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Updated: June 22, 2025
One morning, among the monk's correspondence, I found a letter for Rasputin, which had been brought by hand from the Ministry of War, marked "Strictly private." On opening it, I read the following, which bore as signature the initials of Soukhomlinoff: "In a further reference to the suspicions against Colonel Svetchine, inquiries made fully confirm your view.
She moved in that rather gay, go-ahead set of which, prior to the war, the reckless Madame Soukhomlinoff was the centre, and she had recently become quite a notable figure in Petrograd society. Rasputin, furious at her interruption, roared: "Silence, woman! Go out of the room at once!" But Madame Svetchine, springing to her feet, cried: "It is monstrous! Disgraceful! Blasphemous!
She was dressed in dead black, her beautiful face tear-stained and deathly pale. "Ah! Monsieur Rajevski!" she cried, rushing towards me. "You know me Madame Svetchine eh?" "Yes, madame," I said. "I remember you." "You will let me see him won't you?" she cried in great distress, as she gripped my hand nervously. "He has, I hope, forgiven me; surely he " "I gave him your letter," I said.
Next moment, by dint of supreme effort, she struggled to her feet and rose stiffly. Then, a moment later, her hands clenched and despair in her splendid eyes, she turned and staggered out. Four hours later Colonel Svetchine boldly faced a firing-party in the yard of the fortress. There was a word of command, and next second the gallant soldier fell forward on his face dead.
Yet here was open defiance! This lady, whose name was Madame Anastasia Svetchine, was the wife of Colonel Svetchine, who was on the Staff of the Etat-Major at Vilna, and who was already at the battle front.
I could discern the motive of the conspiracy, but as yet had no idea of its true depth. It was not until a week later, when one night the Minister of War called upon the monk, and in my presence they discussed the Svetchine affair. "You did well, General," declared Rasputin, with an evil smile. "What has really happened in Vilna?"
Elise, three days ago, handed over to me a typewritten document revealing the secrets of the defences of Grodno, which she reported had been given to her by Colonel Svetchine in return for a promise of ten thousand roubles when she could obtain the money from a secret source in Petrograd." "Then he is a traitor!" exclaimed the monk eagerly.
Within a week of the scene created by Madame Svetchine, Rasputin had already commenced to seek his revenge in a deep and cunning way. He had heard from several persons that Madame Anastasia was going about Petrograd openly denouncing him, and that she had been in communication with Monsieur Miliukoff of the Cadets, and also Count Bobrinski.
Rasputin one day called to him one of his half-dozen sycophants of the secret police, whom the Minister Protopopoff had placed at his disposal for purposes of personal protection, but in reality to act as his spies and agents-provocateurs. To this fellow, Depp by name, he had given instructions that the dossiers of both Colonel Svetchine and his wife should be brought to him.
Both were in an advanced state of intoxication, and when I entered, Rasputin, in a thick voice, exclaimed: "Ah! my dear Féodor, I have just been describing the scene to-day with that woman Anastasia Svetchine the little spitfire! But a pretty woman, Féodor very pretty woman, eh? It's a pity" he sighed "a great pity!"
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