The Emperor's Candlesticks Chapter 19

In which the ailing and beleaguered Iván Volenski prepares for a decisive auction to reclaim the Emperor’s candlesticks, while grappling with mistrust and the shadow of a far-reaching conspiracy. The presence of Madame Demidoff, a dangerous adversary with seemingly unlimited resources, casts a dark and ominous cloud over his hopes as the moment of reckoning draws near.