Part 17 (1/2)
”The same. He is one of the wealthiest men in Russia. He wants something, and he can afford to pay, though he seems very close-fisted at present.”
”What does he want?” growled the monk.
The scoundrel who bore the t.i.tle of prince made a grimace, and said:
”He wants to put a suggestion before you. He refuses to tell me what it is--except that it is very urgent and brooks no delay. I told him that he would have to pay five thousand roubles if he desired to have an interview--and he has paid it. Here is the money!” And he drew from his pocket a bundle of banknotes.
”But, my dear Peter,” exclaimed the pious fraud, ”I have no time to barter with these people. I cannot see him.”
”Take my advice, Gregory, and listen to what he has to say,” replied the adventurer, who had lived all his life on his wits in London, Paris and Rome--and had lived well too. ”If I am not mistaken he will tell you a strange thing, and if you get it down in writing--in writing, remember--that letter will be worth a very large sum of money in the near future. As I have said--he wants something urgently--and he must be made to pay.”
”Very well,” Rasputin replied grudgingly. ”I will see him--at four o'clock this afternoon. Feodor,” he added, turning to me, ”make a note that I see this banker man.”
At four o'clock punctually a fine car drew up, and a stout, overdressed, full-bearded man alighted and was shown into the room where I awaited him with the prince.
”Ah!” cried the latter, welcoming him warmly. ”You had my message over the telephone. I have, after great difficulty, induced the holy Father to consent to see you. He is due at Tsarskoe-Selo, but he has just telephoned to the Empress that he is delayed. And the delay is in order to hear you.”
”I am sure I am most grateful, Prince,” declared the banker, who seemed very pale and much agitated. His wealth was proverbial in Russia, and even in banking circles in Paris and London. His brother was one of the secretaries of the Russian Emba.s.sy in Paris.
With due ceremony, after the banker had removed his light overcoat, I conducted him into the monk's presence.
As Ganskau bowed towards the mysterious influence behind the Imperial Throne, I saw the quick, inquisitive hawk's glance which Rasputin gave him. Then I turned and, closing the door, left the pair together, and returned to where the prince was waiting. Gorianoff was a clever and unscrupulous scoundrel of exquisite manners and most plausible tongue. It was for that reason that the holy Father employed him.
As he leaned back in a padded arm-chair, smoking lazily while he awaited his victim's reappearance, he laughed merrily and whispered to me that the rich man from Tver would, ”if properly handled,” prove a gold mine.
”Mind, Feodor--be careful to impress upon the Father to obtain something incriminating from the banker in writing. He is hard pressed, I know, and in order to save himself he will commit any folly.”
”Men who are pushed into a corner seldom pause to think,” I remarked.
”If the police are upon them, as I know they are in this case, then no time is afforded for reflection.”
By the prince's manner I knew that he felt confident of making big profits. The great Ganskau, the Rothschild of Russia, desired Gregory's aid, and Gregory would a.s.sist him--at a price. While we were talking Madame Vyrubova rang on the telephone to inquire if Rasputin had left for Tsarskoe-Selo.
I replied in the negative, whereupon she said: ”Tell him not to come to-night. The Emperor has quarrelled with Alix, and it will be best for him to be absent. The boy [meaning the little Tsarevitch] will be taken ill in the night, and then he can come to-morrow and heal him.”
I understood. The woman Vyrubova, so trusted by the Tsaritza, was about to administer another dose of that baneful drug to the poor invalid boy--a drug which would produce partial paralysis, combined with symptoms which puzzled every physician called to see him.
It was not until nearly half an hour later that Rasputin opened the door of his room, and, crossing himself piously, laid his hands upon his breast and dismissed his pet.i.tioner.
”Your desire shall be granted,” he said in final farewell. ”But you must write me the reason you desire my a.s.sistance. I always insist upon that in every case.”
”But--well, it is not nice to confess,” declared the desperate man, pausing on the threshold of the room.
”Probably not. But you do confess to me, and surely you can trust me, a servant of Heaven, with your secret? If not, please do not rely upon Gregory Rasputin,” he added proudly.
For a second the victim hesitated. Then he said in a low, hard voice: ”I will do as you wish--well knowing that you will keep the truth a secret.”
Rasputin, his hands still crossed upon his breast, bowed stiffly, and the banker, recognising us standing at the end of the pa.s.sage, walked towards us.
As soon as he had left the house, Rasputin called us, and throwing himself into a chair became unduly hilarious.