Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Unknown to Moscovitz, Levene had done research on his client’s background. This Russian citizen indeed came from Jewish peasantry. He was an ethnic Byelorussian born into a Slavic family who traced their history to the 6th century when the three major tribes - Radzimichi, Krivichi and Dregovichi - merged. He loved to fish the frozen lakes and dance around the fires made on the shore where the gutted fish twisted on a spit above the flames. In his youth, Moscovitz married a woman of Russian background who bore him two sons. These young and promising young men met their unhappy fate in 1941 when the Nazis invaded Belarus and decimated much of the population. After that he became sobered and never resumed his fishing or farming. Instead he worked to bring together family members who had passed on. Over time this became an obsession. His meeting today with Levene marked the zenith of his attempts to solve a mystery and restore a gift.

"Then we continue. You recall Ivan married two years, was become tired of sterile wife, sent her to convent - northeaster Belarus. She took name Daria, kept to her death. No one knows why her name, but turns out great importance to story. Three years after Daria incarcerated in convent, she escape and flee to peasant fields western Belarus. I think she bribe captors - practice of royalty to hide jewels in corsets, baubles and other small things of great worth, rarity, maybe purchased her freedom because in hands knowing royal worth."

Moscovitz showed Levene a picture he had taken of the nunnery. It looked like a hotel in the wilderness - no gates or fences, but a drab concrete monstrosity with Russian onion-dome designs atop its roof. “These tongues of flame  - favorite Russian architecture, adorn tops of buildings all over Russia.”

Levene was intrigued. "It looks like a fortress. I don't imagine that even royalty could just walk out of there. Do you know what happened to her?"

"Much investigation I do, uncover various pieces Daria's history. She manage escape western Ukraine after selling, bartering imperial wardrobe for passage by cart, horse, kindness from peasant folk. People today not aware corsets, bodices of women that period concealed more than full figure. Hidden jewelry, secret love letters, letters from state, even coin, in girdles.  Anna maybe put these into most private safe, used what necessary purchase her freedom when flee to be anonymous. Eventually, she use name Daria, she accepted by family Jewish peasants. Jews see beauty, strong body of Daria. She make resolve – live, work in village, not reveal true identity. Daria is sentimental girl.  I believe she not sell beautiful imperial brooch Ivan give her when marry.

"Yes, I agree. From what you tell me, Mr. Moscovitz, Daria was smart and knew how to protect herself in the midst of an unknown future.”

“Eventually, Daria finds lover, young Jew. He is peasant class. Have daughter Ivana Daria, I search for child but unfortunately is lost to history, intrigue. She raised Jewess, but those years Jewish women, widows, wanderers, subjects of rape, death unless confess as members of Russian Orthodox Church. Daria decide close family ties to Jews offer safety from discovery as Empress Anna Koltovskaya, Ivan Vasilyovich Grosny runaway wife."

Moscovitz showed Levene the results of a recent genealogical search of peasantry in Ukraine with the given names of Daria or Ivana.  Levene was amazed at the work his visitor had done, though no matches were found.

"But your record of Daria stops at this point, does it not? I assume you have investigated all the Daria names?"

"Yes, did what I could, speak with many families in region over years. Many times feel road at end,  I never get further, but then come across article by fellow Russian, Petr Pavlovich Shafirov, Jew who hides successful his identity, becomes Russian diplomat, later baron,  claiming he knows whereabouts magnificent brooch once belonging Ivan Terrible fourth wife. Brooch rumored has 136,260 karats, worth millions rubles. He claims to once see it.  Shafirov article in Pravda newspaper interview about 1700. Pavlovich a Russian from St. Petersburg. Because Jewish he very much enemy of Romanov family. Raids on peasants in western Russia financed by Romanov family. I find article while on trip there couple years ago. He claim the brooch examined by jewelers, other authorities on precious jewelry, found authentic.  He not disclose where is brooch. "

“Mr. Moscovitz, is it your belief that Daria – I mean Anna Koltovskaya, was the owner?” This was sounding like a Russian novel to Levene. He took long notes on all that Moscovitz told him.

The old man sighed.  “Signs point this way. Read biography of Shafirov, look for clues where obtained piece.  He have connections wealthy friends, so becomes vice-chancellor, director postal service. Work excellent.  In 1711 he very popular with king, got job to sign alliances, peace treaties with Turkey, Poland, Denmark. But arrested for embezzlement eventually, sentenced to death. He always claim innocence. Catherine First eventually pardoned Shapirov, he retire. Shafirov maybe receive the brooch through discreet channels."

“But since he was a Jew of peasant stock, isn’t it a good guess he met Daria and that he really does know where the brooch is, or, that he once owned it? And if that is true, he may have been contacted by a descendant of Ivana Daria and trusted to receive that jewel from a secret source in St. Petersburg. So the real mystery is how it turned up 125 years later in the hands of Petr Shafirov, if it was in his hands."

Moskovitz pulled out more papers and laid them before Levene. “Look these photographs. I find out more about Shapirov. Jews sometimes welcome in Russian society, government at that time, but demurs when questioned, knowing  people have trust his judgment. He advertise brooch, not cash it in, brings unwanted publicity, makes him target for theft, even murder. Died around 1730 but not disclose location of brooch.”

“That still doesn’t give us any solid clues as to how this magnificent brooch came into Shapirov’s hands, nor do we know for sure that he actually obtained it.”
Moskovitz quickly pulled out another piece of paper, brown and entombed in glassine.

 “Mr. Levene, Moskovitz did have success!  Discovered Shapirov’s four sons, one daughter. Want guess name of girl?”

“You're going to tell me it was Daria.”

“Name not Daria but Daria Ivana,  reversal of convent name Anna Koltovskaya takes on self.”

 Levene sat back in his chair, slurped slowly the dregs of his second cup of tea and stroked his voluminous beard, deep in thought. He began to see before him a nice toasted bagel with mounds of foamy white cream cheese, but his guest talked on, so Levene contemplated the brooch, Daria Ivana, Ivana Daria, Schapirov and his delaying lunch.

"Mr. Moskovitz, you have gone to extraordinary measures to make these connections. But you haven't told me how Daria Ivana, the brooch and Shapirov are connected to you or your family. And I still do not know what you want of me.”

 “Yes, yes, I am closer to crux of mystery. You remember Shapirov's four sons? I have names. From diary in archives St. Petersburg synagogue. They adults by then, realize they likely involved in Jewish defense against purges, pogroms late 1700s, western Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. If survive, remain in homeland, their children maybe victims Jewish purges in 1850, same places.”