This was brought home to Rasputin, when immediately after his return to Petrograd from his secret visit to the Kaiser in the guise of a pious Dutch pastor, the German Press became guilty of a grave indiscretion. Naturally the monk waxed furious. The _Kolnische Zeitung_, in its unwonted enthusiasm, wrote: "We Germans need have no fear. Sturmer may be relied upon not to place any obstacles in the way of Russia's desire for peace with Germany." While the _Reichspost_ said: "We may rest assured that Sturmer will be independent in his relations with Downing Street." And yet Sturmer was at this moment crying, "No separate peace!" and had sent constant despatches to Downing Street assuring us of his intention to prosecute the war to the finish. By this he misled the Allies, who naturally regarded the assertion of the German newspapers as mere frothy enthusiasm. But those indiscreet German assurances were instantly seized upon by that small and fearless band of Russian patriots who--headed by the Grand Dukes Nicholas and Dmitri--had united to expose and destroy the disgraceful camarilla whose object it was to wreck the Empire, and hand it mangled and defenceless to be torn by the eagle of Germany. At the instigation of the peasant-charlatan and thief whose hand the Empress kissed, calling him her Holy Father, Sturmer--also paid lavishly by Germany--was following a clever policy of isolation, and had raised a lofty barrier between the Government and the elected representatives of the people. After ten months of office this _debauchee_ and traitor had only appeared in the Duma on one occasion, and then he made a speech so puerile that he was greeted with ironical laughter. With the very refinement of cunning which betrayed the criminal mind, he, at Rasputin's suggestion, crowded the work of legislation into the Parliamentary recesses, and passed Bills by virtue of Article 87 of the Fundamental Laws, which allowed the Government to legislate when the Duma was not in session. Till then all had gone smoothly for Berlin. But there opened a new chapter of the history of the downfall of the great Romanoffs. Early in November, 1916, a number of very serious and secret conferences of the camarilla took place at Rasputin's house. Both Sturmer and Protopopoff were now viewing the situation with the gravest anxiety, for the Empire was being swiftly aroused to a sense of its insecurity. There were sinister whispers on all hands of traitors, and of a disinclination on the part of the capitalists and Government to win the war.