The war minister under Nicholas II lived in a modest room on the fourth floor near the city railway station Wilmersdorf-Friedenau. He was over seventy and enjoyed making soft dolls from fabric stuffed with cotton, with painted faces. His creations, such as Pierrot, Harlequins, and Colombines, were in demand among ladies who sold them for 10 marks. These dolls adorned the boudoirs of wealthy German ladies and courtesans or lay on the couches of girls captivated by poetry.

When the minister grew tired, he would carefully descend the stairs, holding onto the railing, and go for a walk. On the streets of Wilmersdorf, he indulged in memories of his long life. He often thought of Nikolai Nikolayevich, who was spending his days in Shuanya. There was a long-standing feud between them, and Sukhomlinov, sitting at the table, wrote a book of revenge against his opponent, accusing him of differing tastes, one preferred French women, the other German. Thus, the book "Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich the Younger" was born.

A. V. Telepnev, slightly younger than Sukhomlinov, climbed the stairs to him without the aid of the railing, although he too struggled. They spent time reminiscing about past mischiefs and drank tea well past midnight.

When the minister could no longer get out of bed and his tongue ceased to obey him, the landlady took him to the hospital. Telepnev visited his friend, but he could only point with his eyes at a porcelain object and whisper: "Duck." Then he fell silent, smiled, and died.

Sukhomlinov's death shocked the socialites, who tried to find his general's uniform but to no avail. Telepnev wept bitterly over his friend, not because he had lost him, but because he could not dress the stiffening body.

Sukhomlinov was buried in a police uniform, which went unnoticed. The coffin was carried by the church custodian, the benefactor, and two officers. Army captain Khokhorkov, who served as the gravedigger, buried him quickly and calmly, despite his numerous wounds and awards.

During the funeral, Khokhorkov threw the first shovel of earth onto the coffin and said: "Well, German spy, go into German soil," provoking outrage among those present. However, he continued his work, and the war minister, general of cavalry, and friend of two emperors was no more.