"Thy will shall be done regarding the two first, but spare Helidor. He may yet be useful unto thee," was the crafty mujik's reply. "Is there any other enemy who should be removed?" inquired the Emperor. "Tell me, Holy Father--and I will deal with him if you will still remain with us. If you leave, poor little Alexis will die." The mock-saint, sprawling his legs in the Emperor's dressing-room, reflected for a few moments. He knew that by his own hand Russia was ruled. "Yes," he said presently. "God has told me to forgive my enemies. I will do so if thou wilt assist me. Too little consideration is given to our friends." "All consideration shall be given them. To whom do you refer?" The monk drew from beneath his, long black habit a scrap of paper already prepared, and consulting, it, said: "I wrote down here yesterday certain appointments which should be given to those who support thee, against thy enemies." It was a list of favours which the rascal had promised to women for their male acquaintances, and from each he would receive a generous _douceur_, according to the means of the person indicated. "You will note Ivan Scheveleff, of the Imperial chancellerie. He has served thee well for the past five years, and should have the title of Excellency, and consequent promotion," said the religious rascal. "Again, there is Sergius Timacheff, of the Imperial printing works, who should be appointed a privy councillor; and Madame Grigoiovitch, who is in the Peter-and-Paul prison, should be released and amends made to her for the false charge upon which she was convicted at the instance of Michael Alexandrovitch." "I will telegraph orders in each case," was the Emperor's reply, as he lit a cigarette prior to his valet entering. "And the salary of the Minister Protopopoff is far too little. It should be increased by at least one-half. He is thy most devout and devoted friend and servant of Russia." "That shall be done," was the monarch's weak reply. Little did His Majesty dream that Protopopoff was one of Russians traitors. "Brusiloff should be watched, as there is evidence of treachery against him. Before the war he was friendly with a man named von Weber, an agent of Germany. Nekrasov, Minister of Communications, is also a traitor, and should be dismissed," said the monk, thus denouncing two of Russia's strongest and most patriotic fighters, who were perfectly innocent. "It shall be done," replied the Emperor quietly. "Father, I am glad you have, told me." Indeed, owing, to the false statements of pro-German police officials, General Brusiloff was within an ace of arrest a week later. The Minister Nekrasov, however, received his dismissal, Protopopoff being one of his enemies, and in that manner was the monk playing Germany's game.