u see the Virgin?" asked the Grand Duke.

"Three days ago."

"Now that's odd," he replied. "I, too, saw her, but it was only two days
ago, and she said to me: 'Gregory is coming to see thee. He will advise
peace. Don't listen to him, but expel him like the scoundrel he is. If he
goes on troubling and intriguing have him thrashed.'"

The monk went livid.

"And further," continued Nicholas Nicholaievitch, "if you remain here,
you infernal charlatan and blackmailer, that is what I shall do. So you
can return to Alexandra Feodorovna and tell her what I say. My soldiers
are fighting for Russia, and they will continue to do so, however many
visions you may have--and however much German gold you may grab with your
filthy paws. Get out!"

Rasputin stood speechless for a moment. Then, with an imprecation upon
his lips, he turned and retired.

Three days later we were back in Petrograd, but the monk, who never
forgot, at once set about plotting the Grand Duke's retirement.

One morning, among the monk's correspondence, I found a letter for
Rasputin, which had been brought by hand from the Ministry of War, marked
"Strictly private." On opening it, I read the following, which bore as
signature the initials of Soukhomlinoff:

"In a further reference to the suspicions against Colonel
Svetchine, inquiries made fully confirm your view. The political
police who made domiciliary visits to his house in Petrograd and
his apartments in Vilna found nothing of importance. In Vilna,
however, it has been discovered that, immediately prior to the
war, he had established friendly relations with Elise Isembourg,
who was an agent of Germany and a friend of Miassoyedeff. At my
instructions we have allowed the Colonel leave, and he returned
to Vilna to meet the woman, who had, at our orders, written to
him. She, acting upon our instructions, offered him a sum of
money to betray certain plans of the defences of Grodno, agents
of secret police being concealed during the interview. At first
he stoutly refused, but next day he met her again and succumbed
to the temptation, so at the present moment he is preparing the
information she seeks."

I read this over to the monk, who at once rubbed his hands together in
satisfaction.

"Ah! all goes well, my dear Feodor!" he exclaimed. "That woman will be
sorry she denounced me, I assure you."

I could discern the motive of th