………Stopford then intervened on behalf of Fabergé, who was now sitting with his head in his hands and softly weeping. He took Michael and Johnson to one side and produced from his winter greatcoat a plain and simple cardboard box which was around 200 mm square. He opened it, and inside was a beautiful but simple Fabergé Easter egg of the kind which the Tsars had been receiving from him for the past three decades at Easter. Michael was surprised at receiving a gift in this secretive and sad manner, and he cast an eye back at Fabergé, still sobbing. Johnson thought more about it and put his hand on Michael’s arm to subdue his thoughts of it being a gift.

Stopford then took the egg out of the box and with a twist and a push of a hidden mechanism, the lid of the egg rose about 10 millimetres. He then swivelled it around and unscrewed it, revealing that it was full to the brim of diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pearls. ………