against you by Miliukoff. These members of the Duma are often very clever
and cunning."

"Leave the matter in my hands," said the "saint," with a grin. "I will
soon ascertain her exact attitude, and act accordingly. First, we must
remove Miliukoff, and next Purishkevitch--who is equally our enemy."

About twenty minutes later I ushered into the monk's presence a pretty,
handsomely-dressed woman of about twenty-eight, who often attended our
reunions, and who was one of the best-known society women in Petrograd.

I was about to turn and leave when Rasputin said:

"You can remain, Feodor. The matter upon which I have to speak with our
sister here concerns you as well as myself."

Then, when the wife of the Councillor of State was seated, Rasputin
carefully approached the subject of Miliukoff.

"It has been whispered to me that he is my bitter enemy, and that he is
about to speak against me in the Duma," he said. "I believe your husband
and he are friendly. Do you happen to know if there is any truth in this
rumour?"

"Yes, Father, I do," was madame's instant reply. "I warned you of him
three weeks ago, but you did not heed. I also told Anna Vyrubova, but her
reply was that you, being divine, would be perfectly able to take care of
yourself."

"So I am. But it is against God's holy law that human tongues should
utter lies against me," he said, cleverly impressing upon her the fact
that if Miliukoff were suppressed it would be no crime, but an act of
duty.

"To me, in my own house, he has declared his intention of denouncing
you--and also our dear Anna and the Empress."

The monk was silent. While she was seated he stood before her with folded
arms, looking straight at her. Suddenly, fixing her with those remarkable
eyes of his, he asked in a deep, hard voice:

"Xenie, will you permit this man to besmirch the name of him whom God
hath sent to you?"

"I don't understand!" she cried, surprised at his attitude. "How can I
prevent it?"

"It lies in your hands," declared the mock saint. "You are his
friend--and also mine. He visits your house--what more easy--than----"

"Than what?"

"Than you should invite him to take tea with you to-morrow--to discuss
myself. He knows that you are a 'disciple,' I suppose?"

"Yes, he has somehow learnt it--but my husband is in ignorance, and he
has promised not to reveal the truth to him."

"If he knows of our friendship he might tell your husband. He is
unprincipled, and