BY ORDER OF THE CZAR. 373
"You have severe measures in this direction, I know," said Chetvvynd, " and I am deeply grateful for the con- sideration which has been shown to my friend."
" You have reason to be so, I think, from all I under- stand," said the official. " We are talking in confidence, but it may help you to a better understanding of my Imperial Master when I tell you that it was by order of the Czar that Forsyth's sentence was commuted to imprison- ment ; by order of the Czar, not in response to any diplomatic intervention, but out of consideration for his youth and his evident simplicity, and the fact that he was a young English gentleman."
Chetwynd was duly impressed with the consideration shown to him and his country, and on taking leave of the Assistant Minister expressed in a general way regret that England and Russia did not better understand each other than appeared to be the case in the opinion of leading Russians and some prominent Englishmen, and hoped the time might come when the boundary line of their mutual ambitions in Central Asia might be drawn with a severe and firm regard for the world's peace and happiness. Arrived at Moscow, he succeeded in finding his way to the penal establishment at Sparrow Hills, where the young English artist had rested with his fellow-prisoners en route for Siberia.
It was at this very spot where Philip, as a boy, had seen the band of exiles mustered and marched out, as mentioned by him to Chetwynd during his artistic inspirations at Primrose Hill in the English metropolis. The place was probably very much in the same condition when Chetwynd became acquainted with it, as it was in the days of Philip's father, and as it had been when Mr. Bremner, quoted by the author of " Stories from Russia," visited it thirty years previously.
Chetwynd found no difficulty in visiting the prison and witnessing an exodus.
