of
Stuermer. He was a criminal of the worst type, an expert in crime, though
he was a recognised agent of the Russian Political Police. And yet so
clever was he as an _agent-provocateur_ that he actually managed to get
himself elected as director of the Terrorist organisation of Petrograd,
and as a member of the Central Committee of the Socialist Party!

In my presence he one night, when in his cups, boasted to the merry monk
what he had to his credit as a revolutionary. He organised the murders
of the Minister of the Interior, Plehve, and of the Grand Duke Sergius.
It was he who prepared the attempted murders of Admiral Dubassof, the
Governor-General Guerchelman, and the attempt on Nicholas II. The latter
was with Rasputin's knowledge and consent! Perhaps Alexandra Feodorovna
knew of it. Who knows? That she was not so devoted to "Nikki" as she
pretended is well known to everyone who was at the Imperial Court at the
time. Happily, however, the plot failed because of circumstances which
Azef could not control.

The scoundrel also assisted in the drawing up of the plans for the
military mutinies at Moscow, Viborg, and Kronstadt, while he knew
beforehand of the preparations for the assassination of General Sakarof,
and of Governor Bogdanovitch at Ufa, as well as a number of Terrorist
crimes which succeeded.

One of his crimes in conspiracy with Rasputin I will here relate, because
it is a mystery which has long puzzled the London police.

On the morning of January 11th, 1909, the London newspapers contained a
report of a strange discovery. Four days before there had arrived at
Victoria Station a young French lady, dark-haired and extremely
good-looking, who took a cab to a small but highly respectable private
hotel in the vicinity. There she gave the name of Mademoiselle Thomas,
and her profession as governess. Next morning a tall, thin young
foreigner called for her, and they went out together, she returning very
late that night apparently exhausted after a long motor journey. Next day
she remained in her room all day. On the third day an elderly man called,
and she went out with him, being absent about a couple of hours. On her
return she went straight to her room and nothing was seen of her further
until the next day at noon the chambermaid failed to arouse her by
knocking. The police were informed, the door was forced, and Mademoiselle
Thomas was found dead. She was lying upon the floor fully dressed.

The medica