The plot to kill M. Miliukoff had failed! The Empress knew of it and sat in the Winter Palace, pale, breathless and eager for messages over her private telephone. The vile, black work done by her "Holy Father" was to be exposed! What if her own Imperial self were exhibited in her true traitorous colours! Meanwhile, at two o'clock, M. Rodzianko took his seat as President at the Tauris Palace. The usual service was held and then the historic sitting of the Duma opened. The House was crowded, and the British, French and Italian Ambassadors being in the diplomatic box, the members, Octobrists, Progressive Nationalists, the Centre, the Zemsto Octobrists and Cadets, rose in one body and gave vociferous cheers for the Allies. "Russia will win!" they cried. The first speaker was M. Garusewicz, who, on behalf of the Polish Club, addressed the Allied Powers, protesting against the Austro-German action and expressing the hope and confidence that a final solution of the Polish problem would be the outcome of the war. The two men whom the camarilla had plotted to murder were calmly in their places. M. Miliukoff, a pleasant-looking grey-haired man, sat gazing at the speaker through his gold-rimmed spectacles, listening attentively until the speaker had concluded. Meanwhile the Tsaritza, sitting in her luxurious little room in the Palace with the dissolute Anna Vyrubova as her sole companion, was listening to messages which, as arranged, came to her over the telephone every ten minutes. At last M. Miliukoff rose, quite calm, and bowed to the President. Instantly there was silence. Without mincing matters in the least he told the House--in a speech which was wholly suppressed by the authorities--how the camarilla had endeavoured to remove him but in vain; and then, after many hard words which electrified all present, he denounced the "Saint" as the dark and sinister force which was hurling the Russian Empire to its destruction. Then, branding the pro-German Prime Minister Boris Sturmer as "Judas the Traitor," he took up a bundle of documents, and shaking them in his hand dramatically he declared: "I have here, gentlemen, the evidence of Judas. Evidence in cold figures-- the number of shekels, the pieces of silver, for betrayal." The House sat breathless! The ghastly truth was out. When M. Miliukoff sat down his friend M. Puriskevitch rose politely and asked permission and indulgence to make a speech in German--the hated language--promising it should be very brief. All he uttered were the two words: "Hofmeister Sturmer!" The Duma, understanding, cheered to the echo. Over the telephone the Empress, pale and neurotic, listened to what had been alleged against her "Holy Father" and his friend Sturmer, whereupon she suddenly gave a low scream and fainted. The truth was out at last! The first blow of retribution had on that afternoon fallen upon the Imperial House of Romanoff.