Daily, smart society women came to Rasputin's house for "private converse." Sometimes one of the circle of his elect would bring with her a young society girl who had heard vaguely of "the disciples," and whose curiosity was naturally aroused, to meet the wonderful wonder-worker. At others, women went alone. But in each case the result was the same. One afternoon the young wife of the wealthy Count Ivanitski went there in secret, attired in one of her maid's dresses, so as to escape observation, passing through the servants' entrance. The Count, however, had heard whispers of this intended visit and, awaiting her return, followed her back to the Furshtavkaya, where they lived in a handsome house a few doors from the Liteyny Prospect. He then coolly called his servants and compelled her to confess before them all that had happened to her in Rasputin's house. Afterwards he drew a revolver and shot her dead. Then he walked out and gave himself up to the police. Within an hour news of the affair was brought to the Empress and to Rasputin, who were dining together in the Palace. The monk made a sarcastic grimace when he heard of the murder of the woman who had that afternoon been his victim. "Poor fool!" he exclaimed, his glass of wine in his hand. "The Countess had already become a devoted disciple." But the Empress at once bestirred herself in fear of public indignation being aroused against the Holy Father, and telephoning to the Minister of the Interior, ordered the Count's immediate release. On another occasion, a week later, a young lieutenant of cavalry named Olchowski, who had been with von Rennenkampf at Brest-Litovsk, had returned to Petrograd, being met at the railway station by his devoted young wife, a mere chit of a girl, the daughter of a Baroness living at Ostroff. They returned home together, whereupon somebody slipped into his hand an anonymous letter, stating that his pretty young wife Vera had become one of the "spiritual brides" who attended the bi-weekly meetings in the Gorokhovaya. The Lieutenant said nothing, but watching next afternoon he followed her to the meeting place of the "Naked Believers," and having satisfied himself that during his absence at the front his beloved wife had fallen beneath the "saint's" spell, he concealed himself in the porch of a neighbouring house until after the worshippers had all departed. Then Rasputin presently descended the steps to enter one of the Imperial carriages which had called for him as was usual each day. In an instant the outraged husband, half-mad with fury, flung himself upon the "holy" libertine and plunged a long keen knife into his breast. But Rasputin, whose strength was colossal, simply tossed his assailant away from him without a word, and entered the carriage.