The Mysterious Alexandra Tarasova-Yusupov

by Carl Douglass

  As they got out of the taxi, the officer suggested–as tactfully as possible–that “Missy should wipe the feet after being in the taxi. Is good health practice.”

  Foreigners had every reason to feel safe and secure. As her taxi moved along Nanjing Road, she watched the Shanghai Volunteer Corps participating in a parade. The Corps was established in 1853 to protect foreigners against the recurring chaos of war. In addition, Sikh policemen seemed to be omnipresent. the Sikh policemen were an indelible part of the landscape of Shanghai in the first decades of the twentieth century. The Sikh branch of the Shanghai Municipal Police had the crucial role of assisting in the governance and policing of the International Settlement in treaty port Shanghai. Their presence showed the power and importance of the British presence in China and on the Indian sub-continent. In all the treaty ports, British power had an Indian face. Alexandra loved the British and all that their colonial development offered.

  The development of the “Modern Shanghai” Alexandra was observing, started at the beginning of the 20th century when she was in Australia which was struggling to achieve a modicum of modernity. Shanghai–on the other hand–demonstrated the modern world in full flower when she arrived in 1913. Municipal government and public facilities were of high quality. They were into the booming city by international settlements. In addition, there were technologically up-to-the-moment telegrams, telephones, and movies–Shanghai had 40,000 theater seats with extremely high attendance–with the most popular movies being wuxia [martial arts] and family dramas]–dance halls, buildings for society balls, and other Western lifestyles brought in by the technological development collectively to create the unique city.

  The needs of the daily increasing volume of trade and commerce, telegraph communications became a necessity. Shanghai’s local and world-wide banking business developed quickly, making it one of the Far East’s financial hubs by 1910. Alexandra and her Wáng family tong did millions of dollars worth of business in their principle bank in Asia—the HSBC [The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation] located on the Bund and used the International Savings Society on Shanghai’s Avenue Edward for transactions requiring quicker fluidity.

  The Chinese people and the foreign expatriates, along with Alexandra, were the people who were the very first to experience a true modern city: the rampant media, advertisements, films, high-level communication, commerce, and education. During her stay, Alexandra rode on The Shanghai Electric Construction Co. Ltd.’s streetcar line—Shanghai’s first–which traveled on trolley rails along Nanjing Road [the business street], from Jingan Temple to the Shanghai Club Building.

  Once she was comfortably ensconced in her Richard’s Hotel Suite and had a small lunch to tide her over, she hailed down a rickshaw puller to take her to the Shanghai French mansion of the new taipan, James Matheson II, now the master of the entire Jardine-Matheson conglomerate. The taipan served as the best man for her groom, Boris, when they were married. James was “Jamie” to her, even though he had succeeded the recently deceased great Taipan Sir James Nicolas Sutherland Matheson, 1st Baronet.

  As the straining puller took her along the Huaihai Road in Luwan, she was brought to remembrance of the city’s lilongs—old Chinese alleyways where commerce had never evolved; and poverty showed its beaten head. They arrived at the Zhujiajiao Chenghuangmiao Temple–No.69 Caohe Street, Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District. Alexandra overpaid the emaciated coolie, then she walked the final two blocks north of the temple to number 71, home of the new taipan. The taipan’s home was and the former residence of Soong Ching Ling–third wife and widow of Sun Yat-sen, and a political figure in her own right–was built in the Xujiahui District at the Huaihai Middle road in 1843. Along with several others in the French Concession, the neighborhood drew a plethora of rich families together into a section of the city which became the most affluent and best residential area in Shanghai.

  The colonial French officers created a district in 1849 for French people which evolved into the French Concession. Even early on, the French demonstrated their love of color, precision, tree lined avenues, and unique architecture, making it not only the richest area, but also the most beautiful in the huge sprawling city. There was a mix of races on the street, but the binding thread among them was money. Chinese and Caucasian alike made up the near frenetic bustle characteristic of the Shanghainese.

