From that moment the unfortunate banker was irretrievably in Rasputin's hands, and I saw much of his dealings with him. Pretending to leave everything with his friend Prince Gorianoff, he refused to see the guilty man again. In the meantime the prince, whom I accompanied as the monk's secretary, went to Tver three weeks after the first transaction, and we saw the victim in secret. Gorianoff told him that, although the monk had been able to prevent his arrest, the police were not satisfied, and pressure was being placed upon them by one of his enemies in high places. This, of course, greatly alarmed him. "All is unfortunately due to your wife!" the prince remarked. "It is a pity you have not made peace with her. It was she who took one of the girl's letters to the police." The banker started up as though electrified. "My wife!" he gasped. "Is it her doing?" "Most certainly," was the prince's cool reply. "Feodor knows it. He had it from the Chief of Police of this city himself." I confirmed my companion's statement, while the banker, terror and despair written upon his pale features, stood staring like one who saw death before him. "My wife left me a fortnight ago!" he stammered. "That is why. She expected me to be arrested. What can I do? How can you help me? Who is this enemy in a high position who is determined upon my arrest?" "The holy Father alone knows; I do not," declared the prince very seriously. "It is somebody at Court--somebody who is a friend of his and who let the fact drop in the course of conversation. I regret it, but I may as well tell you that your arrest is imminent." "But what can I do to avoid the scandal?" cried the murderer in despair. "Well--the only way is to propitiate your unknown enemy," replied the prince insinuatingly. "I gave the Father a hundred thousand roubles," he remarked. "True; and the Father used his influence so that the inquiries were dropped. He had no knowledge of the fact that you had such a bitter and relentless enemy in the higher Court circle." "Nor had I. I wonder who it can be--except, perhaps, Boyadko, with whom I once had some financial dealings over which we quarrelled." As a matter of fact, the unknown enemy only existed in Rasputin's fertile imagination. "Well, as I have said, the Father may find means of propitiating him--if the payment is a liberal one," said Gorianoff. "I suggest that you return with us to Petrograd at once, and I will endeavour to accomplish something." Eagerly he acted upon the adventurer's advice. During the journey the banker was nervous lest at any moment the police might lay hands upon him. At each station the sight of a grey uniform caused him to hold his breath. Thus to work upon his nerves was part of the prince's game, for he well knew that the more terrified Ganskau became, the greater amount of money he would be prepared to pay.