Part 23 (2/2)

”Three days ago.”

”Now that's odd,” he replied. ”I, too, saw her, but it was only two days ago, and she said to me: 'Gregory is coming to see thee. He will advise peace. Don't listen to him, but expel him like the scoundrel he is. If he goes on troubling and intriguing have him thrashed.'”

The monk went livid.

”And further,” continued Nicholas Nicholaievitch, ”if you remain here, you infernal charlatan and blackmailer, that is what I shall do. So you can return to Alexandra Feodorovna and tell her what I say. My soldiers are fighting for Russia, and they will continue to do so, however many visions you may have--and however much German gold you may grab with your filthy paws. Get out!”

Rasputin stood speechless for a moment. Then, with an imprecation upon his lips, he turned and retired.

Three days later we were back in Petrograd, but the monk, who never forgot, at once set about plotting the Grand Duke's retirement.

One morning, among the monk's correspondence, I found a letter for Rasputin, which had been brought by hand from the Ministry of War, marked ”Strictly private.” On opening it, I read the following, which bore as signature the initials of Soukhomlinoff:

”In a further reference to the suspicions against Colonel Svetchine, inquiries made fully confirm your view. The political police who made domiciliary visits to his house in Petrograd and his apartments in Vilna found nothing of importance. In Vilna, however, it has been discovered that, immediately prior to the war, he had established friendly relations with Elise Isembourg, who was an agent of Germany and a friend of Mia.s.soyedeff. At my instructions we have allowed the Colonel leave, and he returned to Vilna to meet the woman, who had, at our orders, written to him. She, acting upon our instructions, offered him a sum of money to betray certain plans of the defences of Grodno, agents of secret police being concealed during the interview. At first he stoutly refused, but next day he met her again and succ.u.mbed to the temptation, so at the present moment he is preparing the information she seeks.”

I read this over to the monk, who at once rubbed his hands together in satisfaction.

”Ah! all goes well, my dear Feodor!” he exclaimed. ”That woman will be sorry she denounced me, I a.s.sure you.”

I could discern the motive of the conspiracy, but as yet had no idea of its true depth.

It was not until a week later, when one night the Minister of War called upon the monk, and in my presence they discussed the Svetchine affair.

”You did well, General,” declared Rasputin, with an evil smile. ”What has really happened in Vilna?”

”Well, the woman Isembourg, though she was a spy of Germany, is now on our side in the contra-espionage service,” was his reply. ”From the first she a.s.sured me that the colonel was extremely honest and patriotic.

Though before the war she had several times tried to induce him to give her military information, yet he always declined and endeavoured to avoid her.”

”Well, that difficulty can be overcome, surely?” asked the monk.

General Soukhomlinoff, a traitor himself, laughed lightly as he replied:

”Of course. There were other means. Elise, three days ago, handed over to me a typewritten doc.u.ment revealing the secrets of the defences of Grodno, which she reported had been given to her by Colonel Svetchine in return for a promise of ten thousand roubles when she could obtain the money from a secret source in Petrograd.”

”Then he is a traitor!” exclaimed the monk eagerly.

The general winked, and replied: ”Elise Isembourg declares that he is, and that he gave her the doc.u.ment.”

”He, of course, denies it?”

”He knows nothing as yet,” said His Excellency. ”I have issued orders for his arrest to-day, and have given instructions for the court martial to be held here, in Petrograd.”

The evil monk laughed gleefully.

”Ah! I see,” he remarked. ”And probably the colonel has never yet seen this typewritten doc.u.ment?”

”Probably,” replied the Minister of War, with a mysterious smile. ”There have been such cases. I have fixed the court martial for next Thursday, and I a.s.sure you it will be difficult for the colonel to prove his innocence!”

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