Part 37 (1/2)
”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.