"Gavril! Gavril Ardalionovitch! Come quickly!" exclaimed the Tsaritsa.
"What is it, my dear? What is it?" inquired the Tsar, as he sprinted to the Tsaritsa's bedchamber.
"It's Aloysius," the Tsaritsa sobbed, "he's...he's...he's not moving, I think he's dead..."
The Tsar was moved. His wife's pet rabbit had been her companion ever since their children were grown, filling the void and giving her an outlet for her maternal instincts. He instantly recognized that if he did not do something quickly, his wife would be come sullen and depressed. A loving husband, that was the last thing he wanted.
