The Minister of Evil | Page 7

certainly come this way," remarked the
ragged "saint" as I stood at his side. "Remain here and keep watch. I
shall go to yonder house and speak with the people. When the carriage
approaches, let me know quickly."
Then leaving me the Starets crossed to a small house which he entered
to give its inmates his blessing--blessing forsooth from such an unholy,
unwashed scoundrel!

Through an hour I waited in patience, until in the distance I saw a
carriage approaching, and at once gave warning, whereupon the Father
entered the church and threw himself upon his knees devoutly before
the holy shrine and began to pray earnestly aloud in his deep bass.
I had entered after him, and secreting myself behind one of the massive
pillars watched the arrival of the two females in dead black, who,
crossing themselves as they entered, approached the shrine.
As they did so Rasputin, apparently unconscious of their presence,
cried in a loud voice:
"O God! in Thy gracious bounty give unto our Imperial House of
Romanoff a son--one who shall in due time wear the glorious crown of
the Tsars and become the Sovereign Defender of All the Russias
against our enemies. In this my prayer I most humbly echo the voice of
Russia's millions, whose dearest wish is that a son be born unto our
Imperial House. O God, I beseech thee to grant us our request!"
From my place of concealment I saw the Tsaritza start visibly. She
wore a veil, so that I could not see her countenance. She had halted,
entranced by overhearing that prayer uttered by the unkempt stranger. I
noticed that she whispered a word to her companion, who, like herself,
was veiled, and then Her Majesty threw herself upon her knees, an
example followed by Mademoiselle Kamensky.
The Empress, her head bowed in silence, knelt before the weird
impressive shrine, side by side with the Starets. The great church was
dark save for the light of the myriad candles, and silent save for the
twittering of a bird, yet I could see that the pious exhortation of
Rasputin had been taken as an omen by Her Majesty.
Suddenly, the mock saint's voice again rang out clearly in the great
cavernous basilica as he repeated the prayer in clear impassioned
words--that same prayer which the Empress was repeating in silence.
Only the three knelt there. For a full ten minutes silence again reigned.
Neither of the kneeling figures stirred until Rasputin crossed himself

slowly, and for a third time, raising his voice still higher he besought
the Almighty to grant Russia an heir to the Throne.
Then, at last, he rose with slow dignity as became a saintly priest, and
again he made the sign of the cross.
As he did so the Empress who had raised her veil turned her head,
whereupon he halted for several seconds and gazed straight into her
face with that intense, hypnotic stare which always held women in such
mysterious fascination. I saw that the Empress was again startled, but
folding his hands across his breast, an attitude habitual to him, the
Starets passed out of the church without a second glance at her, leaving
her breathless and trembling.
When he had gone she turned in alarm and whispered with her
lady-in-waiting. Both women rose, and, following the monk, stood
gazing at his receding figure as he went down the long white road.
"A strange man surely, Zéneide!" I heard the Empress exclaim. "How
curious that, unconscious of my presence, he should be here, praying
for me--a holy man without a doubt! We must discover who he is.
What eyes! Did you notice them?"
"Yes. His gaze really frightened me," her companion admitted.
"Ah! His is the face of a true saint--a wonder-worker! Of that I am
certain. We must make inquiries concerning him," remarked Her
Majesty. "I must see him again and speak with him!"
Then the pair, entering the carriage, drove rapidly away.
While standing upon the church steps they had discussed the Starets
while I had lounged close by unnoticed, believing that we were alone.
As the carriage moved off, however, I was startled to feel strong hands
laid heavily upon me, as a rough voice exclaimed:
"Halt! You are under arrest!"

Next second I became aware that I was in the hands of two rather well
dressed men, no doubt agents of the Okhrana.
"You have been loitering here with evil intent!" exclaimed the elder of
the pair. "We have been watching you ever since you entered behind
that good Father. We saw you secrete yourself. Have you any
firearms?"
I unfortunately had a revolver, and at once produced it.
"Ah!" exclaimed the brown-bearded agent of Secret Police as he took
possession of it. "I thought so! You had discovered