"And yet you are the great healer--the idol of the working-cla.s.s, just as Gapon was long ago!" laughed the ex-Premier.

"Yes, I am their Grichka," laughed Rasputin in his drunken humour. "It is true, my dear Boris. There is but one Tsar, and it is myself--eh?"

And he chuckled as he drained his gla.s.s of champagne, and laughed at the warning sent him by the woman who had sat at his knee and who had given over her whole private fortune to him, just as a dozen other society women in Petrograd had done. If his "sister-disciples" failed him in funds, then he simply held their letters and blackmailed them till he drove them to desperation, and in six known cases to suicide. The fears of the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna for the safety of her pet monk in whom she believed so devoutly, seem to have been aroused by the warning given by the Baroness Mesentzoff, for next day there came to him an urgent telegram from Gatchina, where the Tsaritza had gone on a visit to the Dowager Empress. It read:

"You are in grave danger. Mother Superior Paula, of the Novo-Devitsky Nunnery, has disclosed something to me. Come to Tsarskoe-Selo at once.

Nikki is eager to consult you.--A."

The monk was quick to realise by this telegram his true position in the Imperial household. Only a few weeks before Anna Vyrubova, the high-priestess of his disgraceful cult, had warned him of his waning influence. But he had not cared one jot, because, in his safe, he had stowed hundreds of letters and telegrams from society women compromising themselves. By the sale of these he could obtain sufficient money to establish a fortune for the rest of his life.

Here, however, a new phase had arisen.

He was in active communication with Germany, he had already wrecked Russia's splendid offensive, and was gradually bringing the Empire into bad odour with neutrals. For this he had, in secret, received the heartfelt thanks of his Imperial paymaster the Kaiser. German money was flowing to him from all quarters, and German agents were swarming in Petrograd, as well as across the Russian front. Brusiloff was doing his best, but having gauged the position, had realised that it was becoming hopeless. German influence was eating the heart out of Russia as a canker-worm--and that canker-worm was Gregory Rasputin himself.

In consequence of the telegram from the Empress, followed by a letter sent by Imperial messenger by the Grand d.u.c.h.ess Olga, the monk hastened to the Palace and had a long interview with Her Majesty.

He left with Anna Vyrubova soon after noon in one of the Imperial cars which were always at his disposal, in consequence of the seance arranged at his house in Petrograd, and more especially because the Baroness Mesentzoff had sent him a photograph of Nadjezda Boldyieff, who was anxious to join the "disciples."

Notwithstanding the critical situation, the seance was held, and the handsome Nadjezda was admitted to the "sisterhood."

Truly those were critical days in Russia. The rascal had been warned, but did not heed. The Allies, fighting for the just cause, were in ignorance of the fierce resentment now aroused in the hearts of the Russian people by the denunciation in the Duma by those who were bold enough to speak their minds and defy the camarilla. The news allowed out of Russia during the last month of the year was most meagre.

Protopopoff, the Kaiser's silk-hatted creature, controlled it, and only allowed intelligence of the most optimistic character to filter through to us. Hence while the British, American, and French Press were publishing wholly fict.i.tious accounts of Russia's gains, the "miracle-worker" was daily driving the Imperial House of Romanoff towards the abyss of oblivion.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

THE TRUE STORY OF RASPUTIN'S END.

Events were now proceeding apace.

The Grand Duke Nicholas Michailovitch had dared to seek audience of the Tsar, at which he had handed him a memorandum of protest. In this letter, which is still upon record, the Grand Duke wrote:

"Where is the root of the evil? Let me explain it in a few words.

"So long as your manner of choosing Ministers was known to narrow circles, things could muddle along, but when it became a matter of public knowledge and all cla.s.ses in Russia talked about it, it was senseless to attempt to continue to govern Russia in this fashion.

Often did you tell me that you could put faith in no one, and that you were being deceived.

"If this is so, then it applies particularly to your wife, who loves you and yet led you into error, being surrounded by evil-minded intimates.

You believe in Alexandra Feodorovna. This is natural. But the words she utters are the product of skilful machinations, not of truth. If you are powerless to liberate her from these influences, then at all events be on your guard against constant and systematic influence of intriguers who are using your wife as their instrument... If you could remove the persistent interference of dark forces in all matters, the regeneration of Russia would instantly be advanced, and you would regain the confidence of the enormous majority of your subjects, which you have forfeited."

