iliukoff, the
patriotic fire-brand, declared everywhere that it was Rasputin's work.
The news produced the most sinister impression upon the people,
especially on those connected with the Army. The man who had been the
primary cause of Russia's reverses was to escape punishment! It was,
indeed, this insensate act of folly on the part of the Tsar which had
undermined the people's trust in their Emperor, and gave Rasputin's
enemies--and more especially Miliukoff--opportunity for his bitter
denunciation.

On the afternoon of the day before the opening of the Duma, Rasputin
received another letter from the Empress, in cipher, as follows:

"DEAR FATHER,--Nikki still refuses to postpone the Duma, though I
have done all I can to induce him to do so. Come to us at once
and try to force him to our views. Not a moment should be lost. I
have just heard that Miliukoff is still active, so conclude that
what you told me has failed.

"P. [Protopopoff] has told me an hour ago that Skoropadski [a
German agent living in Petrograd as a jeweller in the Nevski] has
betrayed us all, and has placed some most incriminating documents
in the hands of Miliukoff, who has, in turn, shown them to
Purishkevitch. They will be produced in the Duma to-morrow. The
police traced Skoropadski to Riga, but they have failed to arrest
him, and he has, alas! escaped to Sweden.

"Holy Father, do not delay a moment in coming to your daughter to
comfort her in this her blackest hour! Miliukoff must be
prevented from denouncing you. I cannot conceive how your
arrangement with Madame Kalatcheff has failed. The perfume has
never failed before. Alix is constantly asking for you, and Olga
kisses your dear hand. Seek the Emperor at once before coming to
me, or he may suspect us to be in collusion. I have quarrelled
with him, because by his obstinacy he will ruin us all. How I
wish that Miliukoff would be stricken down! Do not delay.
Come!--Your devoted daughter,
"A."

Well I knew that the German-born Empress was sitting alone in the palace
breathlessly anxious as to what disclosures were forthcoming. She was
not blind to her increasing unpopularity and to the unkind things said
openly of her. Somebody had just started a rumour that there was a secret
wireless plant at the palace, by which s