ON THIS DATE IN THEIR OWN WORDS: GRAND DUKE DMITRI TO NICHOLAS II. 18 NOVEMBER, 1913.

Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich to Nicholas II:

Paris, 1913. 18^th November st.st.

Dear Uncle,

It will probably seem strange to you that I am suddenly writing to you, but having read my whole letter until the end, you will see what this is about. My holiday ends in two weeks, but most likely I will leave for Petersburg before this time, specifically around the 23^rd and 24^th of November.

I came here in order to live peacefully, but it turned out somewhat differently. This whole sad story with my sister upset and disturbed us all very much, it was all so fast, and, I will even say – unexpected.

I would rather not speak about it too much in a letter, and you know almost everything already from the letters that were sent to you, and also if I am not mistaken from the words of Sazonov, who was in the Crimea.

I was supposed to leave Paris two weeks earlier, but thought it prudent to wait in Paris until Papa found out anything about Maria’s business. And now everything we wanted to know – we know, and I am moving on to the question which prompted me to bother you in this letter. Would you allow me to come to you in the Crimea for about one – two weeks, upon my return to Petersburg. It would be so nice for me to see you, and I would love to speak to you terribly much. You always listen to me so charmingly and nicely.

If my arrival at Livadia is a possibility, then I can be there around the 6^th-10^th of December.

If you would be so kind as to respond to my letter with a telegram or a letter, then write directly to Petersburg.

My time in Paris passed rather quickly, but still I wanted to be back in Russia. What’s difficult here is that there is not much to do. Of course after serving at the regiment it is nice to spend 3-4 weeks like a leisurely gentleman, but then the regiment is calling to me again and my work. I go out a lot here. Society is charming to me, and I get a lot of invitations.

I found some nice horses here and ride almost every morning. I don’t do any neck-breaking things and will tell you straight up – I am longing again for my horses, to jump.

The weather is wondrous. Some are completely summery days. Sunny and so warm that it is too hot to walk in a coat.

Well now, forgive me for bothering you. I firmly kiss her majesty’s little hands and smooch the children touchingly. Faithful with all my heart and soul

Dmitri

I thought about you a lot when I found out about Dedulin’s death. Memory eternal for him!