long as you
do not know what is the attitude of your Church on this subject, you
cannot feel it wrong to listen to me."

I perceived that if his majesty was no politician, he was at least
something of a theologian.

The Czar proceeded:

"There is in Petersburg one of the most marvelous mediums and
clairvoyants who has ever lived. He is a Frenchman named Auguste. He
came here nearly a year ago--just when the difficulty with Japan was
beginning, in fact; and he has given me the most valuable information
about the progress of events. Everything he has foretold has come
true, so far. He warned me from the first that the Japanese would
force me into war, just as they have done. In short, I feel I can
rely on him absolutely."

This was not the first time I had heard of the spiritualist who had
established such an extraordinary hold on the Russian ruler's mind.
The common impression was that he was a mystic, a sort of Madame
Kruedener. At the worst he was regarded as a charlatan of the ordinary
spirit-rapping type, cultivating the occult as a means of making
money.

But now, as I listened to the credulous monarch, it suddenly struck
me what an invaluable tool such a man might prove in the hands of a
political faction, or even of a foreign Power astute enough to
corrupt him and inspire the oracles delivered by the spirits.

I listened anxiously for more.

The Emperor, evidently pleased with the serious expression on my
face, went on to enlighten me.

"Last night M. Auguste was here, in this room, and we held a private
_seance_. He succeeded in getting his favorite spirit to respond."

"Is it permissible to ask the spirit's name?" I ventured
respectfully.

"It is Madame Blavatsky," he answered. "You must have heard of her,
of course. She was practically the founder of rational psychical
knowledge, though she died a victim to persecution."

I nodded. I had heard of this celebrated woman, who still numbers
many followers in different parts of the world.

"Last night, as soon as we found that the spirit of Madame Blavatsky
was present, I asked Auguste to question it about the Baltic fleet.

"I had been holding a preliminary review of the fleet in the morning,
as you may have seen from the papers. The officers and men seemed
thoroughly nervous, and very doubtful whether it would ever be in a
condition to sail. Even the Admiral, Rojestvensky, did not seem
quite happy, and he found great fault with the stores and equ