rest, the police were not satisfied, and
pressure was being placed upon them by one of his enemies in high places.

This, of course, greatly alarmed him.

"All is unfortunately due to your wife!" the prince remarked. "It is a
pity you have not made peace with her. It was she who took one of the
girl's letters to the police."

The banker started up as though electrified.

"My wife!" he gasped. "Is it her doing?"

"Most certainly," was the prince's cool reply. "Feodor knows it. He had
it from the Chief of Police of this city himself."

I confirmed my companion's statement, while the banker, terror and
despair written upon his pale features, stood staring like one who saw
death before him.

"My wife left me a fortnight ago!" he stammered. "That is why. She
expected me to be arrested. What can I do? How can you help me? Who is
this enemy in a high position who is determined upon my arrest?"

"The holy Father alone knows; I do not," declared the prince very
seriously. "It is somebody at Court--somebody who is a friend of his and
who let the fact drop in the course of conversation. I regret it, but I
may as well tell you that your arrest is imminent."

"But what can I do to avoid the scandal?" cried the murderer in despair.

"Well--the only way is to propitiate your unknown enemy," replied the
prince insinuatingly.

"I gave the Father a hundred thousand roubles," he remarked.

"True; and the Father used his influence so that the inquiries were
dropped. He had no knowledge of the fact that you had such a bitter and
relentless enemy in the higher Court circle."

"Nor had I. I wonder who it can be--except, perhaps, Boyadko, with whom I
once had some financial dealings over which we quarrelled."

As a matter of fact, the unknown enemy only existed in Rasputin's fertile
imagination.

"Well, as I have said, the Father may find means of propitiating him--if
the payment is a liberal one," said Gorianoff. "I suggest that you return
with us to Petrograd at once, and I will endeavour to accomplish
something."

Eagerly he acted upon the adventurer's advice. During the journey the
banker was nervous lest at any moment the police might lay hands upon
him. At each station the sight of a grey uniform caused him to hold his
breath. Thus to work upon his nerves was part of the prince's game, for
he well knew that the more terrified Ganskau became, the greater amount
of money he would be prepared to pay.

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