  Alexandra struck the gong on the front gate; and, shortly, a tall, powerful guard with a clean, well-oiled queue opened the gate for her and escorted her to the main entrance.

  The two beautiful cypress wood doors–intricately carved to show a finely detailed dragon–opened unexpectedly. Each was held open by a uniformed man. Neither of them smiled or nodded.

  A uniformed maid showed them in and had them sit on uncomfortable silk covered settees while she left to inform the taipan’s staff of the arrival of the Russian woman. Almost immediately, a tall, powerfully built late-middle-aged man with short cropped hair, a monocle, and a conspicuous scar on the right cheek, walked up to them. Alexander recognized him immediately, having met him when she and her father visited the uncle of the present tai-pan.

  “Kommen sie mit,” the stern man said brusquely, transmitting a welcome sense of déjà vu to Alexandra.

  “Ja wohl, mein herr,” the maid said as sternly as the butler.

  The butler made a smart about face and started down the parquet hallway without looking to see if he was being followed. Alexandra trotted obediently behind him—another déjà vu experience.

  “Der taipan werden sie jetzt sehen.”

  He said it hopefully, not remembering the considerably changed Alexandra and not yet quite sure that she spoke or understood hoch deustch.

  Alexandra marched confidently and with an affectionate smile into the much less palatial office than she remembered from her first visit to the city. She walked in and right up to the heavy Philippine mahogany desk that Sir James had passed down to his nephew. Taipan James II had the same sandy hair, bushy eyebrows, and mutton-chop mustache, now beginning to turn to grey ginger. The man she remembered had been a vibrant jocular young man. Now that he was the taipan, he was late middle-aged like her. His eyes were the same robin’s egg blue that she remembered, and that his uncle had had. Unlike his uncle, Jamie’s eyes were not hard and unfeeling. He wore what Alexandra presumed was the latest fashion from Germany–close fitting tweed morning coat starched white shirt with cufflinks bearing the emblem of the house of Jardine-Matheson, a black bow tie, dark grey unpleated, uncuffed, woolen trousers, and scuff leather brogans.

  “Hello, Jamie,” she said and gave him her most natural and radiant smile.

  He looked up from his work and seemed startled to see her. It took him a moment to recognize who she was, to sweep away the wrinkles and cares on her face.

  “Alexandra, what a delight it is to see you.”

  He said it with none of the Scottish brogue that his uncle Taipan Sir James Nicolas Sutherland Matheson, 1st Baron, used so artfully to his advantage. James II—Jamie–was larger, younger, and more eager than his lordly uncle had ever been in Alexandra’s memory of the austere old man.

  Jamie stepped from behind his huge desk and strode quickly to stand face-to-face to Alexandra. To her astonishment, Jamie threw his arms around her and gave her a hearty, almost breath-taking hug. She gasped to catch her next breath and laughed, which made him laugh.

  “What brings you to Shanghai? You must have good spies, because my plans were to be in Hong Kong this week.”

  “I do, Jamie, the Wáng family tong.”

  “Of course. I know about your shipping adventures, but you disappeared after that. You’ll have to tell me all about what has gone on since that long-ago time when we last saw each other. Tell me, is the mandarin, Wáng Wen Sheng, still among us? What about Hou Eadric?”

  “The venerable mandarin is still very much alive and is active in business although his daughter, Caihong, is responsible for most of the day-to-day affairs of th
e Wáng Family Tong. As for the old bandit, Hou Eadric, he was hanged in Hong Kong some years ago and his body left hanging from the gates of the city as an object lesson to pirates.”

  Jamie screwed up his face trying to decide to release his pent-up laughter over Hou Eadric or to remain somber out of respect for Wáng Wen Sheng. He looked to Alexandra’s eyes for guidance; and, seeing a twinkle at the corners of her eyes, he gave a short laugh.

  “It is very good to learn that the mandarin still prospers. Not surprised that Hou got his just desserts, however.”

  “Just so,” said Alexandra. “I severed business relationships before getting entangled with his last set of schemes.”

  “You always have had a watchful Chinese golden lion guardian angel, good luck, or good joss, Alexandra. How is that holding up for you these days?”

