It required some time for Constantine's letter to arrive, stating his immovable determination to abide by the decision which would be found in his letter to the late Emperor.

There followed a contest of generosity--Nicholas urging and protesting, and his brother refusing the elevation.

Three weeks passed--weeks of disastrous uncertainty--with no acknowledged head to the Empire.
Such an opportunity was not to be neglected by the revolutionists in the South nor their co-workers in the North.

Pestel, the leader, had long been organizing his recruits, and St.Petersburg and Moscow were the centers of secret political societies.

The time for action had unexpectedly come.