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Had there been anything serious against me I doubt whether I should have occupied, as I did for some years, the post of confidential secretary to "Grichka," that saintly unwashed charlatan whose real name was Gregory Novikh, and whom the world knew by the nickname of "Rasputin." Of my youth I need say but little.
Grichka, as all Russia called him, was an outstanding personality, clever, scheming, and as unscrupulous as he was avaricious. His mujik blood betrayed itself every hour. Even as we sat there in the Imperial carriage as we drove to the Palace, he smiled with self-conscious sarcasm when the people saluted or doffed their hats to him as an Imperial guest.
Go on, friend, take my advice or else I shall have to beat you." "Ah! And you were saying: I don't know Michka! You see that you do know him. What's put you out, Semenitch?" "Enough, Grichka, say no more and off with you " The officer was getting angry and, darting apprehensive glances on either side, tried to free his hand from the firm grasp of Tchelkache.
You are lucky, my dear Grichka. Madame Vyrubova was evidently entranced by you at Countess Ignatieff's. She will do your bidding. Only, I beg of you to come to Court." The charlatan, however, steadily refused the Bishop's advice. Instead, he left Petrograd that night alone, and went away to his wife and sister-disciples at Pokrovsky, in Siberia.
Hence he was scheming to exhibit his power. The worst feature of the position was that from the Officers' Club the incident had leaked out all over Petrograd, until it had become common talk in the cafés. The story of Grichka sitting upon a dung-heap was on the lips of everybody, while a well-known member of the Duma remarked: "A pity he was not buried in it, never to see the light of day again!"
His face was streaked with red and his neck was scratched; he bore the traces of a recent fight. He walked along beside Tchelkache, and said under his breath: "The custom-house officers can't find two boxes of goods. They are looking for them. You understand, Grichka?" "What of it?" asked Tchelkache, measuring him calmly with his eyes. "What of it? They are looking, that's all."
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