s anger and told the monk. Therefore it was not with any degree
of surprise that, when a ring came at the door late that same night, I
found myself face to face with the wronged husband.

"I wish to see the Father," he said quite coolly.

"I regret that he is out," was my prompt reply.

"You lie!" he shouted. "He is at home. This house has been watched ever
since six o'clock, when he returned. I will see him, and you dare not
stop me."

Then, ere I was aware of it, he seized me by the throat, hurled me back
into the entrance-hall, and before I could prevent him marched straight
to Rasputin's room.

I dashed after him, hearing the monk's shouts for assistance, and on
entering found the "holy man" lying on the floor and the infuriated
Violle lashing him with a short whip he carried. The scene was a dramatic
one. The scoundrel was shrieking with pain, and in endeavouring to avoid
the blows succeeded in rising, but as he did so the furrier administered
another sound whack, which sent the Empress's pet "saint" skipping across
the room howling.

"You dog of a mock monk!" cried the furrier. "Take that!--and that!--_and
that!_"

So beside himself with anger was he that I believe he would have beaten
Rasputin to death had not Striaptchef dashed in, and together we
succeeded in dragging the angry man off and turning him out of the house.

As soon as the "saint" had recovered from the _fracas_, he gave vent to a
volley of fearful oaths, cursing the pretty woman who had been the cause
of the assault.

"She shall be kicked out. I will see that she goes to the palace no
more," he declared. "If a woman cannot manage her husband then she is
dangerous. And Olga Violle has proved herself to be dangerous. I will
see that Alix dismisses her to-morrow. And all on account of that
thrice-accursed picture-making. To think that I--the Saviour of Russia,
sent to these people by the Almighty--should be whipped like a dog!"

He strode up and down foaming with fury.

"The skin-dealer shall suffer!" he cried. "I'll make him pay dearly for
this!"

Then, turning to me, he ordered me to go at once to Manuiloff, Stuermer's
secretary, adding: "Bring him to me. Tell him that it is a matter of
greatest urgency."

I had great difficulty in finding the man he had indicated, and who was
one of Russia's "dark forces." He was not at his house, but by bribing
the doorkeeper I learned that he would be found in a very questionable
gambling-house i