befit women."

Taking a pencil, I sat down, and after ten minutes or so, during which
time the monk chatted with Hardt, I succeeded in deciphering the message,
which ran as follows:

"T. F. 6,823--88.

"Memorandum from 'No. 70.' _Secret and Private._

"Further to the memorandum F. G. 2,734--22, it is deemed of
greatest and most immediate importance that the Pripet offensive
should at once cease. You will recollect that in your reply you
made a promise that the offensive was to be turned into a defeat
within fourteen days. But this has not been done, and a certain
Personage [the Kaiser] is greatly dissatisfied.

"The advance must not continue, and we send you further secret
instructions, herewith enclosed. Lose no time in carrying them
out.

"We hope you have not overlooked the instructions contained in F.
G. 2,734--22, especially regarding the destruction of the
munition factories at Vologda and Bologoye. It is a pity you have
allowed K. [Kartzoff, who blew up the explosive works at Viborg,
where four hundred lives were lost] to be shot. He was extremely
useful. The woman Raevesky, who was his assistant, was not in
love with him, as you reported. She would have assisted him
further if allowed her liberty. We wonder you were not more
correctly informed. Payment of 500,000 roubles will be made to
your bank on the 18th from Melnitzzki and Company of Nijni
Novgorod. S."

Enclosed was a sheet of pale yellow paper, upon which had been typed in
Russian the following:

"_Secret Instructions._--(1) You are to double the promised
payment to Nicholas Meder and Irene Feischer for the blowing up
of the works at Vologda and Bologoye, on condition that the
affair is carried out within fourteen days of the receipt of
this. If not, arrange with your friend P. [Protopopoff] to have
both arrested with incriminating papers upon them. They may
become dangerous to us unless implicated.

"(2) As you have failed to carry out the plans against Generals
Brusiloff and Korniloff, then you must adopt other means against
both generals, and thus ensure a lull upon the frontier. We note
that the attempt made by Brusiloff's body-servant, Ivan Sawvitch,
has unfortunately failed.

"The bearer of this will h