in the handsome room set apart for Rasputin's use
at Tsarskoe-Selo, I was sitting writing at his dictation, when there
suddenly entered the Emperor, who had just come in from one of his
frequent solitary walks in the park.

His Majesty flung himself wearily in a chair, and began to discuss a
diplomatic matter concerning Austria, and to ask the Father's advice, for
he now scarcely ever acted upon his own initiative.

Rasputin reflected for a few moments as he stood gazing out of the
window, and then, having given his opinion as to the proper course to
pursue, he added:

"There is another matter which should have thy attention--a matter which
is being hidden very carefully from thee."

"And pray what is that, Father?" inquired the Emperor.

"It is the secret and traitorous dealings which one Yakowleff is having
with British agents with a view to betraying Russia into the hands of the
English," declared the sinister monk.

"I do not follow."

"To this man Yakowleff thou gavest the concession for improvements at
Otchakov. On pretence of obtaining financial assistance he has been to
London, and there, according to what my friends tell me, has been in
consultation with certain British agents, whose intention it is to obtain
our military and naval secrets."

"Then you denounce Yakowleff as a traitor--eh?" snapped the Emperor.

"I certainly do. If thou doubtest me, order Protopopoff to make a police
search at his house in the Vosnesensky. Something will certainly be found
there," he said, with insidious cunning, well knowing that Protopopoff's
_agents-provocateurs_ had already taken steps to secure the financier's
undoing.

"I have here the names of two Englishwomen who are in the British Secret
Service, and who were recently in Petrograd with Yakowleff." And he
produced a piece of paper upon which he had scrawled the two names in
his illiterate calligraphy. "The women are back in London, but he was
with them a fortnight ago."

"Are you quite certain of all this?" asked Nicholas dubiously. "I always
believed Yakowleff to be my friend. Indeed, he has already shown his
loyalty to me."

"And in return thou gavest him the valuable concession for Otchakov,"
growled the monk.

"If you assure me, Father, that what you have said is the truth, and not
mere hearsay, I will call Protopopoff, and he shall make full inquiry."

"It is a pity that the Otchakov scheme should be given into the hands of
thy enemy," the monk de