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Having no knowledge of what hour the Empress intended to visit the shrine of Our Lady, I was back again at the monastery at dawn when I found the Starets had quite recovered. As soon as I told him of the presence of the Tsaritza he bustled about, and in his oldest robe, rusty, travel-worn and frayed, he accompanied me to the fine church of Bogoroditsky.
He had conceived the theory that the only means by which the spirit could be elevated was to mortify and destroy the flesh. The Bishop Teofan, or Theophanus, was a mock ascetic, just as was Rasputin. But Rasputin, although the leader, had entirely imposed upon Teofan. In all seriousness the Bishop told the Starets of the interest in him which the Empress had aroused in the mind of the Tsar.
We tested it five days ago and it works excellently." "Good! Ah, here is my secretary Féodor!" the monk exclaimed. "He has the ten thousand roubles for you, and there will be a further ten thousand on the day your plan matures." I wondered to what plan the Starets was referring. But being compelled to retire I remained in ignorance.
The fact is that Teofan knew that Rasputin was possessed of a marvellous hypnotic power, and, being aware of the vogue of hypnotists at Court, saw in the Starets an able assistant by whom to gain power in the immediate entourage of Their Majesties. Thus, quite unconsciously, he was furthering the plans of Kouropatkine and Stürmer, who were receiving money from Berlin.
His voice was hollow when he replied, and his glance was full of anticipation. At every gesture of the Starets he seemed startled.
On Hardt's arrival the reception was cut short after he had whispered some words to the Starets, who made excuse that he had to leave to return to the palace. Indeed, he went to the telephone at the farther end of the room and held a conversation with the Tsaritza's confidante, Mademoiselle Kamensky.
To God, to his childhood's faith which had never been destroyed in him. Kasatsky entered the monastery on the feast of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin. The Abbot of that monastery was a gentleman by birth, a learned writer and a starets, that is, he belonged to that succession of monks originating in Walachia who each choose a director and teacher whom they implicitly obey.
Yet the mujik mind always works in a mysterious way. The true facts concerning the desperate conspiracy against Generals Brusiloff and Korniloff have never been told, though several French writers have attempted to reveal them, and the revolutionists themselves have endeavoured to delve into the mystery. As secretary to the Starets, I am able to disclose the actual and most amazing truth.
"Well?" asked the Starets, blowing a cloud of cigarette smoke from his bearded lips. "Mademoiselle is anxious to meet His Excellency." "Ah! I see," exclaimed the monk, whose mind at once turned to blackmail, a course which he himself was actively pursuing. "Mademoiselle wishes for money eh?" "No, Father," replied the young woman stoutly. "Not money only justice!
Now, it must be said that no lady was admitted to those weekly reunions of the sister-disciples unless she first had the full approval of the Starets. She must be good-looking and possessed of either wealth or influence, but in preference wealth. And it was certain that no woman was ever invited unless it was Rasputin's intention to admit her to the secrets of his "religion."
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