  “Actually, Jamie, that is part of what I came to talk to you about—to seek your good advice.”

  CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

  ADVICE FROM AN OLD FRIEND

  Feelings that come back are feelings that never left.

  —Dionne Warwick

  I was wrong when I said that I did not regret the past. I do regret it. I weep for the past love which can never return. Who is to blame, I do not know. Love remains, but not the old love; its place remains; but it is all wasted away and has lost all strength and substance. Recollections are still left, and gratitude, but…

  —Count Leo Tolstoy, Family Happiness, Chapter 4

  Number 71 Caohe Street, Zhujiajiao Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai, Residence of the Taipan of Jardine Matheson, Ltd, March 9, 1913

  Jamie spread his arms in a welcoming gesture and directed her to take a seat in one of the sumptuous arm chairs that faced his desk. He sat in the other and faced her with an expression on his face that read, “I’m listening.” Alexandra drew in a deep breath and collected her thoughts.

  “I’ll be glad to help if I can, Alexandra. Advice usually comes cheap but may be costly in the end. At least that’s what my old uncle used to say.”

  “I am coming back to you from Australia where I have been living for the past several years. My original life’s plan was to become richer and richer here in the far east, to have many children, to live happily with my tall, handsome, rich husband, and to live out our family life together in Vladivostok and sailing around the China seas.”

  “I take it that is not what happened in reality.”

  “You are right. What did happen was that I became a rich, adventuresome, risk taking, oceanic entrepreneur. That part of the plan held true. I had two children—that part you already know. What you probably do not know is that I forced Boris to leave me and my two boys because I witnessed him whipping unfortunate deportees from Russia to Balagansk Prison. I was young and rather naïve; and I considered his actions to be unbearable; what kind of a man could do such things? He told me that this action on my part would not stand; and, as I recall, that I would live to regret my decision. That was certainly true.”

  “How so?”

  “Within two days, he sneaked back into my father’s house and abducted my two boys, Nikita and Oral Borisovich. I have never seen nor heard from them since. I do not know if they are living or dead.”

  “Sorry to interrupt, Alexandra; but I can shed some light on that. I, too, have my spies. Boris was first sent by the imperial army to Manchuria for a short stay, and the boys lived in Port Arthur. He was then sent to Novonikolaevsk to teach in the Novonikolaevsk Military Academy School for Boys. Nikita and Oral were enrolled in the prestigious school and achieved ratings of superior for all their endeavors. I lost track of them four years ago. Sorry.”

  “And Boris?”

  “I know that he was actively engaged against rioters, smugglers, and terrorists throughout Siberia, but not exactly where or when. I do not know if your sons were with him.”

  Alexandra shrugged and went on, a bit subdued, “That is more than I was able to glean with two years of research personally and with all of the Tarasova resources. I feel like I need to find Boris and have the conversation I should have had before our breakup.”

  “You are still married, I presume.”

  “I suppose—in name only.”

  “Have you considered finding a new marital partner, my dear friend?”

  “Not for years.”

  “But you haven’t given up entirely, then?”

  “I guess not. I do need to tell you why I came to see you. It is somewhat personal, but it is about money and about dealing with conditions in Russia.”

  She was a bit uncomfortable about where Jamie was heading, although she was flattered. She did want to get his uncluttered advice before any relationship conversations progressed.

  “I was rather depressed about my life here in the East; so, I made a major move to Australia, and found it to be a very interesting and promising place. I made money, and I lost money. Perhaps you have heard of the gold rush and bust resulting in the so-called ‘Smellbourne’ era?”

  Jamie laughed, “I have indeed, and was amused by the name for the down-turn in the Australia, especially the Melbourne, economy… ‘Smellbourne…how apt.”

  “After some time, with the help of friends in the Wáng Family Tong, I recouped my losses and went on to do very well. For personal reasons I would rather not discuss, I decided to make a clean break from Australia and have moved most of my assets to the far east and parts of Russia. I am asking your advice about the political situation, the incidents of civil unrest, and the long-term financial outlook.”

