"Miliukoff will be supported by Purishkevitch, without a doubt," His Excellency the Minister went on. "Both are equally dangerous."
The "saint" grunted and knit his brows, for he saw himself in a very perilous position. In three days" time the Duma would re-open, and Miliukoff would probably bring forth certain doc.u.mentary evidence of the treachery of Sturmer, Fredericks, Soukhomlinoff, Anna Vyrubova, and a dozen others who formed the camarilla which was working for Russia"s downfall.
"The Duma must be prevented from opening," Rasputin declared at last.
"The Emperor must rescind the order and further postpone it."
"The Duma has been prohibited from meeting for over five months. It can, I agree, wait still further. His Majesty must find some excuse, or----"
"I know what is pa.s.sing in your mind, friend," interrupted the monk.
"Yes, I will urge Nicholas further to prohibit it, and thus give us time to suppress our enemies."
"Action must be taken at once," said the Minister. "I had a telephone message from the secret police in Moscow to say that Miliukoff left for Petrograd at nine o"clock this morning. The Grand Dukes have gone south."
Two hours later, on our return to the Gorokhovaya, an Imperial courier arrived in hot haste from Tsarskoe-Selo with a sealed note for the monk, enclosed in two envelopes.
These I tore open, and, signing the outer envelope as a.s.surance of safe receipt, handed it to the courier, who left. Afterwards I read the message to Rasputin, it being as follows:
"HOLY FATHER,--Anna has just told me of Miliukoff"s intention in the Duma. The Emperor must further adjourn its re-a.s.sembling. I have telegraphed to him urging him to do this. If not, let us adopt Noyo"s suggestion to pay the agents J. and B. ten thousand roubles to remove him. I would willingly pay a hundred thousand roubles to close his mouth for ever. This must be done. Suggest it to P. [Protopopoff]. Surely the same means could be used as with T. and L. and the end be quite natural and peaceful! You could supply the means as before. But I urge on you not to delay a moment. All depends upon Miliukoff"s removal. If he reveals to the Duma what he knows, then everything must be lost. I kiss your dear hands. With Olga I ask your blessing.--Your dutiful daughter, "A."
It was thus evident that the Empress knew of what Rasputin gleefully called "The Perfume of Death." Ah! in how many cases, I wonder, was it used by the mock "saint" to stifle the truth and to sweep his enemies of both s.e.xes from his path? Such a letter as this I have here given seems utterly incredible in this twentieth century, yet those who knew underground Russia immediately before the downfall of the Romanoffs will express no surprise.
At once we went to Tsarskoe-Selo with all haste, and Rasputin had a long conference in private with the Empress and Anna, the outcome of which was that Alexandra Feodorovna dispatched an urgent message in cipher to the Tsar, who was still absent at South-West Headquarters.
We remained at the palace all that day. At six o"clock Anna Vyrubova entered the room, where I sat writing some letters, and inquired for the monk.
"He was here a quarter of an hour ago," I replied.
"Then find him at once and give him this. It is most urgent," said the high-priestess of the cult of the "sister-disciples," handing me a sealed envelope.
Ten minutes later I found Rasputin walking alone on the terrace, impatient and thoughtful, and opened the envelope. Within was a message in Their Majesties" private cipher, which had been deciphered by the Empress"s own hand, and which read:
"Tell our dear Father [Rasputin] that to postpone the Duma would, I fear, create an unfavourable impression, and I judge impossible. Protopopoff has asked my authority to arrest Miliukoff upon some technical charge, but I do not consider such a course good policy. I agree that to-day"s situation is grave, and agree also that at the last moment some means should be taken to prevent him from speaking.
"NIKKI."
The monk at once flew to the Empress"s side, where Sturmer was being received in audience. Again the situation was eagerly discussed. That night, when we returned to Petrograd, although it was nearly midnight, Protopopoff was summoned by telephone, and when the pair met I learnt what had been arranged at the Palace.
The Empress"s wishes were to be carried out. The patriot Miliukoff was to be "removed."
CHAPTER XIV
MILIUKOFF"S EXPOSURE
MATTERS were now growing daily more desperate in Russia. Suspense, unrest, and suspicion were rife everywhere, while the deluded people were kept quiet by promises of a great offensive in the near future.
The Minister Protopopoff, wearing his gorgeous uniform, his breast covered with decorations--the man whom Great Britain regarded as so extremely friendly--had just paid a visit to the British Emba.s.sy, and on his way home called upon Rasputin.
"It is just as we heard from Moscow," he said to the monk anxiously.
"Miliukoff intends to denounce you at the opening of the Duma. He has been in communication with both the French and British Emba.s.sies, and as far as I can learn both are in entire agreement with him."
"Then I must save myself," Rasputin declared, stroking his matted beard thoughtfully.
"The British never dream that I have been a.s.sisting you in your schemes with Alexandra Feodorovna. That is why they are so friendly with me at the Emba.s.sy. Indeed, only yesterday the French Amba.s.sador handed me the latest report upon the output of munitions in France, and the details of their long-range gun. These I copied, and Hardt has left with them for Berlin."
"Truly, we have fooled the Allies exquisitely," laughed the Black Monk.
"But if I am denounced, you also will be discovered as my a.s.sociate, as well as Sturmer, Fredericks, and our other friends."
"That is why the Empress urges you to resort to the "perfume,"" said the much-decorated traitor.
"Yes, but how?" asked Rasputin. "There is no time."
"There is sufficient."
"What do you suggest?" asked the monk.
"You know little Xenie, who married the Councillor of State, Kalatcheff, last year? She is one of your "sisters," is she not?"
The "saint" nodded.
"Well, according to a secret report made to me, she has conceived a violent hatred of Miliukoff, who was once a friend of her husband, and who still admires her. Miliukoff visits her home sometimes, and one day quite recently while in her salon he denounced you. She has been going about declaring him to be your bitterest enemy. If so, could she not invite him to take tea with her--and then?"
"An excellent idea!" cried Rasputin. "Xenie Kalatcheff warned me against Miliukoff some time ago, I recollect. I will see her and sound her upon the subject." Then, turning to me, he asked me to inquire over the telephone if Madame Kalatcheff was at home.
Five minutes later I informed the monk that the lady was at home, and was ready to speak with him if he wished.
At once Rasputin went to the instrument, and, after greeting her gaily, asked if she could possibly come round to see him "on a very urgent affair," to which she at once acceded.
"I had better not see her, so I shall get off," said His Excellency. "Be careful how you treat her. Recollect, her mind may have been poisoned 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 att.i.tude, 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 G.o.d"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."