"FATHER THEODOR" 29 



of religion and instruction throughout the whole 

 district. He died in extreme old age, as he had 

 lived, with the stoicism and calmness which faith 

 alone can afford. It is said that he confided to his 

 host on his death-bed who he was, under oath of 

 secrecy, and the papers which were found in his 

 possession were despatched by Somoff by special 

 messenger to St. Petersburg, where it is supposed 

 they were destroyed by order of the Emperor 

 Nicholas. Rumours began to spread over the 

 country that he was no other than the Tsar 

 Alexander I., and a consideration of the facts of the 

 desire of that monarch to abdicate ; his supposed 

 death at Taganrog after a short and mysterious 

 illness ; his coffin not having been opened in Moscow, 

 according to the Russian custom, in order that the 

 people might see the body of their deceased 

 sovereign ; the coincidence of dates when Theodor 

 was arrested as a vagabond ; his education, patriotism, 

 and full knowledge of the French invasion ; his stately 

 figure and noble features, resembling, it was said, 

 those of Alexander's — all these facts, I repeat, only 

 helped to strengthen the conclusions of the people. 

 Moreover, by the care of his friend Somoff a cross had 

 been placed over his tomb, in the cemetery at Tomsk, 

 bearing the initials £. The Ispravnik who related 