This was pretty outspoken. But further, during the course of the conversation, the Grand Duke spoke of Protopopoff and asked Nicholas II whether he was aware that this politician had been palmed off on him by the agency of Rasputin, whom Protopopoff had first met at the home of the charlatan Badmayeff, the man who secretly practised so-called "Thibetan" medicine and who supplied the "Saint" with his drugs.

The Emperor smiled and declared that he was already acquainted with the facts.

The Emperor took the memorandum to the Empress and read it aloud to her.

When he came to the pa.s.sage dealing with the evil influences surrounding her, she flew into a rage, seized the doc.u.ment, and tore it up in the Tsar's face!

Meanwhile the camarilla were still plotting further the downfall of Russia, and endeavouring to implicate Sturmer's successor.

Suddenly, on December 26th, the greatest consternation was caused both in society circles in Petrograd and at the Palace of Tsarskoe-Selo, owing to rumours that Rasputin was missing.

He had been absent from the capital on many occasions, travelling upon his supposed pilgrimages, but there was persistent gossip on the Nevski that something had happened.

After the _debacle_ three telegrams in English were found in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs. They had been sent by the Empress from Tsarskoe-Selo to the Emperor, and read as follows:

"Tsarskoe-Selo, December 26th.

"I am worried by the awful rumours. No details. Remember what I wrote to you.--Alec."

Four days later Her Majesty telegraphed again to the Tsar:

"Tsarskoe-Selo, December 30th, 4:37 p.m.

"Can you send Voyeipoff to me at once? I want his help and advice. We still hope for the best. Dmitri and Felix are implicated.--Alec."

Six hours later she again telegraphed frantically:

"Tsarskoe-Selo, December 30th, 10:24 p.m.

"Nothing discovered yet. Felix stopped on his way to Crimea. How I wish you were here.--Alec."

And again at midnight she sent two further telegrams. The first read:

"Tsarskoe-Selo, December 30th, 11:47 p.m.

"Father (Rasputin) is no more. Punish the enemies of Russia and of our House. Come back at once. I can bear it no longer.--Alec."

The second was addressed:

"To Father Makarius, Verkhotursky Monastery, Perm.

"December 30th, midnight.

"Great misfortune. Something happened to Father (Rasputin). Pray for him and for us. Those responsible will be punished. Come at once to us.--Alexandra."

For days the sensational affair was hushed-up from the public by order of the Tsar, and with the connivance of Protopopoff. Many fict.i.tious accounts have appeared in the Press regarding the final hours of the amazing rascal who, as tool of the Emperor William, brought to an end the Imperial House of Romanoff.

I am here enabled, however, to explain the truth from an authentic source, namely, from the statement of a lady--a Russian nursing-sister-- who was an eye-witness and who is in London at the moment when I write.

The lady in question is well known in London, and I have begged her to allow me to disclose her name, but for certain reasons she has held me to my promise of secrecy. There are, one must remember, still influential friends of Rasputin in Russia, and as she is returning there, her objection is obvious.

It seems that on December 15th (Russian style) the "Saint" had been invited to the elegant house of Prince Youssoupoff to a merry supper.

The _penchant_ of the monk for a pretty face and a mysterious adventure being well-known, it had been hinted to him that a certain lady who desired to remain incognito, wished to meet him.

Now the house of Prince Youssoupoff in Petrograd--who, by the way, had a house in London before the war and was well-known in Mayfair--runs from the Moskaya to the Offitzerskaya, where at a back entrance, the wine from the famous estate in the Crimea is sold, just as wine is sold at the mediaeval palaces of Florence.

The Prince was supposed to be alone to meet his guest and this mysterious young and pretty lady who desired to enter the cult of the "Sister-Disciples." As a matter of fact, however, there were a.s.sembled in a room on the first floor several persons determined to rid Russia of this erotic traitor who was daily betraying her into the hands of the Huns.

They were the Prince Youssoupoff, the Grand Duke Dmitri (who was suspected by the Empress), the Deputy of the Extreme Right, Pourichkevitch, a man named Stepanoff, a well-known _danseuse_ (the mysterious lady who acted as decoy, named Mademoiselle C--), and the lady who has described the scene to me.

Eleven o'clock struck. It was a dramatic scene. All were anxious for Rasputin's arrival, but he did not come.