunate enough to do 

 that, you will be all right, no matter what anyone else thinks. 

 He forms his own conclusions, and never allows himself to 

 be led away by the opinions of others." When the Grand 

 Duke arrived, he received me graciously. He is slight, very 

 tall, straight as a dart, and looks the beau ideal of a cavalry 

 officer. I not only did all I had promised Colonel Kasna- 

 kof, but also showed several details that would be useful in 

 expediting and facilitating the breaking of remounts. I 

 cannot adequately express the pleasure I had in seeing that 

 the first cavalry officer in Russia followed my work with close 

 attention. Guessing that he understood English, I at first 

 explained what I was about to do in that language ; but 

 although he evidently knew what I said, he asked me to 

 speak in French ; probably because he wanted me to 

 express myself in a manner that the majority of the officers 

 present could comprehend. I was, if possible, still more 

 gratified when, at the conclusion of the performance, the 

 Grand Duke sent Colonel Kasnakof to ask me if I would 

 come out again to St. Petersburg later on in the year, so 

 that His Imperial Highness might see about introducing my 

 methods of breaking into the Russian army. Colonel 

 Kasnakof told me that the Grand Duke knew that I wrote 