  Jamie looked pleased.

  “I was afraid you were going to share a sad tale of bankruptcy or some similar devastating financial entanglement. I am proud of you, Alexandra. To tell the truth, I would not have expected anything less from a person as brilliant as you.”

  She blushed, “Oh, gracious, Jamie,” was all she could muster.

  “Let me start with Russia. Politically, militarily, economically, commercially, and governmentally, the empire is a mess—a great tottering tree looking for a place to fall. Whatever comes of the internecine strife among the factions—the Bolsheviks, the Menshiviks, the Reds, the Whites, the aristocrats, the peasants, the executive portion of the government, or the legislative–you and I will not live long enough to make investment in that fracturing empire worth any degree of risk.”

  “More sobering than I had imagined.”

  “Indeed. Talk of civil war is in the air, and that may be a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is probably too early to panic, but it is not too early to be frugal and sensible about your not inconsiderable fortune. Oh, yes, my spies long ago told me that you were one of the richest people in the world and easily the richest woman. From what you are telling me now, that description has only improved. However, great and powerful men and women, even major industries and nations, have faltered and failed owing to poor, emotionally, or religiously based decision making. It is time posthumous to remove your money from anything Russian and transfer it to London, which is stable, or to Shanghai or Hong Kong, which are rapidly expanding, or to America which I think is the next great power. I can assist you if you will let me. Be assured, I have followed my own advice inasmuch as I can.”

  “I have always considered you to be level headed and a scientific thinker, Jamie; so, please advise me on investments and security for them. First of all, what should I do with my money in Russia.”

  “All right. I will be brief and will now speak more as your financial consultant than as your friend. First and most important: as soon as you possibly can, liquidate all your assets in Russia anywhere. If you must remain there for a time, keep your valise packed, and cash money and gold in a satchel you can take with you in an emergency. Send the rest to the Wáng family tong account in their principle bank in Asia—the HSBC [The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation].”

  She raised a questioning eyebrow.

  “Yes, my dear, those pesky spies of mine again. Next, if you must have a connection in Vladivostok
or elsewhere in Russia, secretly build a small comfortable dacha somewhere in the forest where no one else knows about it. Stock it with provisions to last you for two or three months. Lastly, carefully plan an escape route out of Vladivostok and out of Russia. Contact me and make your way to me. Allow me to make a suggestion in that regard. Travel overland to Irkutsk and make your way into Outer Mongolia. Stay in Niislel Khureheh–the capital city–until you can contact me in Hong Kong. I will make safe arrangements for you to come to me there.

  “I presume you have sufficient funds to make serious investments. Keep your investments in Hong Kong, Shanghai, or in London or New York in America. Your tong family contacts working with mine can ensure your future. Please trust me, Alexandra, I will protect your assets as I would your person. I will help you in any way I can whenever you need my help.”

  He was so earnest that Alexandra thought she could detect a tear drop forming in both of his eyes.

  “I trust you, Jamie. I trust you completely…with my very life. I hope we can continue to be in contact to work out any details regarding transactions that become necessary.”

  As they talked, two wraith-silent servants brought in platters of food, set them near the two high personages who were talking, and slipped away as anonymously as they had entered. There were eight delicacies in hot sauce, Shepherd’s-purse Wonton, and Crystal Shelled Shrimp as starters. The more robust assortment included samplings of Nanxiang Small Steamed Buns, Mini Steamed Buns, Crab Soup Buns, Barbecued Pork Buns and Vegetable Buns. Dessert selections–on a separate serving plate–included Plum Flower, Date Mash, and Chop Rice Cakes, and Osmanthus Cakes, Black Rice Balls, and Eyebrow-like Crisps.

  “Absolutely. Perhaps I am about to overstep my boundaries or maybe the limits of propriety. But I must say something to you that I have kept in my heart for years…ever since we sailed together. I refrained from speaking then because first you were too young; then along came dashing Prince Boris; then he left; and you vanished and became a mystery. Now you are back.