estored to
sight.

The miracles took place out at Ligovo, a village outside Petrograd, and
like wildfire the news was spread that the Holy Father had again taken
compassion upon the people. Hundreds of men and women now flocked round
him to kiss the edge of his ragged robe, and as he passed in the streets
everyone crossed themselves. By such means did Rasputin retain the favour
of the people and of the Empress herself.

One night he received a telegram in cipher, which he gave me to decode.
It had been despatched from Paris and read:

"The appointment is at Savignyplatz, 17, Charlottenburg. Do not
fail. Please inform A. [Alexandra Feodorovna] and obtain
instructions.--EVNO."

At once Rasputin became active. He went to Peterhof, where the Court was
at that moment, and carried out Azef's desire. He was with the Empress
and Madame Vyrubova for a couple of hours ere he rejoined me, and we took
the evening train back to the capital.

That night he called upon Stuermer, who had with him his sycophant and
ex-policeman Manuiloff, and they held counsel together. Then, next
afternoon, we both left Petrograd for Berlin.

We had no difficulty in discovering the house in the Savignyplatz. It was
a good-sized one on the corner of the Kantstrasse, and the old woman who
opened the door at once ushered us into a pretty drawing-room, where we
were greeted by a rather tall, dark-haired and refined young lady, who
welcomed us in Russian, and whose name Rasputin had told me was
Mademoiselle Paula Kereicha.

"You must be very tired after your long journey, Father," she said,
bowing her head and crossing herself as the monk mumbled a blessing upon
her.

"No; travelling is very easy between Petrograd and Berlin," he replied
affably; and then he introduced me.

I could see that somehow she resented my intrusion there. She glanced at
Rasputin inquiringly.

"Oh, no," laughed the monk. "I quite understand, mademoiselle; you need
have no fear." Then lowering his voice to a whisper, he said: "I know
full well that living here as secret agent of the Okhrana you have to
exercise every caution."

Paula Kereicha--who I afterwards found was a second-rate variety actress
who sometimes took engagements in order to blind people to her own
calling, that of police-spy--smiled and admitted that she had to be very
careful.

"It is not the Germans that I fear," she said. "They know me well at the
Wilhelmstrasse, and I am never int