"Yes," replied the monk. "You know the Minister Goutchkoff. Go to him early to-morrow morning, and appeal on Letchitzki's behalf. Take with you ninety thousand roubles which I will give you as soon as the banks open. Pretend to the Minister that he is your lover, that he has embezzled the money to pay for presents to yourself--then hand over the sum missing." "Excellent idea!" declared Sturmer. "You are always ingenious when cornered, Gregory!" "By that we shall clear the way for further action. We must both see the Empress at once. It is not yet too late," Rasputin added, and the merry quartette at once broke up, the "sister-disciples" to their own homes, and the monk to drive to the Palace. Both conspirators, so well-known, passed the sentries unchallenged, and traversing the long corridors to the private apartments, went by the gigantic Cossack on duty at the end, and through the big swing-doors to the luxurious wing of the great Palace. It was already long past midnight, and the only person they could find was the Tsar's eldest daughter, the Grand Duchess Olga, who had with the eldest of her sisters entered Rasputin's "sisterhood" a year before. Every one, including the servants, had retired. The Princess, who was reading an English novel in her own little sitting-room, appeared surprised to see the "Holy Father" at that hour, but took from him an urgent message to the Empress. Ten minutes later the Tsaritza, in a dainty lace boudoir-cap and rich silk kimono, entered the room where the pair of scoundrels awaited her. When alone, Rasputin revealed the fact of Letchitzki's arrest, adding: "Thou canst realise the great danger to us all. If that man is brought before the Court believing that we have not endeavoured to save him, he will, no doubt, reveal and produce certain letters I have sent to him. Our plans will then become public, and Russia will rise and crush us! At present they do not suspect thee of any pro-German leanings. Thou art the great and patriotic Tsaritza. But if this prosecution proceeds, then assuredly will the truth become known!" "But, Holy Father, what can I do?" asked the weak hysterical woman, alarmed and distracted. "Thou must telegraph at once to thy husband to order the prosecution to be dropped," said the crafty scoundrel, standing in that erect attitude he was so fond of assuming, with one hand upon his breast and the other behind his back. "I will do all that you wish," was her eager response, and she sat down at once to write the message to the Tsar who, on that night, was with his gallant soldiers at the front.