The shots died down on Senate Square on December 14, 1825. The culprits have been arrested. The investigation began. The judges do not yet know what is before them: an unsuccessful palace coup, a military rebellion or a new French revolution? Will the threads of the investigation lead to senior officials, members of the royal family, abroad? Adjutant General Benckendorf is conducting secret records, the materials of which will be burned at the end of the investigation. One can only guess what secrets Nicholas I did not want to pass on to his descendants. Perhaps he would prefer to forget about them himself...