herefore, that the woman X. [Xenie Kalatcheff]
be again given the perfume, with instructions from yourself. If
not, employ the girl Olga Bauer. She posed as a domestic servant
in the Princess Tchekmareff affair, and was successful. Why not
utilise her again?

"Inform Her Majesty that Stuermer must come back to power very
shortly. But this is impossible while Miliukoff and Purishkevitch
have the ear of the people. Not a second should be lost in
suppressing them. We have heard with satisfaction of the removal
of the woman Marya Ustryaloff and the man Paul Krizhitsky. Both
knew too much, and, though they served us faithfully, were not
further required. [When the sphere of usefulness of German secret
agents ends they generally meet with untimely deaths.]

"Also inform Her Majesty that she and her daughters should
exhibit a keener interest in the wounded in order to win back
public favour. You, too, should perform another miracle.

"We hear with regret that, though the allegations made by
Miliukoff were suppressed by the Censor, typewritten copies of
the speech are being widely distributed everywhere. If you do not
act with a firm hand, this will upset all our plans. The moment
is critical, and all depends upon your own drastic
actions.--Greeting,
"S." [Steinhauer].

That same evening the bearded blackguard communicated to the Tsaritza and
the elegant _morphineuse_ Anna Vyrubova the contents of the secret
dispatch.

Both Empress and lady-in-waiting, in their rich evening gowns, came to
the fine apartments which were allotted to the monk in the palace, and as
they were seated I read over the message.

"Yes," declared Her Majesty when I had finished; "I quite agree that the
girl Olga Bauer should receive instructions. Order Protopopoff to make
inquiry into the best means by which she can approach Purishkevitch. The
fellow must be prevented from implicating our dear Anna in the Zarudni
affair."

"Yes," said Madame Vyrubova in alarm; "it would ruin not only myself, but
the Empress also."

"I will do thy bidding," Rasputin responded, standing with his hands
behind his back, his great cross suspended from his neck scintillating
beneath the light.

"The girl Bauer, posing as a domestic servant, managed to ingratiate
herself with Prince Tchekmareff, and gave the per