"I had a difficulty with the Emperor," he whispered to me. "But as the
Father insists, His Majesty has given way."

Rasputin overheard his words, and I saw upon his bearded lips a sinister
smile.

Through rooms with painted ceilings we were conducted, through the Shell
Salon--the walls of which were inlaid with shells, the friezes being of
minerals and precious stones--across the Marble Room, and then along an
endless, thickly carpeted corridor, which reminded me of one at Peterhof
leading to the Empress's private apartments, until the baron saluted a
sentry, passed him, and a little farther on knocked discreetly at a
polished mahogany door, that of the Kaiser's private workroom.

A moment later we were ushered into a rather small room, plainly
furnished, very much like an office. In a chair by the fire sat the
grey-bearded Chancellor smoking a cigar, and standing with his back to
the English grate was the Emperor William, looking grey and worn, dressed
in a drab suit of tweeds.

"Ah, Gregory!" exclaimed His Majesty, who took no notice of my
unimportant self, "I do not forget our last meeting. Well, you have done
well--excellent work for our Fatherland!" And he introduced the monk to
the Imperial Chancellor, who, I thought, greeted the charlatan somewhat
contemptuously.

Now, Rasputin, wearing clothes to which he was unaccustomed, and devoid
of his gold chain and jewelled cross, which he had so constantly fingered
when he granted audiences to those who wished to bask in his
smiles--which, of course, always meant great pecuniary advantage or
official advancement--seemed at the first moment ill at ease.

"I have done the bidding of my Imperial sister," was his reply. "I have
for thee letters from her, also letters for thy wife," and from the
pocket of his clerical coat he drew four letters, rather crumpled.

The Emperor hastily scanned the two which Alexandra Feodorovna had
addressed to himself, and I noticed a smile of satisfaction flit across
his grey, mobile features.

Then, placing them upon his littered writing-table, he gave us seats, and
around the fire we sat to talk.

Truly, that council of treachery was an historic one, and cost the lives
of many innocent non-combatant women and children.

The Kaiser began by chaffing Rasputin as to his disguise, saying with a
laugh:

"Really, you might pass unsuspected anywhere, Father! The baron has been
telling me that you are at this moment the very reverend