Konrad and Alexandra (pdf) - Rolf Gross

Russian aristocrats are blind or sit back idly. In fact the father of one of my friends just went to
prison, being accused of agitation against the Emperor."
Startled by the jeopardy such a relationship could put him into, she lost the point of her
epistle. "I would like to meet your friends. But be careful associating with the extremists, or you
will end up in exile like Uncle Ilia, or worse in some place in Siberia! You are not as famous as
he is, they wouldn’t handle you with kid gloves."
Niko stuck out his chest. "See, now you are chickening out again!"
"No, dear Niko, instead of joining your radical friends, I decided to do something real. I
want to help people."
Niko put his aggressiveness aside. "What do you suggest that I should do instead of
becoming a professor of literature?"
"Instead of idling away your summer with your lazy friends in Tiflis, go and spend it
working in Germany or France and think about what you want to do. I really have no
suggestion except medicine."
They took the tram to the Botanical Gardens and surprised Konrad at the institute.
Together they went to a restaurant for an extended, late lunch. Proud of her success Alexandra
described the happenings of the morning.
Konrad kissed her hand. "So you might be back in school in October! Congratulations,
Frau Doktor!"
Alexandra brought up the subject of Niko’s future. What did Konrad think Niko should
do?
"Why don’t you consider physics?" Konrad suggested after some thought. "It is the field
of the future. There exist only two or three internationally known physicists in Russia—the
government and the clergy seem to think physics is the invention of foreign devils—while in
Germany, England, and France the most revolutionary discoveries are being made. Someday
they will have to wake up in Russia or the country will sink back into a medieval mire."
How long she had waited for Konrad’s Summer Ball in the Botanical Gardens, it seemed
to her like years. She smiled, she had met Konrad only eighteen months ago! Preoccupied she
pulled the yellow Italian silk dress over her slender body and stroked her belly with her hand.
Brimus had remained cooperative, he did not show. She went before the mirror, put on
Konrad’s necklace and with a comb gathered her hair above her neck—she looked gorgeous.
After an exceptionally sunny late summer day, the evening was unseasonably warm.
Konrad had smuggled in Niko to keep Alexandra company when he would be needed to keep
things running smoothly. But everyone wanted to meet his exotic Georgian wife. Professor
Fischer von Waldheim, Konrad’s German-born superior and the director of the Imperial
Botanical Gardens called at their table, and his wife, enchanted by Alexandra’s German,
stayed on for an extended chat.
Alexandra was in her element, she had not been the elegant center of attention since
the performance of Chaika in Tiflis. Dr. von Schliemann, her new gynecologist, thrilled to have
come across her, introduced his rather reserved wife. He shook hands with Konrad and
reported that he had promptly written a letter recommending Alexandra for admission to the
medical faculty. One of Konrad’s younger colleagues, asked Alexandra for a dance. He gave
104