s secretary.

It was while at Perm that Rasputin received news that a man named Ivan
Naglovski had been in Pokrovsky busily inquiring into his past, and
interviewing his sister-disciples who were living there. Further, it was
reported that he had been in communication with the monk Helidor, a man
named Golenkovski, whose young wife was a "disciple" in Petrograd, and
with Marie Novitski, who was preaching loudly against the erotic doctrine
of the new "religion."

It was plain that Ivan Naglovski was a secret enemy.

Acting upon the monk's instructions I returned to Petrograd, and at the
headquarters of the Secret Police made application that Naglovski's
movements should be watched. Three days later I was assured that a small
league of patriotic men and women had been formed, with Naglovski at
their head, determined to unveil and unmask the traitorous rascal who was
my employer.

I was compelled to return to Perm and inform Rasputin of the result of my
investigations. Before doing so I went, at Rasputin's instructions by
telegraph, to Peterhof and was admitted by Madame Vyrubova to the
Empress's presence.

The handsome woman was resting in a gorgeous negligee gown prior to
dressing for dinner, but she was quickly eager and interested when I
explained that I had come from the monk and was returning to Perm at
midnight.

"When will the Holy Father's pilgrimage end?" she inquired with a sigh.
"He has been away weeks, and never replies to my letters."

"His time is no doubt fully occupied with constant devotion," remarked
Anna Vyrubova in excuse.

"The Father is much occupied, Your Majesty," I said.

"Tell him for me that I am daily longing for his return," she said. "But
wait. I will write to him and you shall convey the letter," at which
order I bowed.

"The Father is much troubled and perturbed," I remarked.

"About what?" asked Her Majesty.

"He has enemies. Some men and women have leagued themselves with the
object of doing him harm."

"Harm!" she echoed. "What harm can come to him when, being sent to us by
God, he is immune from any harm that can befall us who are merely human?
I do not understand."

Her words were in themselves sufficient to reveal how completely and
implicitly the Empress of Russia believed in the pretended divinity of
the blasphemous ex-convict.

"All I know, Your Majesty, is that the holy Father is unduly perturbed."

"Ah! surely he can have no apprehension?" she said. "Tell him