Winter Palace
Upon receiving the news of Bismarck's assassination attempt, Nicholas I's fury was instantaneous. An envoy of a nation being attacked in St. Petersburg was a slap in his face.
"Investigate, conduct a thorough search. I must have the assassin found!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the Minister of Police hurriedly replied.
After a pause, Nicholas I asked, "Is Bismarck dead?"
Due to the chilly relations between the two countries, Nicholas I had never even seen Bismarck's face, let alone cared about his well-being.
But now the situation was different. If Bismarck was not dead, there was still room for maneuver; it would be manageable once the assassin was caught.
If he was dead, then the Russians would once again become a laughingstock internationally. Unable to even protect visiting envoys, the British would likely not miss the chance to kick them while they were down.
